Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-25
HURRIED TO HEAVEN.
A HORRIBLE PATRlcl0E PROMPTED
BY AvARlCe.
Ben. Zercher, Of SteinersyilIe, Kills His
Aged Father, Rather Than Permit
Him to Mary-A Claim Of
Insanity.

For the second time in the past six
mouths, the little village OF Powhatan,
about twenty m IS below here, on the
Ohio side. has been thrown into a fever
OF excitement by a murder-a murder
in the fullest sense OF the wOrd-a patrl.
eide, committed by a man named BrnJa-
min Zsrcher. 1t seems that III the Will
age oi Steinersville, about a mile from
~Powhatan, on the creek, have resided
Mr.. Zsrchpr, a man oil eighty years oil
aye, with his 0 Ben, OF forty years
The old gentleman vas a widower, hale
and hearty, and the son a bachelor,
They have kept their limited household
for wears and have always lived on tire
best OF terms. Latteriy II has been
known that Ben carried Il revolver sluu-
TO his side and had been using II rather
pr~Omiscuouslv, AMI though he had hurt
nobody, vet several had had narrow es'
capes. Many people believed him TO be
OF unsouud mind and his recent Oehav-
Tor would seem To confirm this belief.
Mr.. T. rcher, ST., is Il man Ui cOnsld.
ersble properly aud own a farm at the
place mentioned above. The son lived
in quiet anticipation Of the day when
this property would become his, which
he thought must be soon. as his father
was on the wintry slope OF lite and nus
IN the ordinary curse OF events, soOn
go the way vi all fish. But an unlor.
seen circumstance threatened 10 dlssI-
pate the happy visions OF wealth winch
danced before the sons eyes. The la
Their, though four score years had silver
eel his hair, was still young enough 10
iail a victim to the arrow u. Cupid lie
made up his mind TO again enter tue
marriage relation and accordingly PAID
his court to a lady living near, whose
name need No. appear in this connec
ton. His suit prOspered and theday was
said TO be liked Tor the nuptIa!s.
A prospective step mother was any.
thing but agreeable 10 Ben. lie oOkri
npOn her as an obstacle in the way oil
his accession % the wealth anu brooded
over IL, in his disOTdered nilnd, until he
resolved 10 forbid the banns. lie de-
termined 10 end his fathers existence
and deemed it no lcrlme 10 cut oil the
few remaining years and hasten HIM
into the eternity Ct happiness which lie
was sure awaited him.
lie carried out this determination and
on Thursday afternoon shot him through
the breast, killing him instantly. The
father had filled 4 basket with corn and
WA carving il to the house, when he
was met by Ben. with the request mat
he woald take IL back 10 the barn. lie
enquiTed the reason and Bens reply was
to draw his revolver and fire. The men
wrr. but Il short distance apart and the
aim Was true. The ball pierced the old
mans breast. SCATTERING the breast bone,
at the second ribaad scverlng the aorta.
tie tell. bathel in blood, and died with
out a struggle.
Calmly AS if IN the discharge Ot his
farm duties, the son carried the re-
mains To the house and placed them de
Gently on the bed, and then went To
Powhatan and informed tine authorities
OF what he had done aud surrendered.
tie was at IN - placed in custody, To
await I'm examination, as his story WAS
the first iutimatiOn heard CI the tragedy.
Ben WAS interviewed 10y Especial REG
IsrEr commissioner. while IN cnuhue-
ment, and said briefly as follows:
Father was 10 be married and that You
know would have ca. mt oil oil one
third Of the property. couldn't stand
that aud So / shot him He could not
balr,u.ht, apparently, to believe that he
had done any thing wcOrg, or that ne
could be made 10 suffer Tor II. lie was
taken to =. Clairsyille, yesterday morn
ing, and lodged in the county Jail.
As is remarked above, Ben Is thought
10 be not entirely cDmDOS msntS, rs was
evidenced in his conduct. SO lar "a
can be heard now there was no grudge
or ill.feeling between him and his faith.
rr, that would lead to such a fatal re-
sult