The New York herald., 1877-08-25
THE HARDING INQUEST.
TESTIMONY GIVEN IN THE CASA VERDICT OF
SUICIDE

TESTIMONY GIVEN IN THE CASA VERDICT OF
SUICIDE.
At tho Coroners ofce yesterday morning an inquest
was held on the body OF Thomas H. Harding, who on
last Saturday morning attempted the life Of his house,
keeper and then took his own. The interest which
was generally awakened In the by the peculiar
circumstances attending II and the sympathy excited
by the suicides unhappy family rotations were
calculated to warrant fair attendance Of people at
the inquest The witnesses werc Mrs Agnes Wood
whose life Harding attempted; Mra Everett, who gave
her assistance when wounded and Officer Tully. who
first summoned to the scene OF the shooting and
who discovered tho suicide in his room. Mrs Woods
seemed to have entirely recovered from her INJURIES
and was during her stay the Coroners' Office en-
gagged In conversation with young girl, who, II was
learned, was the daughter Of the deceased.
Coroner Eilinger IN opening the case instructed the
Jury how they wero to weigh the evidence TO be ad-
ducod, and on what points tho investigation TO
turn.
Agnes Woods the housekocper was then called. In
answer to the questions propounded to her she made
the following dcposition:-
TESTIMONY OF THE HoUsRK EEPER.
reside In Tooth street, between Tenth avenue and
the Boulevard have lived with the deceased Thomas
H. Harding, about two years. for about three months
previous 10 hts death he greatly troubled in his
lad account of his business well account
of hts divorce suit against second wife, which was
decided against him. he nervous, excituDle Occa-
sonay wild in Eis actions, at times melancholy, and
would change from one state TO another quite fire.
quertly; he had q wild look In his eyes about four
o'clock the morning OF August Is was in bed, when
he came to my door and said Mrs Woods come,
it is time to get up told HIM ITO 60 out OF my room
and would get up" aud then he looked ut with a
very wild look; got frightened. and presently be ex
claimed, ''rreachcry oil woman! Lib, you have
ruined me-" anu with that he mado for my throat by
Lib he meant mis- wife, whose name was Elizabeth, but
he called her Lib; | withdrew from his grasp and
struggled away; ran down stars, and when half way
down stars received pistol wound in the lett shoul
der; l ran out into the street, whore met Mrs
Everett, and went into her house.
OFFICER TuLLY's STATEMENT.
Tho next witness was Officer ruly, who testified as
follows-On the 18th OF August, about ten nutes TO
ivs O'Clock A. NJ, l was the Boulevard, between
10th 11lth Streets when met Mrs. Everett, VINO
came out OF l09th street, she informed me that the
deceased had shot his housekcepcr and probably
shoot his children; ran to the house, where imme-
diatey found Harding locked up in his room, which
broke open; ound him lying at the foot OF his bed
bleeding from pistol shot wound in tho head, and
the pistol when the table lying OH the
floor beside him told Mrs. Everett TO go or doctor,
who came and examined the deceased; be appeared
then be Conscious but did not speak; when ques-
TONED Mrs. Woods about the AFFAIR she informed me
that he had shot her.
Ellen Everett, on being sworn, Il reside In
1O9th street, door TO where the deceased lived;
have known Harding and also hts housekeeper, Mrs.
woods; they had any trouble together far as
known to me; the morning vi the 18th oil August
about i've O'Clock, heard a noise in the house Occu-
pied by Harding shortly afterward heard shot;
then Mrs Woods running out OF the house bleed
ing from wound In her left shoulder; Mrs Woods then
afraid that he would kill the children; Mrs Woods was
already IN my when heard two additional pistol
shots bred in Hardings house, then q heavy fall
next heard hlm groan and alter that left my house
aud went Tor policeman.
THR vRRpIcr
The result of the post morem examination was then
read by Deputy Coroner Godscnmdt, alter which the
Coroner guve the case 10 the Jury The following YER
dict was at once returned:"We find that Thomas II.
Harding committed suicide by shooting himself at his
residence in West 109th street, on tho morning Of
August is, 1871"