The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-27
HORRIBLE MURDER.
The Terrible Butchery Of a Wife.
And the Murderer's Atte mpt to Sever His
own nJuguiar-Theories of the Cause.

PETERSBURG, ILL.,, March 23.-Charles
Houlden, a farmer living near here, butch
cred his wife in most brutal manner last
night. He and his family, consisting of
five persons, were sitting at the supper
table when few unpleasant words passed
between him and his wife. Suddenly the
former arose from the table and began
smashing up the chairs and breaking other
things within his reach. Mrs. Houlden
arose from the table, and saying that she
had stood his abuse as long as she intended
to, and, calling to the children, she began
to make preparations to quit the house. See.
ing this, Houlden stepped into a hall.
way, seized an ak; returned to the room
and struck Mrs. Houlden on the side of the
head, knocking her down. Then drawing
his knife from his pocket he drew it across
her throat from ear to ear, and thinking
she was dead started to leave the house.
As he got to the door Mrs. Houlden raised
up on her elbows and begged that her life
might be spared until she could say few
words. Her husband again returned and cut
another mortal wound in the side of her
neck and stabbed her in several places
about the breast and shoulders. AT this
point, the boy, twelve years old, the
only one in the room save the man and
woman-the three girls having run out of
made an effort to interfere in his mothers
behalf. The frantic father dealt him
a blow with the knife, which struck
him in the palm of the hand, nearly sew
ering his four fingers. Not satisfied with
his hellish work, he returned once more
to the dying woman and threw his weight
on her, mortally injurfng her inter-
nally, and then left the mangled form of the
woman with her head lying on the door
step. The alarm was Immediately given.
A posse of men under the direction of Dep
uty Sheriff Stevens and Constable Clary
started in pursuit of the murderer and sue
ceeded in tracking the man to hay-stack,
about q quarter of a mile from the scene of
the murder, There he was found
about nine O'Clock this morning, lying
on his face, with an ugly cash
cut in his throat and the knife still grasped
in his hand. When ordered to surrender
he willingly did so. Medical aid was sum-
moned, and the wound, which was nothing
more than flesh cut, was dressed. The
murderer Yves brought here and Jailed.
He is aged fifty, has resided in this county
number of years, is pretty well fixed
peaceable, although his family relations
have not been the happiest. 1t seems to be the
opinion of great many here that he has
premeditated the deed, and was only
awaiting the action of the jury in the
Carpenter case. He probably thought if
might be acquitted also if he should
commit the murder. This theory is
borne out by the fact that about half an
hour before the crime was committed
Houlden met Mr.. Sutton near his residence
and inquired particularly how the Carpen-
ter trial had terminated. He seemed some.
what pleased when told of the acquittal
and after a few questions strobe into the
house. Just as the prisoner arrived at the
jail the wagon containing his wife's coffin
passed the place.