The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-07-30
Attempted Murder and Suicide.

Attempted Murder and Suicide.
Mr.. Oscar q. Bodine, son OF Mr.. Hen
ny F. Bodine, of this county, narrowly
escaped death on last Friday morning, 10
the following manner: Oscar and his wife
have been for some three or four years
past living with Mrs. BIS grandparents,
near the village OF Harrington, Somerset
county, their names being Duffield. An
arrangement had been made some time
ago that Oscar was to keep and maintain
the grandfather and grandmother for the
balance OF their lives and in consideration
thereof he was TO have deed for the pro
perry Ga small ono of about 8 acres) upon
which they resided. For some days past
the old man Duffield had felt aggrieved at
young Bodlne. He had demanded some
money of him to go to Trenton for the
purpose of obtaining a pension. After
some hesitancy on the part OF Bodine the
old mans request was granted and the
money given him aud he went to Trenton.
Upon his return he demanded more mo-
ney OF Bodne, as be said he wished TO
buy some things at The store 10 Harrington.
He was then informed by the young man
l shat ~ " Sg N $3.50
Ct money. The old man replied that such
being the case he would go TO the store
and purchase such things as he wanted
and have charged to Oscar. Upon being
thus informed Oscar politely told the mer-
chant not to let the old man have any
thing on his account without an order
from him. As soon as the old man learn
ed what Oscar had done he became so en-
ragged that he secretly planned to kill him,
as the following account win show: On
Friday morning Oscar arose, as was his
custom to do, at about four o'clock and
when he came down stairs into the sitting
room he went TO the window for the pur-
pose Of rolling up the shade which had
been put down on the evening prior 10
the shooting. As soon as he had rolled
the shade enough TO admit the light into
the room he detected for the first time the
old man sitting upon the lounge. He was
much surprised at this as 1t was not his
custom TO find him up so early in the
morning and OF course aroused Oscars
suspicion somewhat, and he therefore
watched the old mans further move
ments. As he kept rolling the shade fur
ther up he thought he detected the old
man pulling something from behind him.
In this he was not mistaken, for he soon
saw In the glimmer OF the light that he
had shot gun, already loaded aud cock
ed. Oscar soon saw the old mans inten-
ton was to take his life and that he had
but one chance to save 1t. He quickly
sprang toward him, but before he could
secure hold on the gun the old man
quickly brought II around and discharged
ii, but fortunately, in SO doing he brought
1t too far around and the charge took ef-
feet in Oscars side, inf1iciing an ugly
flesh wound, but not injuring him inter-
nally. A scuffle then ensued In which
Oscar succeeded in freeing himself from
the grasp of the old man and ran out OF
The house, seeking refuge with one o. the
neighbors. AS soon as Duffield found
that Oscar had fled he quickly went 10
pursuit Of him, hoping to either find him
dead or IN such an exhausted condition
that he might easily dispatch him with
the gun which he still had in his hand,
but in this he failed. Finding that his
plans were thus thwarted he went back to
the house and procured razor from
bureau that was standing in the bedroom,
and In the presence of his aged wife de-
liberately cut his throat, nearly severing
the head from the body, and In this man
ner stood until he sunk to the floor pros
trated from the loss of blood. AS soon as
the news reached Pennington, two OF Mr..
Bodine's relatives living here procured
team and drove 10 the scene OF the trnge-
dy. They found that Oscar was not NOR
tally wounded and had been properly
cared for by the village physician, to
whom be was Immediately taken by the
neighbor at whose house he had taken
refuge, and at the present writing his
speedy recovery 10 assured. The funeral
OF Dufiield took place on the following
Sunday at P. NJ. He was n years old.
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