River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-02-24
ssd Tragedy at Forest city, ninneso,s.


A special telegram from Litchfield TO
the Minneapolis Tribune Of Sunday
gives the particulars Of fearful tragedy,
occurring at Forest City, Meeker county
Saturday morning, as follows:
From Captain j. u. Atkinson aud 9TH
crs from Forest City We learn the sad
story Of a suicide and attempted wife
murder which took place early this morn.
ing. William Richardson was a thrifty
farmer living IN the edge Of the woods
between here and Forest City. He had a
good farm, well stocked good barn, and a
very neat country home. He Is said TO
be out Of debt and to have plenty of
money. His wife is spoken OF as
quiet, good woman, and
the cause which induced
her husband to attempt her life is as vet
a dark mystery. She was shot through
the left shoulder and was 80 weak from
the eliusion Of blood as to be unable to
convey any information. After shooting
his wife, Richardson went out Of the house
and, walking a few steps, stopped and shot
himself through the head. The weapon
used was carbine. Richardson had a
family Of eight children-some Of them
married. lie was about fifty years Of
| age,
A later telegram gave the following:
"Ihe Coroner's jury in the Richardson
case gave verdict Of death brought
about by his own hand. Mrs. Richard.
son testified that her husband had for
some time been afflicted with a running
sore in his head. and when this dried up,
which happened occasionally, he
was readered insane. The
universal testimony Of men acquainted
with him for years, is that Bill Richard.
son was the last man in the county to
do such thing unless he was out Of his
right mind. Mrs. Richardson is in very
critical condition. Tier shoulder blade
was shattered to pieces so that the bones
have been removed She had an infant
Of two weeks old in her arms at the time
the fearful wound was inflicted by her
! husband
TO this the TriJURe adds
Miss Dora Richardson, a daughter of
William Richardson, is attending school
in this city, aud left for Lite htield yester.
day morning Immediately after the recep.
tion Of the terrible news. Mrs. Susan
Bean. Of this city, Is sister Of Richard.
sons first wife, now deceased, the wound.
ed lady being his second wife.
and formerly Miss Putnam, her
parents at one time living at Little Falls
Crcek, beyond the Watcrvlllc mill. Two
Of the Richardson brothers now reside at
litchtleld, and ono is resident Of this
coun:y-all e,timlble citizens. William
Richardson, who has thus sadly termina-
ted his own life and endangered that of
beloved wife, while temporarily insane,
has lived IN llennepin county for a mum.
Der of years, and few days ago ex.
pressed the determination to attend the
reunion Of the Old Settlers at the Nicolet
House on Tuesday evening.
Charles Gilpatrick Of this city,
brother in-law Of Richardson's. informs
the Tribune that deceased had been un.
der treatment for disease OF the ear.
and his physician had advised him that II
must eventually drive him to insanity, If
not promptly cured The shooting of
Mrs. Richardson and the suicide Of the
unfortunate husband haze caused terri.
bic shock to all who knew them. aud who
regarded Richardson as a man wholly in
capable Of acting as the principal in such
an awful and shocking tragedy.