The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-11-14

IL 10 W Tthu VI tTtktults tnht
have occurred in some other part of the
country and we think little about them,
but tragedy In our midst horrfies the
people and impresses on them how aw-
ful 1t Is to take human lie, therefore II
is hardly necessary to say that the peo-
pie OF Reynoldsville we're terribly
shocked and excited when the report
ran through town like wildfire at noon
last Thursday that G. Marshall Harding
had murdered his wife and then com
mitted suicide. The tragedy was not
as bad as first reported. Harding did
not succeed in killing his wife. She was
shot in the head but the bullet did not
strike vital spot. The ball struck
about the middle of her left ear aud was
buried In the bone back of ear, where
1t still remains. The doctors at first
intended performing an operation, but
as it would be very dangerous opera
tion they decided to let the ball remain
In the woman's head unless it gives her
trouble.
After Marshall shot his wife he held
the 32-calibre revolver to his right
temple and sent bullet crashing
through his own brain and fell to the
floor dead with the revolver clutched in
his right hand. The tragedy occurred
at the residence Of Benjamin II. Jones,
father OF Mrs. Harding.
Marshall Harding was brakeman on
the Reynoldsville & Falls Creek R'y.
Four years ago he eloped with Miss
Mollie Jones to Salamanca, N. Y,
where they were married. Mollie was
then sixteen and Marshall was twenty
two years old. The past year or two
life was not lone sweet dream" with
this couple and quarrels were not un-
common In their household. Harding
was very jealous of his wife, and the
''green-eyed monster" was the cause Of
much of their trouble.
Fred Duncan, soap peddler who
claims Chicago as his home. figured
conspicuously in the immediate cause
of the awful deed committed. AS near
as we can learn the case is as follows:
Last Friday afternoon the railroad
crew that Harding worked with brought
the money for Saturdays pay from
Falls Creek, arriving here soon after
800 p. m. and then Harding went home
and found the doors of his house locked.
He entered his house through win
dow and found Duncan there with his
wife. The circumstances aroused his
suspicious and Duncan's hasty exit
doubtless saved his life. There was
a stormy time in that household. Hard
ing said they must separate and he took
his wife and little daughter, Mary, to
her fathers home and his son, Ivan
Eugene, to the home OF his father.
Monday afternoon part OF household
goods were moved out of the house, indi-
eating that Harding did not intend living
with his wife. While moving the goods,
in the presence of Mrs. Jones, Harding
handed his wife loaded revolver and
said: "Shoot yourself and I will shoot
myself" When she said she would not,
he said, "You are afraid"
Sunday afternoon Harding called at
Hotel Imperial, where Duncan was
stopping, and had a private conversa-
tion with him In one of the bed rooms
after which Duncan went with Harding
| to the residence of Mr.. Jones, and in
the presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Jones and
Harding and wife the soap peddler
made the statement that improper rela-
| tions existed between himself and Mrs.
Harding. Early Monday morning Mr..
Jones called at Hotel Imperial and Dun
can went with him to Squire Nef's
| Office and by sworn affidavit denied
the statements he had made at Jones the
evening before. He said he was forced
to lie by fear OF Harding taking his life
The soap man skipped the town Mon
day, and IL is we'll for him that he did
for Harding was looking for him Mon
day night to kill him.
Harding was drinking some Wednes-
day night and before going home bid
several people goodbye, saying they
would never see him again. He did
not go to bed that night. He wrote
two letters, one to his father and sisters
and one to his lodge, which we publish
below. 1t is evident that Harding had
fully decided to kill his wife and CON-
NIT suicide.
A little after eight o'clock Thursday
morning he went to the home OF his
father-in-law and asked to see Mollie.
Mrs. Jones refused him at first but
finally yielded and went into parlor
with them and remained there, much to
the annoyance OF Harding. He insisted
on Mrs. Jones leaving the room, saying
he wanted to talk to Mollie five min
utes and everything would be settled.
Harding wanted his wife to go away