Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-28
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
WIFE AND HUSBAND SHOT.

This community was startled early
Saturday morning by the horrifying an
nouncement that William II. Haun had
shot his wife and himself-tbat be died
in a few minutes aud she was mortally
wounded by two pistol balls passing
through her body.
The particulars, as We are able 10
gather them from the best sources, are
abont as follows MIR. Ham had started
two hands to the harvest field, and had
returned to the house for ball OF bind
ing Irvine. His wife was still at the
breakfast table finishing her coffee. Mr.
II. took a pistol from the mantel in an
adjoining room, and remarking, 81 can't
live and you shan't," fired at Mrs. H., the
ball passing Just betw cen the thumb and
forefnger of the left hand. She remark
ed, "why Willie, don't yOu know that
pistol is loaded" and started toward
him. He then shot her a second time,
the ball passing through the lower part
of the left breast. about one and half
inches below the heart, and through the
body and lodged against the skin on the
left side Of, and close 10 the spine. Mrs.
ii. then ran toward the barn where the
housemaid was milking, and when she
had ran about forty yards another shot
struck her in the back TO the right OF the
spine, below the shoulder blade, passed
through her night breast, and lodged in
her clothing, he being close enough to
place one hand on her. Mr.. Mr.. II. then
fired the fifth and last ball into himself,
strik ing the heart. lie fell in the road,
dying in few minutes. She sank down
by the road here she remained for a
little while, till carried in the house.
There was a shot fired between the second
and fourth ones, which passed through
her clothes, harml ess, but as yet there IS
only surmse as to what became of It, It's
Judgment has not been discovered.
Mr.. Haun was b uTIed on Sunday after
noon from the residence of his father,
Mr. Henry II. Haun. Mrs. Ham, whose
life was at first almost despairtd Of. is
living at the home Of her father-in-law in
crit zeal condition, with her physicians
and friends not without hope Of her re-
covery, though the next few days are
considered a critical period. To this time
she has exhibited great will power and
strong nerve. When allowed to do so she
tai ks senslbly, and has not been un-
conscious at any time.
Mrs. HaUn is the daughter OF William
Gaines (above and near New Market and
is now 30 years of age. Mr.. Haun was 81
years of age. They were married last
February.
Mr. Haun has been an active young
man for some years past. In his busl-
ness IS farmer and stock dealer be was
industrious and reliable and was esteemed
by all who knew him as a worthy and
valuable citizen. 1t is no exaggeration
20 say that sadness prevailed IN every
household in our community, for miles
around, as the news Of the unaccOuntable
affair spread. We say unaccountable, be.
cause we do not believe any human being
knows the cause, which so far as any one
can know must have appeared simults-
neous with the act. 1t was certainly not
Mr. Haun s intention to shoot his wife OF
himself when he first went out of the
house The pistol bad been kept on that
mantel with no OF her purpose but to
pro tect the household. That il should
have been used for another and opposite
purpose must remain a matter for con.
lecture with some, while the kind and
charitable will pass it INTO fOrgetfulness-
Sympathy for the two wifeless fathers
is only to be manifested by golden silence.