The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-19
COWHIDE AND PISTOL.
Sequel Of a Suit for a Divorce.
A HoRsE.wHIPPED HUSBAND


sCkNE IN RAILWAY DEPOT.
A Goshen IN. W dispatch to the Sun
says: This town Is in an intense fever
OF excitemnt over the shooting of Wisner
Murray, the president of tie board of
trustees ofthis village and sn officer in one
of the banks here, by Robert 81. Berdell,
an ex-r president OF the Erie Railway Com
pany, who was recently divorced from his
wife on the ground of adultery. Murray
was brother-in-lsw OF Beriell, the two
having married sisters, the Misses Bar
nard. In the trial of Harriet b. Berdell
against her husband for alimony and
divorce, Murray figured very con-
as Miss LIZZIE Berdell and Mr..
Berdell's servants testified, visited MIR.
Berdelps residence here several times a
week, and always during his absence,
taking Mrs. Berdell into other apartments
of the house than those occupied by the
family, and remaining generally from one
hour to an hour and half every time
This led, Mr.. Bsrdell claimed. to the es-
arrangement of himself aud wife. But Hor-
ace Barnard, a New York lawyer, and
brother of Mrs Berdell. testified that the
object of Murray's visits were to inform
Mrs. Berdell Of the facts that he (Barnard)
had obtained in regard to the
INDIscREEr ACTIONS OF MR.. BERDELL,
and upon which the action for divorce
was ased. However this may be, 1t had
at least one bad result, the deepest hatred
OF the two men for each other. A promi-
nent lawyer of the Goshen bar said to-day
that Murray would often meet Mr.. Ber-
dell at the depot, run up against him, and
insult him, but that in each case Mr.. B9r-
dell took no notice of him. This manner
of persecution has annoyed Befdell very
much. But the climax was reached yes
terdsy on the arrival of the Newburgh
and Ulster county express from jersey
CITY, the train Mr.. Berdell usually takes
to reach his home here In the evening. IL
is due here about o'clock. When il got
here, Wisner Murray and his younger
brother, A. Spencer Murrsy,Jr q lawyer in
New York, were in waiting. When MIR.
Berdell leaves the train be passes directly
through the depot to the other side, where
his carriage always stands waiting for him
As he entered the door nearest the train
there stood the MurTsys surrounded by
friends. They bsd, it is said, sent word To
a number OF their acquaintance to come
to the depot and see them fog Mr.. Berdell,
add several responded. When Mr.. Ber6 ell
had got about half wsv through the build
ing without observing the Murrsys, they
bounced upon him. Spencer Murray, 1t
seems, was detailed to hold Berdell fast,
while Wisner did the flashing. The for
mer, therefore, pinioned BerdelPs arms
behind his back and held them, while
wIsNER d Ew LONG CowHIDB,
which he vigorously applied to Mr.. Ber-
dell's face and head. Wisner Murray is
about thirty-6ve years of age, with red
hair and whiskers, and though light in
stature, is wonderfully muscular and
strong. Spencer is younger, being about
thirty, but is larger and more muscular.
Both have very strong and almost uncon-
trolable tempers when once aroused, and
the cowhiding they administered to their
victim was extremely severe. The first
crack almost set the man wild, and in the
strokes fell thick and fast. The worst
stroke probably was square across the
two cheek S and bridge of the nose. The
cut is deep and has LETT a bad wound.
Another cut with the cowhide went
through Mr.. Berdell's beaver,
and lett light scalp wound on the back
OF his head. Another struck him in the
right eye, which was rendered almost use
less. The forehead, chin, and other parts
OF the head and face are also cut aud
bruised. 1t was a hard struggle for Mr..
rdeil to get loose from the younger
Murray, and not until after he shot Wis
ner Murray did he do so. While still
pinioned he managed to thrust his hand
into bis pocket and draw therefrom a i've
shooter, the property Of his SOD. When
Wisner saw this movement he fled for
sa!etv, leapiDg over the counter OF the re-
freshment stand in the depot, and en-
desvoring to escape through the kitchen
on the east side. But Mr.. Beidell was TOO
quick tor him.
HE LEvELED THE PISTOL,
and firing, struck him in the forehead. 1t
was simply chance shot as Berdell wss for
ty feet away, and still fast with his elbows
behind his back, ana shaking with pain
and fright. Murray, when the ball hit
him, was in the act of shutting door be-
him. He fell to the floor almost lifeless.
and was takeD to the Occidental Hotel
near by. Mr.. Berdell, In the mean sime,
bad got loose from Spencer Murray, and,
had not John III. Conner wrenched the pis-
toll from his hands, Spencer Murray would
undoubtedly have been shot, too, as Ber--
dell was crazy with rage. After Mr.. Conner
had secured the shooter from Mr.. Berdell,
the IL tier said, I" Let me have that pistol
I'll shoot him." meaning, it is supposed,
Spencer, the one who held his arms.
Not getting t, he ran to his
wagon and ordered his coachmsn
to drive him home. Just rs he was
about to enter the door, Officer Landy, who
had jumped into another wagon and fol-
lowed him up, arrested him. He was a.
tired in a white vest, linen coat, white
shirt and black pantsloons, all of which
wers literally besmeared with blood.
When the officer took him he was sp-
parently deranged in mind, and ex-
claimed, "Oni OIL What have L done7
Can you tell me who held my srms7"
When told what he ba1 done, he said,
"Nc, haven't, have II" When asked
what he had done with his pistol, he said
he didn't know. Mr.. Berdell was taken
back to the county jail and put In charge
of Al no oh o. He