The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-22
THE HARDING TRAGEDY.

BURIAL OF THE SUICIDES BEMArSs-coNDI-
TIoS OF MRS. AGNES wooDs-wILLIAM zAHN
TELLS THE STORY OF HIS CONNECTION WITH
THE HABprNGs.
Tho funeral of the suicide. Thomas H. Harding. took
place yesterday from his late residence at Tooth street
and the Boulevard. The remains inferred the
family grave IN Greenwood Cemetery. At one O'Clock
the wife Of the deceased, who had previously applied
to the Surrogate tor letters of administration
his estate, put in an appearance 10 company with
Mr. Beekman, her father She gazed the
still face OF the dcnd with a GOODNESS that brought
blush the checks of those present All things being
in readiness Mr.. Henry Necdham In the absence Of
clergyman, pronounced prayer for the reposo OF the
departed. The funeral corto go, consisting OF hearse
and SIX carriages, then wended its way to the
terry. Mrs. Harding did not accompany II, but re-
manned TO look after the dead mans effects. AT Full
ton ferry twenty-five members of Greenwich Lodge
No. 467 ~ and A. 81, of which Mr.. Harding
had been member, assembled and proceeded
TO tho Cemetery, where tho usual Masonic
burial service was performed. The rite was read by
the Senior Warden in the absence OF the Master who
is i'll Among the immediate relatives present at the
grave were Mr. George Harding, of St Louis.
brother; Mr.. Henry Needham, u brother-in-law and
hs.wiie; Mrs. Isaac Harding, sistern law. aud lit
tie daughter, Carrie When tho grave had closed
the dead lrtlo Carrie tearully placed large bouquet
of flowers In the fresh earth. There little
strtion Of grief the grave but tho grim and silent
faces OF his male relatives showed that they
tuated by deep feelings
MRS.
The HERALD reporter met in the Cemetery grounds
person who informed him OF the present residence %
Mrs. Agnes Woods the fortunate survivor OF the trag
edy She received the reporter in calm aud ladylke
IN bo ID r "A a te ered
from the nervous shock which she received, al
Most quite recovered from tho wound. She looks
more cheerful and hopeful than she has been
Saturday. on beng Informed that tho ceremonies
wero over she became discoucerted tor a second
SAID 'Its all over at last" Referring to Mrs.
Harding, said That woman was the cause OF ali
and when shc had proved herself to the knowledge
all their riends ana by her own implied admission
II indecent To look for amony" Referring her
seit she aid:-"My personal effects s,iil the
house, my clothing Is there packed in my trunks
have also u sewing machine, and there Is due
months wages. have no other claim on the estate
OF tho deceased. and no claim his friends. tried
until the Surrogate had taken to adjust the
estate When these things are arranged snail tr. -
forget the whole matter aud thank Goa that II Is oves
zAHN INTERVIEWED
William Zahu, tho man whose name was un-
pleasantly mixed up IN connection with the tragedy,
was visited during the afternoon AT his place OF busi
ness No 1856 Fourth avenue, tor the purpose OF Obtain
Ing, possible, his statement in regard to the rea-
tons which were alleged to have existed between
himself ana Mrs. Harding, the wife OF the suicide.
At lrst Mr. Zahn peremptorny refused 10 say
to tell wha. ho knew He sa ii' he 's' had
been greatly msreprsentod by the newspapers, but
added that lie DID not blame thu m Tor H. bit rather the
neighbors 1O9th street, IRON whom the Information
published concerning himself had been obtained. Ho
denied in the most emphatic that he had ever
been crimnaliy intimate with Mrs HARDING, and sup
pcnented his dental with tho assertion tuat he had
always had occasion TO look upon Mrs. Harding
pure woman IN every sense Of the term. He admitted
that he thought her little girsh anu foolish her
deneanor towards Others but did not believe that she
was really dcpraved. zahn averred that Harding was
very jealous man, and forever quarrelling with
who mad for Que reason or anotner spoken to Mrs
Harding. Harding, no said, never stopped to think
what no did, but rushed biindly an invariably
wrong conclusion, aud was consequently forever get
SAID, Harding knocked man down on the platform or
Lion Brewery because he had been dancing with Mrs
Harding, aud once he struck man IN the eye merely
because he happened TO be seated near Mrs Harding in
the arbor OF the lager beer garden IN l00th street.
HARDIsG's ATTEMPT SHOOT
Speaking Of the attempt which Harding had made to
take his fe Zahn said that It made wnie Harding
aboring under the mistake that the statement
con AIMED in tue anonym communication sent to
him by Sheridan w,re true. Tho shooting took
place, he said. at the corner OF ll0th street and
Tenth avenue. "Harding came along aud told Of
the that he wanted " see me about getting some
friend Of his job A. the time was about TWO blocks
away, and walked toward l1OIh street. We right
At Tue corner oil 10th street, aud the workman with
Harding named Pete Murphy introduced US. put out
my hand TO Harding, when he snapped pistol right
In my face II missed lire; II il haan't, should not
have hved TO DO standing here Before
could recover myself he fired again, but
| the Dali missed me, SO nc nred u third
time aud hit me here on the arm" AT this point
Zahn uncovered his lett forearm and showed
which the bullet had made In passing through his
arm "The men got around him then, and, II hadn't
been Tor me, tDcy'd have hung nm 10 the derrick.
told them u let MIN go, and they did So He was
rested, though, and indicted, but he got the indct
ment pgeon-holcd IN some way, don't know how.
Alter that he began 10 SANDER me- SO sued him. but
before tho came 10 court toid nv lawyer 10
lot II drop; Harding had sent to and begged
do SO, and consented. Yet, alter that he began this
suit against his vile, and tried TO drag into It
One day he was riding past here his buggy and
and made motion az though he was gong to pull a
pistol on me- Ho seemed 10 be down ne, and /
don't see why, ior | never dId him injury my
lie. While The indictment was hanging over his
head he was forever coming around here and
begging Gc not TO press IT, Ho even went to my
brother ana to different friends OF mine and asked
them to their influence with me, 80 that wouldn't
prosecute him" .
Zahn further stated that Harding had night gone
down To his wiics grandmothcr, now deceased, but
that time residing AT No. 96 Fourth avenue, and told
her that he had induced his wife swear
that she had been crimnaliy intimate with
Zann. Harding gave MS his reason Tor this
SO Mrs Bcekman informed Zahn, that no wanted TO
send Zahn State Prison. He could then, he said,
obtain a divorce from his wife, wnen he intended to
marry her gain. MRS Beckman It seems, became
greatly enraged at Harding aud drove nm out of the
house, at the same time caiiing nm a"black-hearcd
villain" and telling him never TO darken her doors