The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-19

Ing, about two years For about three months pre-
vioushe became greatly troubled In ms mtnd on 40
count OF his divorce suit against his second VITO,
which was decided against hun He was nervous
e. m ole o1esssSna Wild p ss ,;om s
state TO another quite frequently. He had Wild look
about his eyes This morning, about four or ave
O'Clock, was In bed, when he came TO the door and
said, Mrs Woods come II rs time TO get up" told
him TO get out Of tho room and I would get
up. At this he looked al mo with very wild
look got frightened and presently he exclaimed.
"rreachery of woman Lib. you havefuned me-"
and with that he made for my throat
BY Lib he meant his WIFE whose name was Eliza
beth withdraw from his grasp and struggled away.
pistol shot from him In tho lett shoulder ran out of
the house and went In next door. This Ia all know
sbontit lew minutes aiicrward was informed by
Mrs. Everett that Harding had shot himself did not
60 up TO SEQ him aud have not seen him since
Mrs Everett was next questioned by the Coroner,
and then seeing Mrs. Wood, covered with blood. stag
gcring into the kitchen. She also that she
had heard tho subsequent shots, and gave detailed
statement, which Is given above OF now she had in
formed tho police OF tho tragedy.
accordingly let shc house, but nrst gave the rels
tves OF the suicide permission TO place the body
iccbox and prepare for intermcn In the afternoon
the Coroner returned, accompanied by Deputy Coroner
Goldsmith, who niado post -morfem examination Of
the remains Hc gave his opinion that death resulted
MOTIVES ron rHe TRAGEDY 4s4
To more fully understane-it suoh desperate action
10 nderstood--tho motives which mus. have in-
nncnccd Mr.. Harding III his attempt TO murder Mrs.
Wood and to take own nle m viii only necessary
to briefly recount tue sad experience winch had been
his during tho PAST few years.
VINO nARpxGf
Thomas II. Harding was man or fair social stand
ing, Intelligent and refined, and man who was favor
ably looked upon by people with whom no had bust.
ness dealings. lie was Formerly extensive coach
builder bnt OF late years bis business had dctcroratod
SO greatly that he has only boon able 10 carry on
worry diminished manufacturing tradc n wheel.
wright a. No. ~ Mercer street. About nve years
erine Murray beioro her marriage, died, leaving .
pretty aud interesting daughter named Carrie. Three
years ago he married a Miss Libby Bsckman, OF Sow
Brighton Staten Island, beautiful and accomplished
young girl who was At that time about seventeen
ycnrs OF age. Her father and Mr. Harding old
and lifelong friends. having, In the DAYS o
the old Fire Department. been members Of
tho same engine company-No 2-and hav
sonic lodge-Greenwicn, No. 4l6 After hts
marriage with Miss Bcekmau Mr.. Harding moved to
l09th street and took up MS residence in the house
where no took his lilo For about year amer
bis marriage he and his young vito appeared to
two years ago Tho ucighborhood began to discuss
strange stories which reflected upon Mr. Hardings
sent to Mr.. Harding which the wror actually
named places wherc and mcu with whom Mrs. Hard
seemed to have iairy ldozed his girl wife, treated
rcports with contempt and paid no attention 10 them.
r Of hS n0,9 on sns 10 nS
completion. Foreman over gang Of workmen en-
ployed upon It was young, good looking German
named Zahn. He in the habit OF going to lager
beer saloon directly opposite Mr.. Hurdiugs house.
Attached 10 tnis saloon Is cool, shady arbor, and
hero Mrs Harding was In the habit OF bringing
hor infant child. How sho and Zahn ever became
acquaiu is known but II rs they did, aud
tho Dcghbors positively that hcy became
Day Intimate, and were, on OCCASION surprised by
some boys in fagranfe detctu Tniswas told 10 Hars~
ing, and, although he doubted the story. he deter
mincsl to Investigate II. Ono afternoon, accord.
lngy, he came home earlier than usual, and
entering the arbor OF tho lager beer saloon beheid
Zahn seated on n bench with his arms around Mrs.
HardiDg's waist Harding was enragcd at the sight,
and, drawing his revolver Cred at zahn, hitting him
In the Zahn had him arrested aud no was 10.
dcted BY the Grand jury but Tor othsr
he was not punished, the indictnent having been
pigeon ac no ,,n n'cs suoa i'r IRON
Curtis Of tue Superior Court, Mr. Harding retaining
first Counsellor William 4 Howe, but finally Mr..
father retained cx-Rcoordcr Smith attend TO his
daughters Alter several hearings the re-
ferred TO recrcc who decided in Mr. Hnrdings favor;
this decision ovcrrucd and set aside by Judge
Curtis who gave his opinion that inusmuch ii
Harding had harborcd his wife after hearing tho re
ports dorogatory TO nor character, and evon after
shooting Zahn Ind cohabitcd with her, he was not
entitled TO divorce Harding then carried tho cs.s
to the Court Of Appeals, and to como up Ia Ocs
tober next In tho meantime no was directed by
Judge Curtis 10 pay Mrs. Harding $'5 per month all
mony.
HIS relations win Mrs.. Wood were II is alleged, Of
very questionable Character she having already, SO
the people ia tho nc,ghborhood assert mad child by
him, and being at tho present time In air way 10
ooes Tho no,ghbors state S'' that almost year
ago she was observed to be encioate, and
that when tho time Of her approaching maternity
was almost nj hand she left Mr. Hsrdng's house aud
went 10 lying In establishment In the lower part Of
the CITY, whonco she returned In few weeks withous
chd. She says she Is the vito vi who
eral years ago away from hcr and drowned In
the West. Sho had ono child by hm-a boy, who Is
still living.
AN EXCITING scExK.
About i've o'clock yesterday afternoon Mr. Book.
and his daughter, Mrs. Harding, presented thcn-
selves tho door of che house in l00th street. and
requested 70 see the corpse Of Mr.. Harding. Mrs.
harding explained that sne was tho wife OF the
decd man; that she hts wife, and had .
perfect right TO charge OF Inns ELECTS
The officer at the door, who had received
strict orders 10 permit no ono 10 pass It. refused 10
let Mrs. Haraing and her father enter, and they
disclosing their identity they requested the sergeant
TO see that mono OF Mrs. Hard,ng's rela-
allowed TO remove anything iron
the house. This the sergeant promised
satisfied, started for their home IN Now Brighton,
Staten Island Whlc standing at the door OF the
house IN 109th street, MRS. haSding greatly
cited, repeatedly saying that she was Mr. Hardinss
vile, and wanted TO his corpse In the house AZ
the time some relatives OF Mr. Harding, anc
they ordered che otfcer to keep Mrs. Harding out.
nARDryG's BUSINESS.
At Harding's place OF business in Mercer street
yesterday. was learned that he has lately sustained
considerable loss by bad DEBTS and that he has seemed
lord had refused reduce the OF his place and
accordingly determined TO give over his business
and engaged IN doing II up at tho time
OF his tragic death. People who were intimately
quaintcd with him say that on Friday he seemed down.
cast and appeared 10 DO brooding over some secret
sorrow. He was heavy drinkcr, his only beverage
being brandy and In all probability ne crazcd
with the liquor yesterday morning when no took his
lie
NAVAL. INTETT,JCRNCE