Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-21
A TRAGEDY IN THECOUNTY|
Mrs. Joseph Place Takes Her Own
Life With Shot Gun.
BODY FOUND BY HER HUSBAND
Her Husband, Who Was Driven From His
Home Near Gerardstown by Threats, Re-
turned Friday Morning and Found Her
Dead, With Shot Gun by
Her Side.

Her Side.
Gerardstown, Dec. l3-At lonely
home on the side of North Mountain
on which the sun last sheds its light
as it disappears In the evening, there
was enacted last night a tradgey
which caused sensation in the south
western section of the county. AS a
result Mrs Jane Place, the wife OF
Joseph Place, who resides about two
miles west of Gerardstown. this coun
ty, lies cold in death with shot gun
wound in her body, the victim, it is
said, of her own hand,
For sometime past Mr. and Mrs.
Place have been living together with
a feeling toward each other that was
not of the most peaceful sort Quar-
rels between them were not infrequent
occnrre.ces. Yesterday their i'll feel
ing toward each other reached a eli
max and Mrs. Place threatened to kill
her husband according to his state
ment). Afraid that she would carry
out her threat. he left the house and
did not return until late in the even
ing.
In the evening Mr.. Place summoned
up enough courage to go home. but
when he reached the house he peered
through the window and saw his wife
armed with shot gun
AL, 10
up bis mind to spend the night at a
neighbour house, which he did.
This morning he returned home and
found his wife dead, her lifeless body
in pool of blood and shot gun "
ing by her side. She had from all APP
pearances, ended her own life.
The first news of the affair was
brought to Gerardstown this morning
by Mr.. Place himself when he came
after an undertaken. He then related
he acts to the Worlds Gerar lstown
correspondent, as above told.
The deceased was formerly Miss
Jane Barney, daughter of William
Barney. Her first husband, Jack
Miller. was murdered on the noun
tain west OF Gerardstown four or five
years ago. Four children by her
first husband survive her.
She was about fifty wears of age.
no DISINTER BODY.
Mrs. Hester Jane Place who was
found dead at her home west of
Gerardstown Friday morning with a
shot gun by her side, was laid to rest
at f7erardstown Monday: but she
was not laid awav in her last rest
ing place. The body will be disin
tered and q full investigation made
of the whole affair.
Samuel Barney, a brother of the
dead woman, appeared at the office
of Prosecuting ATTORNEY Pitzer this
morning, stated that he believed that
his sister had been murdered instead
of having committed suicide, and ask
ed for an invetigation.
That was the first complaint that
0Hu Dceu DlduS W LHc plOStCutiuS ~
torney and he had heretofore no in
formation from the dead woman's rel
a'ives that foul play was suspicion
ed The prosecuting attorney. how
ever, at once took steps toward an
immediate investigation.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney w.
B. Lindav and DR.. Castleman starte d
out this morning for the scene of the
occurrence. The Gerardstown under
taker was ordered to disinter the
body, which will be examined.
Barney stated that the indications
were that his sitser had been shot
from the side, which is strong evil
dence, he says, that she did not do
the shooting herself. Her forehet
nose and part of her face were blown
away. She was partly undressd when
found, showing that she was pr par
ing TO go to bed when the shooting
occurred