Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-04
GRANDFATHER's CLOCK
Proves Itself Harbinger of Terror to. a
Clermont County, o., Farmer.


Clermont County, o., Farmer.
CINCINNATI, July 3.-Murder, death,
superstition, suicde--a strange story.
These four elements Of misfortune
have brought misery TO a happy home.
Grandfather's clock in this instance
has proven itself harbinger of horror
aud death TO the home of Clermont
county farmer.
The story as told was as follows; In
1877, William Harrigan became the ten
ant of small farm near New Boston,
in Clermont County. His family con-
sisted Of "a wife and five children, and
they became near neighbors of Lowell
Roudebuan, a wealthy farmer. During
the month Of August Rouda6ush shot
Harrigan's dog, and the next morning,
it being Thursday, August 10, 1877,
Harrigan went over to the Roudebush
residence to see why his dog had been
killed. Like most of such troubles in
the county, quarrel ensued, and
Roudebush fired the contents OF dou-
ble-barreed shotgun at Harrigan, kill
ing him instantly.
In one corner OF the sittingroom OF
the little home Of the murdered man
stood an old-fashioned clock, over two
centuries old. 1t had never been
known to strike by the family until just
before Harrigau left his home to go to
the neighbours residence to adjust the
trouble of killing the dog, when it
pealed forth the single stroke OF zone. J"
The oldest daughter, of a superstitious
turn OF mind, at once said that some
thing awful was going to happen, and
when her father was carried into the
little home dead, and the daughter was
told that he had been cruelty murdered,
she pointed to the clock, and swooned
away. Medical aid was summoned,
and the young girl resuScitated, but
her mind was badly impaired, and she
lived in dread OF the next sounding OF
the bell in the old family clock, which
she claimed meant death.
For fifteen years the clock was dumb,
and the young lady became somewhat
reconcied, yet she was firm in her be-
lief that sooner or later the old time
piece would give warning that death
was to take some member OF the family.
Early one morning last spring the young
two" Before the dinner meal or that
day was prepared the widow of the
murdered man and mother OF the
poor daughter suddenly became sick
and died. The shock was so
great that 1t was only by long
and faithful watching and kind nursing
that the young lady's life was saved and
her reason somewhat restored. For a
time she appeared willing to calmly
await the developments OF the future.
Last Thursday, however, she was at
tackled with severe depression OF spir-
its. and her brothers, who have spent
their lives in catering to every plan
whereby she could be made happy,
watched her more closely. In the eye-
ming she did her milking, as was her
wont, and brought the milk to the house
To be placed in the cellar. Shortly
afterward she was missed, and,
after search, was found In
the barn, suffering most terrible
agony, frothing at the mouth and In
commissions. She had found part OF a
bottle of Gombault'S Caustic Balsam,
and in her agony of mind over the COM
ing death warning sound from the old
clock, which to her meant death, she
had drank the poisonous horse medicine
TO end her sad and suffering life. 10
the neat farmhouse, between Batavia
and East Liberty, are gathered around
the bedside of the poor sufferer, the
brothers and sisters and sympathizing
neighbors, doing all loving hearts and
hands can, but in anxious fear that the
old clock will sound the knell OF death
for the third time.