Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-06-19
REJECTED LOVER KILLED
WOMAN And HIMSELF
Coatesville, Pa, Excited by
Terrible Double Tragedy.
4 HANDSOME WIDOW ONE VICTIM
The Man Was Divorced and
Also a Trifler.



Coatesyille, Pa, June Is. His love
rejected, Harry W. Ricer, aged q, shot
and killed Mrs. Rachel b. Sahler,
widow, aged 80, and then sent bullet
through his own head, at Mrs. Sahler's
boardinghouse, on East Main street,
this place, about, 6 o'clock this morn
jnp. Both died almost instantly. Ricer
wac employed by the McClintock "
Marshall Contraction Co. of Pottstown.
and vas bridge builder. He worked
here as assistant superintendent for
the company two years ago, when he
became acquainted with Mrs. Sahler.
He called on her frequently, and after
leaving this place he kept up an irregu-
lar correspondence. On April Both he
received a letter from Mrs. Sahler.
The only thing Of note which. it con-
tained we're these significant words:
II have not heard from you so long
that | thought you had either com
mitted suicide or somebody had killed
You.
He arrived here on Friday and went
to one of the hotels. Yesterday, in COM
pany with several companions, he
heavily. This was unusual for him, fos
it it is said he was never known hero
to drink to excess. Mrs. Sahler wa.l
employed at the department store OF
w, W.. Mast, on Main street. Wher
| she was through at the store last night
Ricer escorted her to her boarding
house, owned by the Misses Lang.
These ladies are visiting in the country
| so that Mrs. Sahler, the only boarder,
was the lone occupant of the premises.
The two entered. About Il o'clock
Mrs. Sahler left the house and went to
the home of Miss Mary Ernest, few
doors away, where she had been taking
her meals To Miss Ernest she said that
Ricer was drunk and that she was
! afraid to be alone with him. She had
requested him to leave and go to his
hotel, but he refused. Mrs Sahler
spent the remainder of the night witt
Miss Ernest. This morning, about
O'Clock, the two went to the Long
residence and tried to arouse Ricer
They had some trouble in getting hin
to the front door, and when he opened
it he was fully dressed. He invited
them in, and then followed a wranglt
about Ricer staying in the house
Turning to Mrs Sahler, he said
what is your answer to what | asket
you last night" Mrs. Sahler's ROT |,
was 1T always was no; is nov
and always Will he no.
Finding that Ricer would not leave
the house, Mrs. Sahler and Miss Ernest
who was a witness to the whole affair
started to 90. Rcer was then standn 6
in the hallway, near tho front door
leading to the porch. Mrs SahleI
passed in front of him and was ius
on the door sill when Ricer drew q
revolver and fired bullet into the
widows back between the shoulders,
} little to the right side of the spinal
column. The woman screamed ano
cried. Miss Ernest exclaimed, : for
brute" and then sprang forward an.
caught Mrs. Sahler before she fell. M
| sooner had Rioer shot her than h.
turned the revolver on himself and sem
a bullet crashing through his owl
brain. Both died almost instantly,
, ,, although Mrs. Sahler uttered severa
! piercing screams in her death agony,
! | Added to these Miss Ernest's call fol
y help aroused the neighborhood and
several persons were quickly on the
+ scene.
The authorities took charge of tho
bodies and Deputy Coroner George G.
Wright empaneied q jury and made
thorough investigation of the tragedy.
DIR, d. P. Rettew was summoned ano
/. examined the wounds. The bullet hao
d entered Mrs Sahler's back and passed
., down in its course toward the heart,
: severing one of the large arteries ,nefl
Q that organ. Ricer's head was piercer
$ from the right temple to a point owe
# the left ear. The bullet was not found
although it had passed completely
i through and must have been in th'
g room somewhere.
d After the inquest the bodies wer
u given into the keeping of local under
takers. The only evidence remaining
$ in the house was large crimson stall
n in the centre of the parlor carpet.
9 Letters found in Ricer's pockets re
d vealed the fact that he was to hav
Z been married to Miss Alma Lowry o
" Columbus, o., about October LIST
:. There we're about l5 of these letters
y all couched in the most endesrini
n terms. When he was working here tw
e wears ago Ricer said that he had re
1t GENTLY been divorced from his wife an
that he had child. The whereab bout
of his parents or other relatives is no
known, although II is said they liv
in the neighborhood of Pittsburg.
ic Mrs. Sahler was we'll and favorabl
st known here. She was small in statu
and of slender build, and while it coul
Up not be said she was pretty, yet che ha
tx q pleasing face.
The unfortunate woman had bo
n, about 7 years old, who is under th
IL care of relative at Thorndale, nes
this place. Her husband died in tn
L. fall OF 1899, since which time she ha
i'd supported herself and child by her ow
labor.