Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-02-03
SUICIDE AND MURDER.
A HOrrifying Tragedy at Piqua, Ohio,
Especial to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

W
PIoUA, o., Jan. 29.-A horrible tragedy
occurred here at balf.past seven o'clock
this evening, in which the life of faith
full, patient wife and that of dissolute,
reckless husband were brought to sud
den and terrible end. DR.. w. +. Har-
baugh, dentist, shot and instantly killed
his wife and then Immediately blew out
his own brains. The circumstances were
as follows, so far as can be learned, the
only witness of the tragedy being the lit
tie daughter of the dead couple, aged
four years:
For several years Harbaugh has been a
dissipated man, and let what was formal
ly lucrative business dwindla away to
almost nothing, He drank deeper and
deeper, and made his home wretched. A
month ago he,was bound over to appear
before the Grand July to answer a charge
of shooting with intent to kill, he having
shot the Marshal of the city in the right
hand while the officer was arresting him
for disorderly conduct. This week the
Grand Jury indicted HIM for shooting
with intent to wound, and this indict-
ment and its probable consequences made
him more reckless in mind than ever.
This evening after supper he manifest
ed the state of mind he was in by abusing
his wife, and suddenly he called his two
little boys to 60 with him, and he left the
house. He proceeded to his office. three
squares from his residence, locked the
boys up in the room, and Immediately
returned home. He then, it is supposed,
resumed the quarrel with his wife, for
within few moments after his return
his next door neighbors heard two or
three shots, but no other sounds.
Several neighbors Immediately entered
the house and found Mrs. Harbaugh w.
ing dead in one corner of the sitting-room,
with large bullet-hole in the right side
of her head, above and back of her ear.
The wretched husband was not to be seen.
Proceeding up stairs in their search for
him, they found him lying on the floor of
back room, with his head absolutely
blown away, blood and brains being spat-
tered over ceiling, walls and furniture,
and presenting the most horrible appear
ance. In the hallway down stairs, Just
outside the sitting room door, was found
huge navy revolver of the largest pat
tern. 1t contained three cartridges and
two empty shells. r> -.
The wretched man evidently ran up
stairs after killing his wife with the re-
volver, dropping 1T on the way. The
| weapon with which he ended his own
existence was breech- loading shotgun.
From the appearance of his head, he
evidently held The gun to his right ears
and there in the, darkness blew his brains
all over the apartment.
His wife was Miss Lucy Gump, of Day
ton, whom he married fifteen years ago.
She brought him $4,000 or $15, 900 all of
which he squandered. They leave three
children-two sons and daughter.
AT intervals embracing two or three
years Harbaugh had abused his wife, and
upon several occasions drove her from
his house, For one of these acts he was
arrested and fined about three months
ago, but that seemed to make him more
vindictive than ever. Mrs. Harbaugh
was a faithful, dutiful and exemplary
wife, doing all that loving, forgiving
woman could do to reclaim reckless
husbandsand make his home happy.
The bodies of both are lying tonight at
their late residence. in bhe First Ward,
where the Coroner will hold an inquest
tomorrow. DR.. Harbaugh was about
forty years of age, native of this city, q
member of the City Council, and mem
Der of an old and highly respected family.
The tragedy is the most shocking that
ever occurred in Piqua.
Harbaugh was around the streets this
evening talking pleasantly with acquain-
tances, and giving no outward indica-
I'tions of the terrible deed he was then
,meditating. Of late the doctor had given
unmistakable evidences of arrangement
of the mind consequent upon excessive
dissipation. The tragedy is purely the
outgrowth Of whisky drinking, and is an
awful temperance lesson.