Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-19
A Pennsylvania Farmer Ends q Family Tragedy
with sulcide---Terribe Results of Passion and
Hatred


Correspondence New York Times
ROsEyILLE, Penn, Wednesday, April 90. 10
The suicide by hanging, near this village
yesterday, of a wealthy farmer named VIII
liam Russell has called up the details of
most shocking family tragedy, of which
the suicide was result William Russell.
up to year ago, was the leading citizen OF
the extensive farming country hereabout.
/ He was an Englishman, and came here some
ten years ago. lie had a wife and two
/ children then, but about three years after
/ his wife and Youngest child were killed by
runaway horse. His remaining child, Hat
tie. was then ten years old. Among the
neighbOrs of the Russells was a family
named Hurd. Their farm Joined Russell's.
Five wears ago Hurd and Russell quarreled
over the location of line fence, and the
dispute was carried to court, where, after
long litigation, it was decided adversely to
Russell lie ever after entertained bitter
hatred toward his neighbOr's entire family.
| Shortly after the death of his wife and child
Russell hired a girl named Lizzie Sackett,
then aged thirteen, to assist his daughter
Hattie, and be q companion to her. The
two girls grew up together, but there never
was any great intimacy between them, their
natures being entirely opposed. Hattie at
seventeen was iavOrite IN the social circle.
Miss Sackett at twenty was handsome wO-
man, but not liked by many. Last Spring
Miss Russell met Horton Hurd, a son ot her
fathers old enemy, then deceased, tor the
first time since they were children. They
formed d mutual attachment, but it was
suddenly interrupted By the emphatic com
mand Of farmer Russell. About the same
time Hattie made the discovery tina. sus-
picious Intimacy existed between her father
and Lizzie Sackett. She demonstrated with
both, and finally ordered Lizzie to leave the
house. Russell brought her back and placed
her in authority. The daughter found work
as seamstress in this village. This caused
intense public Indignation, and the former
was in a short time compelled to send Miss
Sackett away, when his daughter returned.
Her fathers conduct. however. had led her
to think that he had forfeited his right IL
stand in the way Of her happiness, and dur
ing her temporary alienation from him she
met her lover Hurd again and accepted his
proposal of marriage and consented to an
early day for the ceremony.
On September "a, 1875, Russell astonish-
ed his daughter by telling her that he wa:
} going that morning to Sackett's having ar
ranged to marry Lizzie. Hattie told hel
father that she would net live under the
same roof with them, but would lose nc
time in accepting home at the hands o
her afhanced The farmer laughed at what
he called her prejudices, and lett her. Whsr
he returned with his bride the daughter
was nowhere to be found. A note on hel
bureau informed her father that she had lei
his house forever, to accept another home
, Russell, swearing that he would rather see
his daughter dead than the wife OF Hurd
started in pursuit of her. On leaving hel
= / p,aoall ttrarf N this
lage. when Young Hurd was soon madt
aware of her presence and position. H'
proposed an immediate marriage, and sh'
assented, and Rev. Mr.. Conyne performed
the ceremony at the residence of Mrs. Brad
/. lsy. a sister of Hurd. After the ceremony
!, when they were all at the dinner-table
Russell dashed into the room, and. selzinG
: a knife from the table, grappled with hurd
and attempted to stab him. To defend him
self Hurd drew a revolver and leveled it a
Russell Just then the young bride sprane
: between the assailants and received bulle
} in her brain. She sank to the floor dead
When he realized the terrible situation
Hurd, in frenzy of despair, placed th'
pistol to his temple, and he fell dead by tn
; side of his wife.
, The village was soon wild with excite
ment. Russell's arrest followed at once
but his mind had given away. and he wa
: delivered to his wife raving maniac. 70
three months there seemed little hope OF hi
|, ever regaining his reason. but be did by de
, grees, and since January last has attends
to his business as before. An indictmen
: was found against him for deadly assault a
2 the last term Of court, and he was to b
: tried on the charge this week. Remors
= and fear of punishment was no doubt th
cause of his committing suicide.
. From the time Russell was taken home
+ mad-man up to the time of his recovery
II his wife was his constant attendant an
= nurse, and care and anxiety on his accour
u ruined her health. When Russell recovered
however, he refused to recognize her. an
70 showed the most hearty repugnance to b
Is presence He finally wholly discarded be
and sent her to her father. q bf0ken-hearte
diving woman. II is believed that her dea
u will quickly follow that Of her husband
I'd Russsll was about fifty years old.
40 leaves his property by will 70 brother
At ENGLAND.