The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-23
A REVOLVING TRAGEDY.
AN ILLINOIS FARMEI MURDERS HIS WIFE AND
THEN BLOWS OUT HIS OWN BRAINs-MAavKLr
LoUs ESCAPE OF A BABY.

AN ILLINOIS FARMEE MURDERS HIS WIFE AND.
THEN BLOWS OUT HIS OWN BRAINs-MAavEL"
LoUs ESCAPE OF BABY.
BLOOMINGTON. ILL.,, June 49, 1877.
Briefly. py telegraph, tho HERALD, and thereby tho
world has been told oil the awful decd that occurred
in this vicinity night before last whereby y wealthy
farmer murdered his wife in cold blood and thcn
cheated the galiows OF worthy victim by blowing out
his own brains In all probability no other county IN
the OF Illinois. and very likely no like division OF
any OF the Border states has recorded moro foa OF
atrocous murders than Mclean.
Seems THx TRAGEDY
one mile and q quarter, or there bouts, from the
village OF Holder, the eastern edge Of tho town
ship is tho homestead Of Frederick Hcndryx, contain
ins about ono hundred In addition 70 this IS
rac. oil 100 acres adjoining. which also belonged ia
tins individual Fredcr.c ok Hendryx was the son OF
one Of the oldest settlers in Mclean county, and was
born here nty. iour years ago. He was violent
tempered, quarresoms, and when under the influence
OF liquor, to which lie addicted. and which was
the cause OF all the trouble OF long lite and OF ths
tragedy in which The latter tcrmn ted, ever ready
pick fight He married, twenty-five years ago, :
girl named Elzapelh Morris In her maiden days she
was considered bright, Intelligent and amiable Dur
ing her married lie sho bore an unbemished reputae
ton. Hendryx and his wife were blessed with eight
youngest OF whom Is but three years Of age.
THE BRUTE REVEALED.
Il was not long after his marriage that Hendryx be-
gan to treat his wife in the most shameful manner,
yet she renamed faithful to her marriage vow ana On.
dured in silence his many volencea Finally she ap-
p ed TO the Circuit Court Tor divorce Hendrix APP
peared to come to his when he appreciated the
stop his wife taken, ana then he besought her TO
forgive his past conduct she consented after long
and earnest persuasion For some lime after this
Hendryx behaved hi mself, but once moro the demon
Of drink overpowered him aud no returned TO his evil
WAYS From time he began drinking again TIL the
end OF his miserable career. on Saturday night hn
life was tina. or a low aud VICIOUS man. A year ago
Hendryx attempt take his wifes LIE, sezing her
aooa. the waist ere nigh; ana snapp'nE "a =
time however, the weapon failed to do iss work. She
saved herself from his Jury oy breaking from ma
grasp and fleeing TO neighbours house Az that ume
also Hendryx walked out upon ms porch, placed the
pistol TO his head and fired. The ball JAILED OF Us
mission glanciug upon the skull, and only innictinga
severe wound. lne apptcalion Tor divorce WINS then
renewed by Tho wife.
now HE KILLED
On Saturday evening Hendryx returned from town
about six o'clock, and accompanied by German
glrl named Sophia Plonse he had engaged her 70 %
liquor, having been drinking heavily Tor several days
When he reached his home no ate MS supper with tnt
remainder OF mis- iamiIy and shortly aterWard Ms
wife left table with her youngest child, Hendryx
still remaining the board The vile stepped into an
adjoining room light candle. Upon her emerging
tnsretrom Hendryx ner. and, raising his loot gave
her tremendous KICK. She asked why ue nau k'ckco
her 10 winch he replied that had dono nothing Of
the kind s.Y0u tid.n she replied, "anu TINS Is tne
last night will stay under this root A. soou az mo
shot Colts revolver from his pocket and. as his wife
raised her nand before her iace fired one SHOT Tho
ball passed through her hand and entered her 1915
breast piercing the lung. Stl carrying her chid sne
ra6out Of the house, shreking, and was followed ~
Hendryx, who fred three balls INTO ncr back
MURDERED WITH CHILD IN HER ARMS.
AS the vie was running out q young man named
Daley, who employed by Hendryx, interiereo
10 protect the The tnfurlaed husband turned
upon the young with the remark mat ne would
fix him, and pointed tho revolver at him. DAloy ne0
uto the house thence TO the neignbors and gave
dryx 1t was found, had covered his wife and child,
that still lay lis mothers breast crying win
shawl and had disappeared himself The dead mothei
and tho uDnjured child were lying In she roadway
near tho gale, ABOUT eighty feet from the house.
HENDRIX KILLS HIAsELF.
About half.past evening Some neighDurs 60
ing the eds about aqIarter OF mile northwest
OF the house, found the body OF Hendryx lying near
straw stack There bullet hole in MS mead, ana
he was dead. He had placed his nat on the STAGE,
made IN tho straw, and, by placing tho muzze
OF tho Same revolver used IN the vito butchery behind
right played the last dreadful act Of iEe deep
est most horrible iendish tragedy that has been
pcrpetrated in Mclean county
Tue inquest showed that Mrs. Hendryx had not lived
an our alter receiving the wounds
The entire neighborhood has been horrhed over tho
tragedy aud is nearly wild with excitement All work
was stopped for miles around ~ the county.
The funeral held yesterday morning ~ ten
o'clock Rev. Isaac Wood, Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, officiating. rhe victims were buried SIDE by
side rurB graveyard that lies SO near 70 the
scene oil Their happiness their ascord, their misery
| and their dreadful death.