The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-21

WILKEsBARRE Aug. 18.-Andrew
Ondu shot and killed himself at Nanti-
coke yesterday, after seriously wound
ing a woman named Thomas.
-Four years ago several Polish fami-
lies emigrated from the old country
and took up their residence at Mount
Carmel. Among them were George
Ondu and Andrew Ondu, brothers, and
John Ondu, cousin; Joseph Omeiska
and wife and Michael Tomaski and
wife. After remaining at Mount Car
mel few years they removed to Nanti-
coke, where they have since resided.
Since April last both families have
occupied the same house on Broad
street in which yesterdays tragedy
occurred, one crowd living up stairs
and the other occupying the first floor.
The Ondu men were single and sup.
posed to be boarders. Three months
ago a Mrs. Gwinske put in an appear
auce and rented house two doors
lower down the hillside. She is sist-
er of the wife of Michael Tomaski, and
has husband and a seventeen-year-
old daughter, Leonora At this time
the Tomaskis were known by the name
of Thomas. Both families affiliated
and it appears indulged in beer to ex-
cess. The wife of Michael Thomas is
a fine looking woman. strong and
healthy. Her husband is little man
who has been sick for some months.
During his illness it is certain that
she has cohabited with Andrew Ondu,
who was q boarder at their house. The
fact was known to the husband, and he
protested, but to no effect. The par
ties continued in their illicit inter-
course under the very eyes of the en-
ragged husband.
Day before yesterday Ondu and
Thomas quarreled and the result was
that the injured husband applied TO
Squire Green for warrant for the ar.
rest of the paramour of his wife.
The Squire advised a settlement
and Thomas returned home. The
quarrel between himself and his
boarder was then renewed. The
husband appealed to his wife to
protect her honor, but she said she
preferred the company of Ondu. This
outraged the husband and at an early
hour yesterday morning, he left the
house. Later in the forenoon Ondu
learned that Thomas was about to have
him arrested, and during a discussion
OF the matter quarreled with the un-
chaste wife who was his partner in
crime, In fit of dependency bor-
dering on desperation, he went down
town to the office of the Susquehanna
Coal Company and asked for an order
for five dollars worth of goods at the
store. He obtained the order without
difficulty and Immediately thereafter
proceeded 20 the company store and
presenting the order, asked for re-
volver and some cartridges. These
articles were given him;--a nickel plat
ed revolver, five chambers filled, thirty
two calibre. He then bought some
fish and few cakes, and Immediately
thereafter walked up Market street to
Broad ard thence to his boarding
house, On entering the building he
met Mrs. Thomas TO whom he said:
Emma, I've brought some fish and
some nice cakes. Lets have good
dinner, because its the last we will
have"
The woman became alarmed at bis
words but nevertheless proceeded to
start fire in the stove for the purpose
of getting dinner AS she was about
to apply the match it appears Ondu ex.
hibited the revolver and candidly said
that he intended to kill her directly
after dinner, He said she had prefer.
ed her husband to himself, that her
husband had threatened to have him
arrested for usurping her affections,
and rather than live without her he
was determined that both should die.
The woman was about TO flee for her
life and had already turned toward the
door when Ondu ran after her. He
got quite close to her before she reach.
ed, and pulling the trigger, with the
barrel of the revolver pointed directly
toward her head, he fired. The wom-
an dropped on the floor. In the next
instant he had put bullet through his
own head, the missile entering al the
throat in front and lodging at the base
of the brain in the rear of the head, |
taking an upward course Death
was instantaneous. The woman will
probably recover.