The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-07-24
AsAp DOUBLE TRAGEDY.


lila wife nud Tlion Commits Suicide.
Mental Alteration thu Cause.
Intelligence reached the city yester.
day Of a peculiarly sad double tragedy
over In Belmont county, near Centre.
vile, in tho South,central part Of the
county. Vaudeville Ault, formerly a
prominent and successful school teacher
Of Belmont county, and later Deputy
Auditor Of the county, first shot and
instantly killed his wife, and then com.
mit,ed suicide.
The shocking affair occurred at the
home Of Mr.. Ault's father, George Ault,
who Is q prominent man OF his vicinity.
About 8 o'clock yesterday morning
the family were aroused by the report
OF a shot. Goingto the room In which
Vaudeville AUX and his wife slept, they
found Mrs. Ault lying dead in bed, with
a wound In her left breast, near the
heart. While his wife was asleep Ault
barCd her bosom, md placing the muz.
zle OF the revolver In close proximity to
her heart, fired. Mrs. Ault rose from
her bed and rushed from the room, but
returned n moment later, and dropped
dead on the floor.
Immediately alter firing the frat shot
he placed the smoking weapon to bis
own forehead and fired. The ball ranged
upward, producing only n slight wound.
When he saw, his wife lying dead he OK.
claimed:
"My God! you are dead aud l an,
still alive"
At this in%ncture his sister, Miss Adens
auit, rushed into the room, and q terri.
bic struggle ensued between her and the
murderer for the possession Of the re.
yolver. Finally wreuching II from his
hand, she. hurledi It through the window.
He then released his grasp and rushed
from the room. At the foot Of the stairs
he met his father, who tried to stop him,
but his efforts were %uuavailing, and
Vaudeville broke from the house.
THE MURDERER HANGS HIMSELF.
Inthe darkness he ran to the barn Of
james Mckelreys one.Quarter mils dis.
liant, and securing O check line he at.
tached 1t to II beam aud swung himself
OIL. When found aboG. daylight life was
totally extinct.
The revolver with which the deed was
performed had been borrowed from a
brother in.law on Tuesday, on tho plea
OF wishing to shoe. ut a marx for amuse.
ment, and was OF a large caliber. The
weapon contained three balls, and this
creates the suspicion that he intended Ia
kill his child also, a little boy who s!ep,
in an adjoining room, but was prevented
by the arrival OF his sister on The scene,
MIR. and Mrs. Ault have been married
about five years, and leave one child, g
bright little boy about four years o.
age.
Mr.. Ault has been in very bad healll
for about a year, and was recently com.
PEELED to give up work in the office, bu,
vas thought TO be recovering from an
attack OF nervous sickness which almos,
proved fatal. lie was almost thirty.twc
years old.
Mrs. Ault was q daughter OF Vim
Armstrong, and was a most loyable apt
accomplished lady, and Mr.. Ault wa.
one OF the most exemplary OF men, held
in high regard by nil who knew him
The calamity is a deplorable one, and
the news OF it casts q shadow Of gloom
over The community ard over the eutirs
county, throughout which few mer
were better known than he.
TEMPORARILY INSANE.
Mr.. Ault suffered a very severe at.
tack OF grippe during the winter, and
never fully recovered from it. Some.
time ago he went with his wife aud
child TO the home OF his father, George
Ault, near Centerville, in hopes Of re.
cuperating. The doctors said bis ner.
vous system was run down and that he
needed rest, and with his kind and de.
voted wife he wss enjoying the pure
country air. He seemed to build up all
right for a time, but about q week age
some Of his friends remarked to his
father that they believed Vaudeville
was losing his mind. The father, though
regarding some OF his actions as a little
queer. could not believe him crazy, at.
tributing his conduct to his debilitated
COnultlOu.
All who knew the young man can nov
recall strange actions, but not one Tor q
moment W thought of any violence
from him. Sometime since Mr.. and Mrs,
Ault buried a little son, and it is thought
he brooded over the loss OF his bow 40
as to ambulance his mind in his weak.
ened condition.
For some time there had been Quiet
talk in the family and among intimate
friends Of sending Vaudeville to the
asylum, but his father and his wife 81.
ways protected, in the belief that il be
would get well he would be sound in
mind, and in the further belief that he
was harmless IS a child. This, every.
body who knew him thought, and his
wife above all others felt safe aud secure
with him, for he almost worshipped her.
Capt. W. NJ. Ault, formerly a leading
citizen Of Beiiaire, was q brother OF
Vaudeville.
The funeral will probably occur on
Friday, but the hour has not been fixed,
THE STATE LINE RAILROAD,
An EUtflusjpstlc Meeting Held nj ro,nn.