Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-06-16
[ From the Middletown, Nd, Register ]
Tragic and Mysterious Death of
the Rev. y. W. Friday.

the Rev. =. VI. Friday.
After having made every eudeavor to
ascertain as nearly as possible the cir
cumstances connected with the recent
tragedy at Harper's Ferry, which result
ed in the death of the Rev. John NJ
Friday, pastor OF the Lutheran Church
at Harpers Ferry, l am able to report
the following facts: Mr.. Friday left his
home on Camp Hill little previous to
9 o'clock, p. NJ, On Thursday evening,
the 3lst of May, 10 cross the bridge 10
the Maryland shore to unite in matri-
mony Mr.. Frank OFT, prominent
young merchant of Halltown, w. Va,
to Miss Howard, highly respectable
young lady of Charlestown, w. Va.
Walking in the rear of the buggy con
tanning the above named couple, halt
was made at the Maryland eLd of the
bridge about 9 l,2 o'clock. A few mo-
ments conversation ensued, when the
buggy, turning west, proceeded up the
Canal perhaps one hundred and fifty
yards or more, as the track of the vehi
Gle in the dust indicated, and then turn
inc, came back about one hundred yards
toward the bridge, where the ceremony
was performed This over, the Rev.
gentleman remarked snow we will re
turn" but the groom not wishing The
fact Of his marriage TO become immedl-
ately known, requested him to remain
there some ten or fifteen minutes, as his
accompanying them back would very
naturally give suspicion of the marriage.
He asserted, and this is the last fact we
can give in his life. The balance we
can only surmise.
When he left home meeting of
members of his congregation was in
session at his house to devise plans tor
the future well-being of the church, and
he requested them to await his return,
which he expected would be i'll about
half an hour But time wore on, the
meeting adjourned, and the parties re-
paired TO their homes. Still the young
and amiable wife anxiously awaited for
the return of her husband and night
of dreadful suspense and anguish it was
to her. And to add to the poignancy
thereof, she became wearied and eX-
hausted by watching, and falling uncon-
sciously into light slumber, dreamed
that her husband was murdered
Strange, too, to say, his aged mother,
residing twelve miles away and OF
course knowing nothing whatever OF
ID. in
same night dreamed that her son was
murdered. The night wore on and at
length the morning approached, but
with its welcome light he came not. In
very short time the alarm was sounded
and the inhabitants turned out en- masse
to institute search Soon it was ascer-
tanned that the Lock-keeper had found
a hat i'm the Canal at the Lock. which,
upon examination, proved to belong to
the missing man. Then the dreadful
truth flashed across the minds of those
in search of him that his body was con
cealed beneath the murky waters of the
G. IL O. Canal Divers Immediately
volunteered their services TO search for
the body, and about 8 o'clock a. NJ,
Friday, the lst inst, the liteless remains
were brought to the surface over one
hundred yards further up stream than
the spot where the marriage service was
performed. a jury was Immediately
summoned and after casual examina-
ton of the corpse, and without even
summoning the groom nor l believe
any one else as witness in the case, and
with unmslakable marks Of violence
upon his person, exhibited the most un-
exampled aud unprecedented stupidity
by rendering a verdict of accidental
drowning. DIR. ODonnel, an old resi-
dent physician of Harpers Ferry, judg-
ing from the size, shape, and location
of the confusion over and in the rear of
tie left eye, extending almost vertically
to the lower part OF the temple, is very
decided in his opinion that it was done
by n bludgeon in the hands of foul as
saSsin. Another wound, and sufficient
perhaps to have proven fatal, was loca-
ted just about one iuch in horizontal
line back from the lower extremity of
the right ear Examinations were made
by, | think, six physicians, and mot
withstanding the verdict of the jury all
were very fully convinced that his sud
den taking off was accomplished by toul
means. As to the motive which actua-
ted the foul deed, we can only conjec
ture. The fact that the license, togeth-
er with the fee OF $500, were found in
his vest pocket, also his watch upon lis
person and small amount Of fractional
currency in a memorandum book in his
side pocket, would seem to indicate
that plumber was not the object. But
on the day in question Thursday he
had been to Frederick City, Nd, to
transact business, and just having re-
turned an half hour previous to the tlne
appointed for the marriage, he had no
opportunity to communicate his bust
ness even to bis family, hence it is not
known what amount of money he might
have had at the time upon his person,
and it is thought probable that the as
sassin obtained what he regarded as SUI.
ficient or perhaps all he had without ex-
amining further, hastily deposited the
body in the Canal to obliterate for the
time being all traces of the deed
The groom, OFT, asserts that as he
drove from the fatal spot toward the
bridge, he met two yety suspicious
looking men, and doubtless they com
mitted the deed. Mr.. OFT was upon the
most intimate terms of friendship with