The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-19
A Frenzied Coach Maker Attempts
to Murder His Housekeepsr.
SUICIDE or The WOULD-BE MURDERER.
A Scene on the Boulevards That
Startled the Police.
CAUSES THAT LED TO THE CRIME.
The Story Of an Unhappy Marriage and
Desolated Home.


A most irightfu tragedy took place ust about sun.
rise yesterday morning two story cottosc in
Tooth street and the Boulevard. The pcrpetrator
the dreadful decd Thomas II. Harding, ono
time extensive coach builder Of this city Ho Drst
attempted TO murder his bousekeeper Mrs. Agnes
Wood, and then shot himself IN tho forehead
and in tho abdomen, INJECTING wound In
tho latter region from the effects OF which
died tbrce hours alter The particulars OF tho tragedy,
rs Cleaned yesterday afternoon, briefly stated be-
low and reveal n cad picture OF social depravity.
| II appears that Mr. Harding separated from his vito
little over two years ago aud engaged Mrs. Agnes
Wood young WIDOW of Massachusetts,, as house
keeper. She took up her residence at his house in
1O9h street, near the Boulevard, shortly after being
engaged, and has since that time had complete
| Of the household Affairs OF her employer
THE SCENE TRAGEDY.
The house In which the tragedy enacted is q neat
two story COTTAGE situated about nifty yards way
between tho Boulevard and Eleventh avenue. Long,
trailing vines rcaoh from tho roo. down the OF
the house. and oso themselves a neat pretty laid
out garden. ON tho first hoor two roons-thc
ktchon and sitting room, whilo the second story
there three rooms all used sleeping apart
mcnts-the fronting tho street by Mr.. Harding
himself, Mrs. Wood occupied the rear hall bedroom,
whilc Mr. Harding's child and n little Of Mrs. wood
occupied tho other and larger room. In tho furniture
appointments OF the house greatest taste and
ncatneAs displayed tsct
THE TRAGEDY.
Shortly before avc o'clock yesterday morning, the
stiffness OF tho neighborhood was broken by tho
sharp report or pistol and tho aronzing
shrieks Of woman, and in few moments
thereafter, Mrs. Wood at,ircd only in light
night dross which saturated with the
blood that flowed from q wound IN her left rushed
her next door neighbor Mrs. Everett Sho was pale
and almost fain.ing from fright and sinking into
chair, gasped-
"My God, Mrs. Everett. will you 90 I'M Mr.. Hard
ing has tricd murder mo- and be sIiu certainly kill
the children"
At that moment two pistol shots in quick succession
broke upon tho air. ''Ohl" exclaimed Mrs. Wood,
che is numbering tho children and then sank faint.
| ing the floor. Mrs. Everett rushed OF
her house toward tho Boulevard, hoping meet her
husband who It appears is tho lamp lighter for tho
district and At that time putting tho lights along
the boulevard On reaching 10th she instead
Officer Tuiy, ofthe Thirty first precinct and In broken
and hurried accents, informed him OF tho tragedy.
Tho officer started u for the house. and arr,v.
Ing at the front door, found locked and botcd MRS.
Everett .hcrsupon went into hcr yard and returned
carrying . large axe, with which tho officer broke
| down tho door. within tho housc all was STILL The
oncor looked In tho little neatly furnished parlor that
opened upon tho hallway, but seeing no ono shere
dashed up tho staircase TO the second story.
| sUIcrDR!
On arriving at the top Of tho stairs faint foil
upon the officers II camc from the front ROOM
which, as stated above, Mr.. harding occupied
sleeping apartment Tho onicdr quickly stepped to
the door, and, pushing open. bcheld as no subso
qasn .ns no had oyer On o inc oo!
hts face bespattercd with blood aud blackened
with powder , gaping ,s %sy ,o Wound IN his
clutchiugn revolver, lay Mr. Harding in the agonles
OF death. AS tho officer entered tho room Harding
lay upon hts left side, his face turned to the lie
wns clad light blue flannel shirt only, ana this
was actually dripping with blood that flowed down mis-
also IRON wound in hrs abdomen, htte
to the lett OF the navel and just below tho
he wri,hod and roilci about tho noor 70 such an
extent that tho officer obliged TO hold him dow
by main strength He d'd not once open his lips,
except moan, In ag0nizing ncccnts, ooh, my Goo
sSs room. A. thus moment sirs. Evorssss hus.
The Boulevard, while nor son was son. to
tragedy. DR.. Utter quickly arrived upon tho scene
and found Sergeant Smith and Of1cer Knnard n.
doavoring to restore Harding TO consciousness. The
Doctor bent the dying man, who, at that moment
opened his eyes and recognized him.
"Ohl Doctor" be iaintly murmurcd. "is that you ?
Save mo, won't you Save mel Will die2
DR. Utter, without replying to the question, aud sup
posing that the wound In the forehead was the only
ono which Harding had inilc ted upon himself
set about extracting tho ball. When he placed his
finger on tho wound Harding writhed II in torr,be
agony, at the samo time murmuring. In u scare ely
audible voice. .'For Gods sake, Doctor, let me
Let roll over" rhe Doctor persevcrcd IN his
necessary Tor the oIicors to hold him. while the Doc
tor inserted the iorccps and extracted the ball. which
was actually nattercd AZ though 1t had been fired
against a wall ThcHEul was not fractured nor even
eho ihArQ sh,sh
bullet did not pierce the bruip.
rHx FATAL WOUND
The Doctor then proceeded TO examine Mr. Harding
more fully and raising the SHIRT which was sticking
to the body, no discovered horrible gaping wound
the unfortunate mans abdomen He once saw that
the wound was atul and that to probe It would only
hasten Hardine's death. He therefore sot about max
ing BIN comfortable as sibe during the brief tImo
that intervene until death would relieve him OF
his agonies. lilo was placed upon the bod and
bandages wrapped about his forehead to stsnch tho
flow OF blood that still streaming from the CHASTITY
wound. During all this time Harding, although he
was abo recognize Mrs Everett aud DR.. Utter.
unable to utter u word that could to throw tho
iainsst light upon his and terri
bio act Al about eight O'Clock he sank into lethagc
STATE, In which condition he remained until a
quarter TO nine. A. that moment no seemed
suddenly 20 DO possessed Of the strength OF a
giant, for he raised himself to n sitting posture aud
elared ncrccy about him then as suddenly he became
weak and helpless and, sinking back upon his pillow,
gasped or twice painfully and died. Word was
an hour afterwards Coroner EIlnger was upon tho
scene, and began investigation into tho tragedy.
THE conoSrRs ISvBsriG Alton
Tho FIRST witness examined by the Coroner was Mrs
Wood who came meeting her death at Mr..
uardng's haads. In answer 10 tho intcrrogaorcs
! nut TO her sho stated that sho was Mr.. Harding's
housekeopcr about four o'cocF, she SAID, while sho
was lying In bed IN on the second moor Har
ding appeared, and, Violently ningng her door back
ordered her to get up and get his breakfast ready she
was surprised unusual request out rose IN tho
he'd and was about TO obey sho suddenly noticed
that ne had revolver tightly clenchcd In his right
hand she was also alarmed by tho appearance oil his
face HIS checks were bloodlcss. and there was n
strange, Wild hsh Ia bis eyes tnM sont chii 70 her
sooth,ng tone of voice begged Mr. Harding TO SIT down
while she was getting breakfast but Harding, grinding
his ,sc,h Missed nt her, Woman, you have ruined me-
nnd win now ruin you" Az the same moment he
sprapp upon her, cutcnng her by the ucck with one
hand and cpdeavored the pistol into mouth
with the other The fear OF tho horrible death with
which sbc was thrcatoneI gave the woman moro than
usual strength for wrcnchng herself from tho grasp