The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-03-13

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The correspondent II ths KocAestes
Union and Advertiser, writing from
Alexander, N. r., regarding haunted
house In that locality, tells this blood
curdling story: M
A little over twsnty years ego there
lived In this villags Z gentlemsn, his
wife and two boys-JamsA aged eight
cen, and Henry, aged twenty. These
boys were bright scholarly young gon-
tlemen, and were devotedly attached 10
each other. A year before this story
opens they had begun the study Of
medicine and were both enthusiastic
students. Henry was passionately de-
voted to the study Of the heart es-
pecially its anatomy and physiology,
and frequently expressed q desire 70
witness its beatings. He claimed that
II he could watch the movements Of that
organ he would be able to cope success-
fully with any Of its diseases. This
thought haunted him night and day;
1t soon became the sole object Of his
conversation, the one theme upon which
he expended every leisure moment. At
last 1t told upon his health; his appetite
became affected; his nights were passed
without sleep; his friends began to mo-
tice strangeness in his manners, still
no pretnonition of the awful event
about to take place reached them.
One n light the father and mother Of
the boys left them at home and went 10
visit neighbor. They were seated In
their study room busily engaged with
their books when Henry suddenly
sprang to his feet, and pacing back and
forth, began his usual harangue on the
subject Of the heart. Back and forth he
went, his manner growing more wild
and incoherent ut every turn. Sudden
ly he stopped in front Of his brother,
and with the wild light Of insanity
shining in his eyes, and his face con-
vulsed with maniacal rage, shouted:
"Your heart shall furnish me with the
knowledge I want!" and then sprans
like tiger upon him. The struggle
was short but terrible and ended by
James being thrown to the floor uncon-
scious, his head having struck the cor
ner Of table in falling. Upon regain
ing his senses few moments after he
found himself bound upon table, his
chest barred, and at his side the spongeA
knives and. other instruments used IN
bloody operations. He had scarcely
noticed these CHASTITY preparations
when his brother stepped to his side, ar
royed in the surgeons long, white apron
and holding in his hand bright, keen
scalpel. The sight Of his brothers heart
beating against its covering Of flesh
aroused him to fury. He laughed and
shrieked and waved his sharp knife
above his head in triumph.
"At last" he cried, ~ shall see 1t
beat and throb. shall learn the So
cret Of its rhythm, and understand the
mystery Of its music" The poor lad
begged and pleaded for mercy, but in
vain. Slowly and VITA cool precision
the maniac placed the edge Of his knife
upon the spot where he wished to cut,
and in spite of his brothers. pitiful ories
drew the cold steel through the quiyer-
ing flesh. Once, twice he cut through
flesh and muscle, and then there was
the sudden rush Of feet, sscrash, and
through the open door rushed tho boys
father, accompanied by several neigh
bors.
In the struggle that followed the
maniac was fatally out by bis own knife
and died q few hours later. ,
The boy on the table was in O dying
condition when released, and only
lived long enough to give tho details Of
the scene Just described. As before
stated, strong efforts were made to keep
the affair quiet, and few weeks after
the parents left Alexander, never to re-
turn.