Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-01-14
MsaiseeIIaneoms. Msa
Translated from the New York Stats
Zietu1aq for the AMERICAN
INFATUATED WITH DEEUSI0N,

Translated from the New York SLdqts-
Zietujaq for the AMERICAN
INFATUATED WITH DEEUSIoN,
Among the sad occurrences that hang
like dark shadows over the week, which
people most cheerfully contemplate as en-
liyened by the glow of social convivialty, is
the crime committed at Flatbush, well cal
culated, as it is, to set in bold relief one of
the dark points of our 5oasted civilization.
Murder of conjugal partner, and suicide,
caused by want of agreement in religious
creed ; delusion, called religious, las parent
of a most heinous crime.
y German by the name Of Ritter is a
member of the Reformed Church his wife
IS Methodist she urges him without any
intermission to become a convert to her
faith; and he remains from conviction
just as steadfast in his own. Thereupon
she ''makes his life hell" He does not
yield, and she goes so far as to shut him
out of his own dwelling, as a hereto on a
"ASN~A SNAN hiSAt' LII liic hlOL ttlI OilI-
burst of passion, killing and suicide.
The culprit is known he has judged
himself. But are all others entirely inno-
cent in this family tragedy? Have the
pious people who urged on tie pair in their
religious quarrel, maintained more angel
ic innocence respecting it than all others
SnnnthIno anita oSnaptippol 10,
taken place if some very conscientious and
exceedingly weli-meaning persons have not
honestly done their part to bring on the
catastrophe. Into whose presence would
she not come, this Godfearing lady neigh
Dor, who entertains so painful an anxiety
concerning the souls welfare of all the
children of men who live On the same street
or block, where she lets the light of her
piety shine, but especially of those who
are her near neighbors, that she cannot do
otherwise than regard their manner of life
as something which very nearly concerns
herself? With what eagerness would this
good soul have put into the ear of the now
murdered wife never to rest until she had
turned her husband from his heresy, and
therefore she must convert his house into
a he'll, which would only be service well
pleasing to God. since it would be the
means of rescuing the husband from the
actual damnation of hell. And to how
an extent must the unhappy position of the
1.,nt II, Il
while her partner went after other Gods,
have rendered him the object of increasing
comment, throughout the whole church
membership; with what compassion must
the poor woman have been looked upon, as
she passed by the pews of the church with
out her husband, and oh, with such load
of sympathy from the restless emulation OF
the whole church sisterhOod as to make her
feel very deeply the assurance that she was
the victim Of the most cruel fate that ever
came upon a mortal who lived in the fear
God the victim of an intolerable antagon-
ism in her own home. And then whenever
she left the church, feeling that the eyes of
all were fixed upon her, some influence
must have been exerted, as she was not by
some other good and true believing soul,
who accosted her with such words as,
"IIow pale you look to-day, Mrs. Ritter,
but it could not have been otherwise, with
the awful struggle which the want of reli-
gious joy in your own household must
bring upon you, you must accomplish your.
purpose; God will help you" Then occa-
sionally strong minded female would eX-
claim, 'If he will have nc union with you
in church membership, then shut him out
from all other union. That will soon have
its effect'' The effect has come but it is
somewhat different from what the church
sisterhood, in the pursuit of their very
worthy purpose, expected. Perhaps he
also was well furnished with advice from
the good friends. Perhaps it was his, on
Sunday morning, to hear such conciliating
words as, "Ritter, you seem to me to-day
to be very thoughtful. You will not sure
ly suffer yourself to be forced into aposta-
cy. You must take hold rs becomes mar
The more you yield, the worse it is. At
all events carry this business through, and
make an end of it. Ycu cannot be forever
tormenting yourself with it. Let there be
an end.'' The result has been reached.
They both lie now in the coffin, two victims
of highest crime. The soul curers on both
sides solemnly renounce responsibility for
tho ,orrid transaction, and conscious of