, 1901-09-27
HANGED HIMSELF IN BELFRY.
The Tragic Act "r Youthful New Ter.
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Ths Tragic Act "r Youthful New Ter.
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Washington. -. j.. Letter.
A great sensation has been created
in this vicinity by the tragic act Of
Rev. George B. Harrington. a Meth
odist minister in the neighboring town
Of Oxford. Oxford was Mr.. Harring-
toms frst charge and he was very
popular with the younger members Of
the church. He had been there only
two months. and after a six weeks
acquaintance married his organist,
Miss Ida Tice. only 10 days ego. Mr..
and Mrs. Harrington intended to spend
the day with her parents Wednesday.
and went to their home about 10
O'Clock. An hour later the husband ex-
cused himself to go over to The Empire
Steel Company's store. and promised
to be back soon. He Purchased a few
yards Of clothesline. and then went
down the road toward the church. That
was the last seen of him alive.
said He Would Not Live.
At breakfast the minister had re-
marked to his bride that he did not be-
lieve he would live through the day.
She thought he was joking and laughed
at him, giving the matter no further
thought. When the husband had not
returned to the home Of his father-in-
law at ] O'Clock. Mrs. Harrington be-
came alarmed and thought of the con-
versation of the early morning.
When he did not return late in the
afternoon she and her father started
out in search of him. At the store it
was learned that he had purchased the
rope, and then the aged father and girl
began to fear the worst. At last the
wife suggested hat they visit the
church. None Of the neighbors had
seen him enter, and the edifce was
locked, but by prying of a shutter in
the rear Of the building an entrance
was effected. There was at first no
trace of him there. but in the gallery
the entrance to the belfry was dis
covered locked or the first time in
years, and the key. which had hung
on a nail near by. wal missing. The
keyhole was dark. showing that 1t had
been locked from the Inside. and fear
ing that his search was almost at an
end, the old man lifted the frail door
from Its hinges. Then he led the way
to the first landing, but no sooner had
he put his head through the trap door
than he turned to his daughter and
asked her to 60 home.
Feared Effect on His Life
Her wit told her that something aw-
full had happened. but in that moment
of most fearful trial she was brave,
and refused. The father explained that
just above him he could see a man
hanging from a rafter, and that 1t
might be the body Of her husband. Mrs.
Harrington ran to a %neighboring house
and asked for help, and a few minutes
later the body was cut down.
Some Of the older and more staid
members of the church had taken ex-
ception to the minister's method of get
ting married, and only Tuesday he told
a close friend that ne feared the effect
Of the move IN his life. He said he ex-
pected to be expelled from Drew Sem
mary when he went back there this
winter. and as he had not any other
profession in view he did not like 10
contemplate the future. He said then
that he even feared that he might lose
the Oxford church on account of it. He
seemed much detected and appeared to
repent the hasty move he had made.