The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-20
SHOCKING DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

HenryJ Blessing, q River Engineer, Makes
aDesperate Attempt to Kill his Wife, his
BrOther-in-Law and End his Own Life
Probable Success of the Latter Effort
the Result in tie Case of the Other Victim
Doubtful.
ST LOUIS, Mo-, Sept. IL.
About eleven o'clock last night the neigh
b rhood of 1451 Cass avenue was startled
by six shots fired in rapid succession, and
few minutes later Mrs. Ida Blessing, who
resides at that number, the family consist
ing of Henry Blessing, his wife and her
brother, VIM. F. Thelemann, knocked at the
door of her landlords house, on the ground
floor. and when it was opened she handed
his son, Henry Eicks, a revolver, saying
that her husband had shot her brother and
cut his own throat. She did not mention
any injuries inflicted upon herself Young
Eicks and Tom Foley, young man who
had been attracted by the noise of the
shooting, hurried upstairs. Blessing was
pacing around in the room nearest the
porch. One of the young men called.
"Blessing, come out here" but the man
made 10 reply and continued his march.
The room was unlighted, and the two young
men were not disposed to risk an encounter
in it with him. They returned to the yard
for the lantern, but when they came up
stairs again Blessing had disappeared.
Meanwhile different policemen had been
summoned, among them Officers Walker
and Messer, and they, although belonging
to the Third District, outside the scene of
the occurrence, at once instituted search
for Blessing, and found him in the garnet,
lying on his stomach, and were Mortified to
gaze on a severed windpipe and throat
cut from ear to ear, while their ears were
assailed by a gurgle that the escaping air
made. The would-be suicide still clutched
in his hand Wade & Butcher razor. with
which he had so viciously Slashed himself
The officers took it from him and endeav-
ored to obtain tCOm him some information
as to the deeds he had done The man could
not speak, but was fully conscious, and a
quick shake or nod of the head indicated
negative or an affirmative reply.
1t was CLEANED from him that his inten-
ton was to kill his wife, his brother-in-law
and himself. The patrol wagon was teIe-
phOned for and Blessing was sent to the
City Dispensary, the officers meanwhile
turning their attention to the other men,
bers of the family. Thelemann was found
lying on pallet in the sittingroom, where
he had been placed by his sister. He pre-
scented a shocking spectacle. His Infatuated
hrother-in-law had slashed him on the left
side of the neck, SeVering an artery. He
then inflicted deep cash on the right side,
cut him across the bowels, and shot him
under the left eye and in the muscle of the
left arm, the bullet penetrating the lung.
He suffered intensely, as was evident from
his frequent EXPLANATIONS. Blessing had
used on him the razor and an American
bulldog Self-cocker, center-fire revolver.
10 fn ha
Doctors Nogt and Eaton were called in
to attend Mrs. Blessing, who was more
seriously hurt than was at first supposed,
Her blood-thirSty husband had used the
razor on her too, and though he inflicted
but one wound on her it was most painful
one. 1t was six inches i'll length, extend
ing from the umbiIicus to the short ribs on
the left side. The surgeons said, however,
that the cavity was not penetrated, and
that her chances for recovery were good.
Immediately after it had been dressed she
became bysterical and delirious, and no
statement could be obtained from her. She
wrung her hands, wept, screamed and
asked continually for "Drew," pet name
she gave her brother She did not display
much grief for her husband "Oh." she
exclaimed, "what Will they do with me if
they should die?"
When the wounded men arrived at the
Dispensary they presented fearful sight.
Blessing wore nothing but his socks, draw
erS and shirt, and had a standing collar on.
He was wrapped up i'll sheet, Everything
about him was covered with blood. His
throat was a most CHASTITY looking object,
and at each respiration the blood would
squirt forth. He was also pulSeless DIR.
Blickhahn made brief examination of the
mems wounds and found Thelemann suf-
fering from two pistol shots, besides the
wounds inflicted by the razor. The Doctor
therefore decided to send both of the injured
men to the City Hospital At that institu-
lion Dr.. Dean made a closer examination
and discovered that Blessing mad cut his
throat immediately above the larynx, sew
ering the windpipe completely, and can not
possibly recover. Thelemann'S wounds
consist of bullet wound under the left eye,
ranging downward, but not injuring that
organ. a second shot entered the back
Immediately behind the left arm, near the,
shoulder, the ball having penetrated the
left lung. Another wound was on the right
side of the abdomen, being about six
inches in length, and gaping nearly
two inches, but the abdominal wall was
not entered. A fourth cut was upon the
left ear. The physician thinks he may pos
Sibly get well, but it is exceedingly doubt
full When asked as to why he was shot,
he hesitated and seemed unwilling TO an
Swer, but when told that he would most
probably die, and that he ought to make
statement, he said that Blessing was quar-
reiiug with his sister and that he took her
part and attempted to pacify Blessing when
the latter drew pistol and shot him and
then cut him.
Mrs. blessing is a young VIC nan. twenty
four or twenty-five years of age, an Ameri-
can brunette. refined and educated. She
bears very good reputation in the neigh
borhOod, as does also her brother, who was
noted for being quiet and inoffensive. Bles.
sings last trip was made on the steamer
Ste. Genevieve. from which he returned
four weeks ago. and it is said that ever
since then he has been drinking and quar-
reling with his wife. Last night, however,
he was to all appearances perfectly sober.
Those who live close to him say that he has
been Jealous of his wife for some time. He,
however, as best he could. denied that jeal-
ousy was the motive for the tragedy. He
was known as man of violent temper, and
it was asserted last night that he had twen-
ty years ago shot and killed hissister at the
Planters House and then attempted sui
eide.