Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-19
-. rb. Helmet, Piqua, Ohio, Feb. 81
fom .,ruDER AND SUICIDE.
,,rpR1BLE WORK OF LIQUOR.
p.om;pent Citizen of Piqua, Ohio,
A rals His Wife aud then Takes Ills
h" Own Life.

CT w. o, we're last Saturday evening,
IS Wv halt past seven o'clock, as the
s ,.aJfnl news spread from lip to lip and
'' bousc, to house that DR.. w. +.
,,1, o, had killed his wife and then
,.keu his own life!
ION I'm, little is known Of the particulars
she terrible deed, and yet, now that
,be Inns of both ale sealed in death, and
,bs, both lie under the snow, it seems
from tie evidence before the Coroners
;nry that he had been medita,lng
On and preparing for the awful Tragedy
A. ) o'clock in the evening Capt. Buck
ner. who occupies one end OF the house
in hich DR.. Harbaugh lived, nearu
some wrangling between nm anu n,S
wife, ending with her being knocked
down, aud by her heart. broken response
- his cruel usage, TO kill her that she
rn;aLt be done with her trouble, but,
il seems, paid no special attention TO It,
Since he was often in liquor and always
uoly and abusive when in that condl-
ION About Z o'clock he took his two
ho,s 10 his office on Ash street, and.
having locked them III, returned to his
home across the canal, and at once be-
can his work of death. Tie Buckners
lizard the struggle OF the doomed wife,
which was evidenced by her blackned
wrists and neck, and by bruises on 9th
Or parts Of her body; and then two slots
from the heavy navy revolver that was
found beside her dead body, announced
that the terrible work was begun. ln
a moment more another loud report
was heard announcing the death OF the
murderer.
The alarm was at once given and the
peighbors rush, d in to find the wife ly.
ing on tie kitchen floor with one pistol
ball through her heart and another
through her head; aud Their, going up
stairs they found DR., Harbaugh with
the top of his head blown off by load
from his shot gun, and the ceiling and
walls despatched with blood and brains.
By this time little Katie, delightful
child of six years, who had been a
stricken witness OF the tragic death OF
her mother, ard who was heard to
plead with her father not to kill her Ma,
ran 10 tell her brothers that their moth
or was dead. Some one passing hoist
ed the window to let them out, and the
three orphaned children were soon
weeping over the forms of their dead
parents. Such q scene cannot be de-
scribed. Tears alone befit H.
DR.. Washington +. Harbaugh was a
bout 43 years of age, was a social, alta
hle and genial man. naturally, and " hen
he married Lucy Gump, IN Dayton, II
years ago, perhaps few young couples
gave more promise, or had better pros
poets of prosperous and happy life,
She was of the most gentle disposition,
and he was kind aud generous. More
over. he was one OF The most sklltnl den
fists of this valley, and work came IN
upon him, and the doors Of prosperity
opened before him.
1t is the old story, the sad, but legiti-
mate story of strong drink. OF Jovlai
disposition, he chose those OF the same
character for his associates, he drank
more and more, his business was neglec-
ted, customers went from his office, his
disposition was changed, happiness fled
from his home, and, often, wife and
children were driven away from his
door. Still she chung to him faithfully,
hoping for a change for the better;
chung TO him though he had often
threatened her, till death came at last as
we have described.
AS We reflect upon the horrible TRACE
DIV, as we think OF the three children,
SO suddenly and terribly berett Of
uaren.s, We ask, VINO is RESPONSIBLE =?
Is Washington f. Harbaueh alone
guilty, Does all the wrong lie at his
door, Most decidedly We answer, No!
The men who sold him the liquor, from
year TO year, that crazed his brain and
steeled his nerves for lis work OF death,
and the proprictors of saloons and sa-
loon property, are guil,ier to-day than
he is. Upon them, whether they he
respectable druggists and hotel keepers,
or low saloon keepers, largely lies the
damning guilt of wife murder and sui
eide! They are guilty before God !
They will be held for-this crime at the
coming assize OF the skies! They should
be held responsible by this community
With them, every man who associated
with him in drinking is also responible.
With them, every officer of this city,
whose business it is to see that the laws
are enforced, is also responsible! With
them, every man and woman who has
not borne a constant and consistent tes-
timony against this great evil, is scarce
" less guilty! Are we not more or less
guilty as an entire people' Have We
not omitted opportunities TO stay this
terrible traffic in our midst' Should
we not, men and women of Piqua, be-
aide the snowy beds that hide away the
dead, and in the presence of the chill
dren 50 suddenly orphaned, swear eter-
nal hostility and vengeance on this
damning business, this work Of the
Fiend incarnate.
In the presence of this death by VIC
leuce, and of the bereft children, We
implore the saloon keepers of Piqua to
sell no more!
In this presence we beg OF men who
furnish rooms and means, TO furnish
them no more!
In this presence We beseech our Off
GERS to do what may be done to put an
end to this work of more and worse
than death!
In this presence we ask the citizens
Of this city to set their faces as flint
against the traffic and against every