The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-22
A TRIPLE TRAGEDY.
AN ASTOUNDING DEED OF BLOOD.
An Aged Man Kills MS wife and MOthsr.in La,
and Then Hangs HImselr-Ths Bodies ofthe
Women Laid Out Carefully -6hAstiy
Discovery or . Son.ln.LAW.

RICHFIELD SPRINGS, N. T., January ~
Our quiet little village was horriied ant
shocked by the discovery Of triple TRACE
dy about o'clock yesterday afternoon
when Harvey Layton, his wife and mother
in.law were all found dead. The forme
was found hanging by the neck in the eel
lar OF his house and the women lying OF
the floor above, bloody pool about tE'
head OF each. The scene OF tine tragedy il
in the Western part Of the village. Com
mencing at Herkimer street, much
frcquented thoroughiare, is street run
ming north, opened about three years ago
On this new street, which skirts the village
bound, stand half a dozen houses, the las
two occupied as follows: The last house, 6
small one.story dwelling, by Isaac Humph
rev, his wife and child. The next, by
Harvey Layton, n retired farmer, aged
about G5 years, his vile, Melissa, aged 40
and her mother, rather feeble woman oi
70 years. In this house the double murder
and suicide took place. The next house
distant about 200 feet, is two story frame
dwelling, in which lives Mackindry kel.
logg, with his vile and two children. On
Thursday evening Mrs. Humphrey, sister.
in.law to Layton, called at his house to see
his mother and sister. She has been in
the habit OF giving her mother one dol
lar a week to assist in her support.
She left her contribution as usual
with her, and left the house, seeing moth.
ing out OF the ordinary routine. This was
aboutS p NJ, and it proved to be the last
time either Of the three people were seen
alive. Mrs. Humphreys says there were
positively no indications Of the frightful
murder that must have soon followed her
departure. Humphrey states that Layton
seemed irritated at his wife's visits to her
mother, and that her sister remarked TO
her once "that she had better stay away as
much as possible, as Harvey was ugly after
she had been there" But this was not
taken very seriously. About six weeks
ago, Layton, his wife and mother-in.law
moved 10 John Layton's, an adopted son,
whose wife was i'll recently; but they NOV
ed back into the village about ten days
ago. Yesterday afternoon, W. s. Brunk.
hurst, sonin.law OF Layton, who lives on
the latter's farm about mile from the vii.
lage, drove to the house with quarter Of
beef for the family. He noticed the blinds
closed and shades drawn, and concluded
the family were not at home. On trying
the door he found it fast, but noticed a
pool OF blood on the threshold. Seeing
Mrs. Humphrey In her door, he called to
her, and pushed on the door, which fell
open, showing that the hinges had been
broken oG-a mystery in the case which ID
yet unraveled.
| A CHASTITY DISCOVERY.
On entering the sitting room he was
paralyzed by the sight OF the blood cover
ed floor on which the two women were
lying Layton was nowhere to be seem
Brunkhurst Immediately hurried around
the neighborhood ,,.alarmingevery one byhis
tale, and the citizens FASTENED to the.house
The old lady lay nearest the door. Mrs
Iayton's temple was crushed, and her neck
was discolored, showing the marks Of hay
ing been choked. She was in her night
clothes, but her mother, whose head was
also crushed in, was dressed. Her relatives
say she has not undressed at night for
years, being feeble and obliged TO get up
often during the night. Both women were
regularly laid out as if by an undertaken,
their hands crossed on their breasts, limbs
Strengthened and feet tied together. Mrs.
Mrs. Layton's feet were wound with a
skirt band, which was neatly buckled.
While the corpses were being examined
with lamp, it being now dusk, word came
that Layton was hanging dead in the cell
lar. Proceeding thither, the body was
found fully dressed, with boots on, hang.
ing by piece OF clothesline doubled over
a stick nailed to the joists. His
feet. were both planted on the
ground, knees bent outward, as II
| he had tied the knot while on tiptoes
and then dropped, as 1t were, into the rope.
A lamp which stood on the stair near him
had burned out. His watch was still ran.
ming and marked 5:45. There was bruise
on his left temple, made, probably, by bis
wife in her struggle for life. The weapon
with which the murders were committed
could nowhere be found. A washbasin
and cloth were on a chair near the bodies,
the faces OF which had been washed. Lay.
ton was quite well of and owned farm
near this village, besides the house and lot.
His first wife. died three three years ago,
and about last December he married
Melissa Young, the murdered woman, who,
However, had for years lived in his family.
Relatives say be has shown marked
symptoms Of insanity for six weeks or two
months past, but no particular attention
was paid to them. His wife told a friend
a few days ago that she was awakened a
short time ago by Layton clutching her
throat. When she asked what he was
doing he made jocular reply and she
though he had been dreaming. Layton
was very active for his years, always Jolly,
but now and then is said TO have had fits
Of bad temper. The affair creates intense
excitement.
HoRRIRLE eRuELrY TO A GIRL.