The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-07
THAT KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
Additional Particulars in Regard
to Harrison.

10
There seems to be no doubt in tbs
minds of those conversant with the late
Boone County tragedy, in which the
grandson of Ex-President VIM. Henry
Harrison figured as a blood-thirsty
would-be murderer, and his victim the
daughter of Major john Ii. More, WIN
had refused his hand IN marriage, that
Harrison was insane.
The unfortunate mans mother, who
was daughter OF General Z4bulOa
Montgomery Pike, one Of the historical
personages OF the war OF 1872 was for
many years addicted to the excessive
use Of opium, and in a lit resulting
therefrom took her own life. That the
son may have inherited the tendency to
insanity Is not too much to suppose. A
few weeks ago Harrison, while on a
visit to married sister named Morgan,
living in Fort Wayne, Iud., wrote rath-
er strange letter to a warm personal
friend named Shotwell, who lives in the
neighbOrhOod of his place in KeatuckE.
In which he sta ed that his wife had
been dead some time now, and that he
thought seriously OF marrying again:
and mis- object in addressing Mr.. Shot
we'll was to implore him to use his influ-
ence with niece OF his (Sh0twelPsl
wife, an estimable lady who lives near
Maysville, KY, whom he wished to
make his second wife.
The date of this letter being but few
weeks ago, it is hard to reconcile the
fact OF his passion for the MaysVilie
lady, and few days after attempt the
life of Miss More because she would
not marry him, by any theory than that
he was insane at that time. Staid coun-
try gentlemen of Harrisons age are not
apt to have so many strings to their DO W.
On the receipt of the letter, which natu-
rally disconnected Mr.. Shotwell some
| what, he at once made known Its con-
tents to Major More, who was equally
astonished, although, be it remembered,
he had at that time not the least IdeIs
that the writer was an aspirant for his
daughters hand.
The Major at once dissuaded his
friend Harrison from such a step, giving
as the prime reason that HarrisOnS
family, be well knew, would object 80
his marriage most seriously. 1t should
be borne in mind that the Major aud HaT.
rison were on the most intimate terms.
They had never quarreled, and Harrl-
son, whose first wife Was a niece OF tilD
Majors wife, was married at the Majors
house. Major More had never been
made acquainted with the fact of Har-
risOn's wishing to marry his daughter,
strange as 1t may seem, and knew notn-
ing of the courtship until alter the trage-
dy last Tuesday.
For all that Harrison sprnng from il
lustrious ancestry, and from youth UP
has been possessed by what was thoughs
O competency, yet he Is not an educated
man, and, although quite temperate ia
his habits, yet his lGck Of business gual3-
tications has been the cause of his tinaR-
cial embarrassment. He is deeply In
debt, and thousands of dollars, which he
has from time 70 time lent to needy
rends, will never be recovered. HIs
kindness OF heart and careessness
about money matters has become pro.
verbal in that section Of the country,
where he was born and raised.
He has not been sent to the Burlins-
ton Jail, as at first stated; his friends
had him taken before Judge Phelps, pt
the Probate Court OF Boone County.
who, upon examination, pronounced
the man lunatiC, and recommended his
secluson in the asylum at Lexington.
Major NJ ore, who by the way is daily
reader of the STAR, called at this otf;e
last evening to correct the statement
that Harrison is dissipated man.
He spoke of the sad affair with tears
streaming uoWh Ills luil"Weu oneehSS
but had nothing to say in condemnation
OF his unfortunate friend, who he tirmiy
believes was insane at the time the aw-
luI deed was committed, il not for weeka
previous. He has always regarded Har-
rison as one Of his own family, ana Ghe
ties OF affection had been but a t6w
months ago drawn more closely by the
marriage OF Pike Harrison "a son OF tha
subject OF this sketch to u step-daugh.
ter OF Major More'S VIE.
Miss More, though iearfully mangled.
is in u fair way to recover.