The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-25
HORRIBLE BUTCHERY.
A Triple Murder and Suicide In
Virginia.
Two Women and Q Child Chopped
10 Pieces.
The Flsnd Cheats the Hausmsn by
TouohInu on Q Ksu Of Powder.

RICHMOND, Va, July 23.-The neigh
borhood Of Fluvania Court House, In this
State, was thrown into the wildcat excite
ment by the discovery Of one Of the most
horrible triple murders and suicides ever
known in that community. The facts In
the case are these
For several years past Colonel Wilson
Houchins, u man Of some property and
prominence living short distance from
Fluyania Court House, has threatened
frequently 10 murder members of his
family, consisting Of his wife, beautiful
and accomplished woman oil about iorty,
4 daughter about eleven, and two boys,
one Of seven and the other an infant, and
Houchins' mother.in.law. Unfortunately,
these threats were disregarded and no
attention given 10 the matter either by
the public or the family, although on
several occasions Houchins had attempts
ed to carry out his brutal threats. Not
long since his wife discovered him stand
ing over her with drawn dagger, ready
10 drive It into her heart In some way
she averted the impending blow. Houch.
ins on that occasion implored his wife
not TO mention the matter, promising
better behavior for the future. Since that
time Mrs. Houchins has been compelled
to take her children and seek refuge un-
der the roof Of her neighbors' houses.
On yesterday morning while the family
we're seated at the breakfast table Hou-
chlns seized an az and commenced his
bloody work, dealing the frst blow TO his
wife, inflicting horrible wound on her
head extending from ear to ear, killing
her almost instantly. He then attacked
his little boy. The mother.in-law inter-
fered and implored the fiend to desist,
but instead OF yielding to her appeals for
mercy be turned upon her and knocked
her severely with the ax handle, cody
returning 10 the horrible work Of butch.
ering his own child. He chopped his
head of and threw the body under the
table. Then, before his mother revived,
Houcllins finished her, striking her sew.
eral blows on the breast and head, slash
ing and chopping the woman into an al.
most unrecognizable mass. His spite
seemed especially directed to his wile's
mother. Houchins' son, little fellow Of
seven, came ipte the room while the hor.
rible butchery was going on, and seizlng
his infant brother lying in the cradle
sought safety in the woods. Houchins
looked for them, but failing in this he,
II seems, went into the parlor, and left
the following parting letter:
al have intended to do this thing Tor
some time. The devil Is in me. Ny
mother.in.law drove me to it. She has
tormented me TO death. can not live "a
long as she lives. She has poisoned my
wife and children against me, and an a
miserable man. Whisky, too, has some-
thing TO do with 1t. Let all take warn
ing by my end. Pick up my fragments.
"WIIsos HouoHiss."
After completing this Houchins went
to his barnyard, seated himself-it is be.
lieved on keg OF blasting powder-and
smoked his pipe. After finishing his
smoke, II Is supposed he touched of his
Internal machine with FIRE from his pipe
through the hung.hole Of the keg. A
fearful noise followed the explosion, at.
tracing neighboru twelve miles distant.
An investigation Of the premises dis.
closed portion OF Houchins body upin
the branches Of tree, forty feet from the
ground, the head on top Of the barn, and
portions OF the trnnk and legs In other
portions OF the barn.yard. The keg con.
taiued forty pounds OF heavy blasting
powder, which had been used by Houch-
ins for blasting purposes in his quarry
paar hv