Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-03-10
A Dark Tragedy.

MarttnSDurg was thrown INTO state OF
excitement Monday night by tragedy, the
like of which has not been recorded in the
townspages of history, for a great many
years, at least. What made it more ex-
citing, too, was the fact that it was ro-
matte tragedy and that it happened at the
Baptist parsonage.
The tapping of the police alarm little
after ten O'Clock brought out a large
crowd, who at once gathered at the
scene of the tragedy. The information
they gathered was that Arthur Harden
had killed Nellie Madison and then shot
himself
Rev. c. p Stealey and his wife, who
occupy the parsonage were disturbed
shortly after going upstairs that night by
the sound OF three pistol shots in the low
er part of the house. Mr.. Stealey at once
went to the telephone and phoned to po-
lice headquarters and reported the facts.
He then awaited the arrival of the officer
before he ventured into the room where
the shooting had taken place.
Early in the evening Arthur Harden,
young colored fellow had called at the
parsonage to see Nellie Madison. who
worked for the minister's family Harden
had been frequent caller at the house
and nothing was thought of the fact.
Shortly, however, before Mr.. and Mrs.
Stealey went up stairs they heard the two.
who were keeping company in the kitchen.
talking in loud tones as if quarelling.
This attracted no more than passing
thought and as a consequence they were
not prepared for the tragedy which fol-
lowed so quickly.
When Captain of Police Freeze, who
happened to be in the police station at the
time MIR. Stealey called for assistance, ar
rived at the parsonage, he and Rev.Stealey
went into the kitchen to investigate. The
first object which met their gaze was the
form oil Nellie Madison lying PROSTATE on
the floor. They went 10 her and found to
their horror that she was dead. BY her
side, on the floor was mans hat. This
was identified as the hat which Harden
had worn earlier in the evening, when he
called at the house. Before further inves-
ugation was made, the coroner and UNI
dertaker were notified, and summoned
to the place.
While Captain Freeze and Rev. Stealey
were making their discoveries, officers
Hollis, Riorden and Dutrow arrived. These
officers turned their attention towards the
investigation of the cause of the shooting,
and finding of The assailant. The fact that
the women was dead on the floor when
she was found, led at once to the thought
that she had been murdered and the muir
derer escaped. The first thing therefore
was to follow the murderer if possible, and
capture him.
AS Harden had been with the woman
in the early part of the evening 1t was
natural to suppose that he knew some
thing about the affair. Officers Hollis and
Riorden at once went to the home OF
Harden on West Martin street and made
a search of the house. They found no
trace of the man they were after and re-
turned TO the scene of the tragedy.
In carrying out the dead woman it was
discovered that the woman was not the
only one shot, Officer Hollis by the light
of lantern found trail of blood leading
out of the back door. This trail was at
once taken up by the officers. 1t led them
in zigzag course across back yards,
fences and out buildings. After scaling
half dozen fences, gong through chick
en- coops and over back buildings the off,
GERS finally brought up at the door of the
stable on the lot of MIR. Kantner. These
traced the trail of blood into the stable
but found no one there. Officer Hollis at
once went to the second floor and was re-
warded by finding Harden lying in the
hay To all appearances the man was
dead. Harden was passed down stairs
and laid out on the foo for dead. He
soon showed signs of life and his father
and Doctors Sites and Barlow were sent
for.
The physicians soon arrived and adj
ministered stimulents to the man. They
soon had the effect of restoring the ex-
hausted man to semi consciousness. For
short time he opened his eyes and in a
conscious moment said "Nellie what did
you do it for didn't know you would
treat me that dirty" With this speech
uttered, he lost consciousness.
HARDENS STORY.
Harden gained consciousness again
next morning. The bullet entered the
right side of his jaw. passing through the
roof of his mouth. and lodged between
his eyes at the base of his brain. Harden
on Tuesday said he did not do the
shooting. He said Nellie Madison had
been carrying his revolver for the past
several days and that while they were
quarreling she pulled the revolver and
shot him, then shot herself He said he
ran out the back door after he was shot
and fell down the steps. He ended his
story by saying that after he fell he was
half unconscious and so mixed up that he
just started out and ran and don't know
anything else until in the morning. The
revolver was found outside of the kitchen
door.
BOTH ARE YOUNG.
The dead woman was about twenty
five years old. She is the wife of Joseph
Madison, who has been living in Cumber-
land for the past several months. Her
parents are dead. She has two brothers
and two sisters living. She has been liv-
ing at Rev. Stealeys house for quite a
lor e time and was a trusted hired girl.
Harden is well known about town. He