Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-08-24
EDw. T. RICH THE VICTIM OF WILLIAM J
HoUGH's PASSION.

COONt U.
EDw. T. RICH THE VICTIM OF WILLIAM
HoUGH's PASSION.
About ten o'clock last Saturday night,
Edward T. Rich, of WestYille, Otsego Co.
N Y was murdered at the home of David
Ramm, Paulsboro, by hisi brother-in-law,
VIM. T. Hough, of Billingsport. The
motive for the horrible crime Is said to be
revenge, because of Rich's interest Ia his
SISTERS welfare. The story Of the occur
renee is as foIlows:-
VIM. I. Hough and wife live at Billings
port, the wife being an invalid. About
three years ago her brother, Edward T.
Rich learned that Hough was not treating
his sister as he should and came from his
home in the State of New York to investi-
gate He had words with Hough which
ended in blows, and Hough was severely
beaten. Recently reports of Hough's i'll
treatment Of his wife again reached the
brother, and he came on to visit his sister
and learn the truth of the situation. lie
arrived on Thursday last, and arranged to
keep his presence in the neighborhood
from Hough by stopping at the house Of
David Ramm,iu PAulsbor0, where his sister
met HIM On Saturday HOugh learned OF
Richs presence IN town and immediate
became enraged, aud it is reported, in the
presence OF witnesses, threatened to take
RIch's lie, and exhibited a revolver.
THE MURDER
At the Ramm house on Saturday night
were Mrs Ramm and a small child and
Rich and his sister. Mrs Hough. Rich
about nine o'clock, and at $50
the house was quiet Before ten O'Clock
TWO pistol shots were heard Rich ran up
stairs and died 10 his sisters arms; Hough
followed him, and in the presence Of bis
wife, exclaimed | killed him. He wanted
to kill me Mrs. Ramm went down stairs
in time to see Hough 20 out the door with
a revolver IN his hand.
CAPTURING THE MURDERER
The murderer made practically no effort
to escape, and was captured soon thereafter
by special officer / n Derrickson and
Thomas leopard He had knife wound
across the forehead, and left side of the
nose, left arm and across the left breast
the nipple and the throat. The
officers took him to DR.. George G. Laws
who dressed the wounds and then to JUS
tice William g. Cowgirl, who committed
him to the county jail at Woodbury..
The revolver used by Hough was recover
ed 10 a cornfield near the Ramm house
the only knife found is small one, the
of the dead man. and was found
10 the ROOM Two or three spots on it are
either rust or blood. The Prosecutor has
offered reward for the recovery of the
knife which wounded Hough. From the
fact that the wounds are all on bis left side,
the conclusion is reached that his wounds
were self-inhicted.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner James Hunter, NJ. D., of New
bold, held an inquest on the body of Rich
on Monday, the following citizens being
as jurors =
Wilson d. Gill, DR.. Geo. C. Laws. Amber
Stetser, VIM. Campbell, Robert Jester and
Albert Trumble.
Mrs Hough, wife of the accused, was
the first witness. She is an invilid, and
had to be carried to the witness stand. She
gave her testimony in clear voice. and at
90 time appeared to be excited. She stated
that her brother carried her up stairs about
nine O'Clock, and went into an adjoining
room to sleep. Mrs. Ramm, with whom
she is staying, sat on the bed talking to
her. While the conversation was going
on Mrs. Ramm heard a noise outside the
house, and going to the window saw by the
light of the moon, man, supposed to be
Hough, 90 around the house. At the same
time the dogs began to bark. Mrs Ramm
kept her informed of Hough's movements,
and finally saw him go up the street. Mrs.
Ramm went to the room where my brother
slept and told him my husband was out
side. In about five or ten minutes she
heard a scream, pistol shot. and then saw
her brother rush into her room and fall
him, and found his shirt was on fire. At
the same time she looked up and was
startled at seeing her husband in the room.
He remarked with an oath -
!" / killed biss He wanted to kill me-"
In answer TO a question by the Coroner
as to whether or not they were expecting
her husband that night. Mrs Hough said
. Yes; we expected him, because he was in
the vicinity OF the house two or three times
in the afternoon, and had dread about it,
There has been hard feelings between Ed
and Will for year. VIII was very
abusive: very domineering, and seemed
ready to pick quarrel all the time. The
trouble began year and half ago at our
house along the creek. Ed was there on
a visit, and Will' started quarrel Ed
struck him, and then rushed out of the
house Will picked up his gun and chased
: Ed all around the cabins. Finally there
was reconciliation, and the matter was
patched up, and when ED left the house
they were the best of friends. apparently.
| believe some one has been urging WHIP
to do this deed, lately, for when he came
home a short time ago he was surly. and
then threatened to kill by brother if he
ever darkened the door. llmurder him,
he said
Mrs. Hough said she heard no scuffie in
the Ramm house. She did not even hear
her brother go down stairs. She identified
the revolver, saying: Why, have slept
with that under my pillow many night"
In handling the loaded weapon it was
pointed two or three times in the direction
of the jury box, and there was a general
ducking of heads. She recognized the
blackjack also as belonging to her husband
but she did not recall ever seeing the knife
which was found beside Rich in the bed
room.
Mrs. David Ramm was the next witness
She said that ON Saturday afternoon boy
came to her house saying that Hough want
ed to see her. She went to see him, and he
told her that he wanted his wife at home,
that unless she came he would soon put
everything in ashes whele she was staying
She said she told him that his wife could
not come. as she was too i'll. Mrs Ramm
then told of how she saw him in front Of
the house that night; of his whisiling to
the dog. and shortly after hearing the shots
down stains. As she went down the stairs
she met Hough and asked Will, what
have you done ~ She said be replied
!" Why have killed the --!" She
remembered hearing two shots She further
stated that during her conversation with
him in the afternoon, Hough showed heI
the revolver and big knife about eight
inches long. She did not hear a scuffi OF
words down stairs
Mr.. Ramm swore that when he met
Haugh on Friday the latter said " | have
seen the - -, and I'll kill him if