Daily Republican., 1888-08-17
Double harder,

hlkhlhuus oi NANehink. Ine nlgno6b pom
Of land between the granite hills Of Main,
and the mossy everglades of Florida
were the scene Of terr lble murder and
suicide this afternoon. Adolph Harmon
of Long Branch, tried to shoot hi
mother-in. law and then killed his wife
and himself.
When the correspondent reached the
scene OF the tragedy in the dense woods
near the Southern one of the twin light
houses the to1ies still lay ON the ground.
They were covered with sheets Mrs,
Harmon's body was about 100 feet East
of that OF her husband. She had been
shot directly through the heart The left
breast of her dress was covered with
blood The face was calm, as though
death was almost painless. Harmon's
face was covered with blood, which ran
from q bullet hole over the right eve.
The bodies were still there when the sun
was sinking to rest in the West, A mum
ber OF telegraphlc dispatches had been
sent to Coroner Vandeveer, but he had
not put in appearance up to o'clock.
Near the body of the handsome young
woman lay her wrap and jaunty little
hat with brown aud gold feathers on the
side. Although she had been wife five
years, Mrs. Harmon looked like young
girl. In q cottage near the lighthouse
was found Mrs Ellen Hayes, the mother
of the dead woman, and the only person
living who witnessed Harmons terrible
crime. The entire left side Of her face
was filled with powder, the result of
Harmon's tempt to knl her before he
shot his wife.
Mrs, Hayes sat by the window, gazing
out over the ocean and cried as she slow
ly related the story Of the horrible crime
Her statement showed that her Gon-in-
law had deliberately planned the murder
OF his wife. Harmon was born in Frank
fort-on the Main, where his family still
live, How as employed as a delivery
clerk by the firm Of Morioid, Brown q
Co., who have stores In Long Branch
city. The young couple found married
life anything but happy. Harmon was
OF sullen and jealous nature. Mrs.
Harmon was cnly l6 years of age when
she took upon herself the vows of wife
hood She was tull Of lie and spirits and
enjoyed lively company. Harmon ire
quently threatened TO Kill her.
SEPARATED AND REUNITED.
Nearly three years ago Harmon left his
wife. They patched up their differences
Abtub lCh hONAus hkO Auu hEdlu UCRhu
living together. HaTmol had spells of
ill-temper and frequently uttered threats
of killing his wife. A few weeks ago he
purchased the revolver which he used
this afternoon With such fatal effect. He
showed it to his wife one day and said,
In half joking manner. 81 shall kill
you with this one of these days, Nellie"
Mrs. Hayes stCry Of the shooting was as
follows: -.
am the wife of Charles Hayes, a car
penter, living at Long Branch. / had two
children, Elvina, Harmon's wife, whom
we always called "Nellie," and son IA
years ol Harmon planned a picnic
here to day. He wanted me to accompany
him and his wife. / at first refused, buG
he was so urgent in his invitation CON
sented to 90 with them. We left Branch
Port on Norman l.. MonrO's steam yacht,
The Jersey Lily. When we landed here
we walked up the hill When we were
half way up Harmon began picking at
his wife, and when she replied sharply to
him, he drew his revolver out OF his
pocket and pointed it at her. l made him
put it back in his pocket After we reach.
cd the top Of the hill we ate the dinner
which we had brought from home.
Harmon renewed the quarrel with his
wife. was standing with my back to
them when | heard Nellie scream. |
torned and saw Harmon had again
drawn his revolver and had 1t pointed at
my daughter, | told him to put the
weapon up. He replaced it in his pocket
and then caught up a stick and began
beating Nellie with it. | caught hold of
the stick and tried to pull it out of his
hand. He let go OF it, and pulling out
his revolver and cooking it he de iberate-
ly fired a my head. The bullet whlstled
past my ear and nv face was blown tull
Of powder. started to run when / heard
another report and a schrill scream from
my daughter, ! turned and saw her
staggering. She was able to get only
forty feet, when she fell forward upon her
face. heard two ether reports and saw
Harmon st ggering down the hill on the
other side and then fell. ran over to
Nellie and turned her over. Blood was
running ffom her left breast. She gasptd
family and died ia less than two min
utes Harmon lived about two hours.
Nellie WAS u years old. Harmon was
two years older.
The murder of my child was the out
growth of Harmon 8 ugl ness and terri
bic temper. lie had no reason to be ieal
Gus of her as she never received the at
attentions OF other men When Harmon
pulled out his revolver on the way up
the hill he told Nellie he WAS going to
kill her. When told him to put it back
in his pocket he said: swell, will kill
you when we get back home o-night."
When Harmon shot himself he lay un-
attended under the trees until he died,
as no physician could be found.