Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18
BRIDE OF DEATH!
Mrs. W. H. Langdon is Cruelty Shot
Down by J. W. Bevan, in
Iowa.
The Murdered Lady a Daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. W. Smith,
of Madison.
Beyan. the Assassin, is Promptly
Killed by the Mortified
Husband,
Though Not Before He Has Put d
Bullet Into His Own
BOuy.
A School Time Romance Leads up
to the Terrible Occur
renee.
Full Details Of the Tragedy and the
Sad Events Connected
With 1t.
Remains of the Unfortunate Victim
Now on the Way
Home.
A School Time Romance Leads up
to the Terrible Occur
renee.
Full Details Of the Tragedy and the
Sad Events Connected
With 1t.
Remains of the Unfortunate Victim
Now on the Way
Home.
adison Democrat Sept. 16.

Madison Democrat Sept. 16.
Ella will 90 to Madison tonight in casket
Beyan has five bullet holes IN his mead. VIII is
safe but may be arrested. 1 will come with the
body. (sIgneO Z. a. LANGDoN.
This was the shocking message that was
handed to Mrs. Geo w. Smith, who re-
sides at No. 315 South Henry street, last
evening bet wpen 5:30 and 6 clock. 1t
was the first announcement she had re-
ceived of beloved daughters death-of
daughter she supposed to be in the en-
ioyment of perfect health up to the very
moment the terrible intelligence came.
No facts in regard to the manner of the
death are known here, but the telegram Is
suggestive Of an awful tragedy.
July 6 last. Miss Ella NJ Smith, daugh
ter of Mr.. and Mrs c. w. Smith, was
happily welded to VIM. H. Langdon,
whose home is at Baraboo, but who
graduated at the University of Wisconsin
in 1889. Mr.. Langlon father, G. A.
Langdon, is a heavy railroad contractor
and is new engaged in building q line IN
Clinton county, Iowa, not far south OF
Dubuque His son was with him as an
assistant, and the two have their head
quarters Just now at Grand Mound, Iowa.
1t was there that the terrible trag dy oc-
cumed-at farmhouse, so an unverlhed
rumor places it.
But to 90 back: Last winter Mrs.
Langdon, who was then unmarried, was
attending d seminary at Valparaiso, Ind.
Her brother-in-law, Rev. Otto }. Scoville,
now Presbyterian pastor at Marshteld,
this state, and his wife, were also IN Val
paraiso. There Miss Smith met young
man named Bevan, a good looking fellow
of about % years, which was about
her own age. He was an Englishman,
blonde, rather short of stature and
quite intelligent. He was book-keeper.
The young people became very warm
friends and it is supposed that Bevan be-
sought the young lady to marry him. At
any rate they passed as lovers and were
very often in each others company. For
two years before going to Valparaiso,
Miss Smith had been engaged to
Mr. Langdon, then a student in
the university. While absent they had
grown somewhat apart In their affections.
1t was at this time that Miss Smith and
Mr.. Bevan became such fast friends. The
young lady came home In the spring and
there was u happy reconciliation between
her and Mr.. Langdon, and Bevan was cast
off with as much genteness as was posi-
BILE July 4th, in the morning, Bevan
called at the Smith home here and then
for the first time met his successful rival,
who was also at the house. Eugene Z.
Rowley, the well known young lawyer of
this city, whose nuptial to the remaining
unmarried sister of Mrs. Langdon
is set for Thursday, OF this week,
was also present. Bevan grew ugly
IN
bitter language for casting him of, and
capped the outbreak by irving to pull
revolver from his hip pocket with the sup
posed intention of shooting Miss Smith
Mr.. Rowley jumped and caught him by
the arm ere his hand could be withdrawn
from his pocket He became cooler soon
afterward and was caller at the house
once In the afternoon Of the same Gay.
He also took dinner there. but left that
evening for Chicago where he WIS book
keeper for A. T. BuIien & Co., masters
corner of State and Cedar streets.
He was a frequent writer to Miss Smith
and there are letters exta t now in which
he limited at very dark things in case hel
love continued to be denied him. After
her marriage. Mrs. Langdon became very
much afraid Of him. and when she went
to Iowa three weeks ago, to join her hus
band. she avoided passing through Ch1ca
go for fear of meeting hlm.
About week age Bevan came t,
Madison, thinking, no doubt, that Mrs
Langdon was here If she had beer
there is the best Of reason for supposiug
that he intended to commit a cruel murder
here. But Mrs. Langdon happily ha gone tt
Iowa. Bevan called at her home here
however. His love was deep and mex
tinguishable, and he freely told of it t.
at least one young man in town nowist
connected with the family. Mr.. Eugene
Rowey. to whom he also unbosOmed him
self, sought to point out the uselessness O
his longer fostering his love. but Bevar
was needless and inconsolabie. He sale
he had been travelling for two months IL
the hope Of being able to forget his passion
but that it was impossible that Kithou
the companionship of the idol of his hear
he was abjectly miserable, and nothing wa
left for him to live for Mr. Rowley tool
dinner with him at the Hotel Ogden Fri
day. In parting Friday evening he tol(
Mr.. Rowley that be was going back t,
Chicago that night.
Mr.. Rowley was, however, suspicious o
his intentions and accordingly watched
him. Instead Of going to Chicago, Beval
took a train for Rockford Saturday morn
ing, evidently bound for Iowa to seel
the object of his affections. MIR
Rowley at once telegraphed to Mr.. Lang
don, notifying him of Be> an s departure
and warning him to look OFT for him.
Nothing more was heard of Bevan till the
horrifying dispatch was handed to tn,
poor mother here last evening. The lat
ter at once swooned away and was still
unconscious at midnight, with two ply
sicians striving to restore consciousness.
Mrs Langdon was a nice appearing ant
very pleasant hammered young lady, VIII
was reared and educated in this city an,
a warm favorite with those who knew her
Her father is Mr. Geo. W. Smith, carriag
trimmer for August Schmidt & Co. Ii
was not in the house when the messag
was handed to his wife. The dlSpatc
was signed by C. A. Langdon of Baraboo
father of the murdered woman S husband
The father Is wealthy railway contractor