The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-02-04
MARIENVILLh TRAGEDY.
John II. Fidler, Hotel Keeper, Shoots
and Kills His Wife, Then Turns
the Weapon Upon Him.
self aud Dies.

The most sensational tragedy IN the
history of Forest county was enacted at
Marienville last Wednesday evening, re-
sulting in the murder OF Mrs. John II.
Fidlcr and the suicide of the murderer a
moment later About O'Clock in the
evening, while Fidler and bis wife were
locked in their room in the second story
of the hotel, he placed revolver close to
her head and fiIed, the lall entering at
the left temple aud passing through the
head, killing her instantly. He then sent
a bullet into his own head near the same
spot from the effects of which he died
about three hours later. As may be inn
agined TIE community was Mortified at
the awful deed, ard in few moments
the place was lhronged with the citizens
Of the town.
Fidler had been drinking heavily for
several months past, and during the past
weeks had been suffering from delerium
tremens, often becoming almost a raving
maniac. He was powerful man and
at such times it was impossible to con-
troll him, his faithful wife seeming to
he able often to subdue him when all
other efforts failed. II is said be often
threatened her life, but apparently she
did not believe he would put his threats
into execution. Reports also say that in
his rawlings, and without the slightest
cause he became insanely jealous. In
his sober periods he had always seemed
a model husband and in his household
affairs, and to his wife and child, kind
almost to fault.
The EXPIRES gives these particulars OF
the tragedy and the circumstances lead
ing up to it:
"On Monday, January 10, he left with
others Tor Harrisburg TO attend the in
auguration and returned on Friday and
since that time has been gradually conf
ing to the point of tremens, although not
drinking as much as he had been known
to on many former occasions, his system
was not able to stard it. On Tuesday he
was very bad. He would follow his wife
about the house and storm and rage.
Yesterday she thought she would try
to keep him up stairs in their room.
He seemed to become frenzied with
fear of warrant in the hands of
some one and that some person was 60
ing to arrest him and crazed with this
idea, he barricaded the door of the room.
Sometime during the afternoon he had
gone down stairs and finding his ravol-
yer, putit with some cartridges in his
pocket and on going upstairs, said,
"Now I'm prepared for them" About 4
o'clock Mrs. Fidler sent her little boy,
Clyde, down stairs TO tell Joseph Leech
to come up stairs aud try to paciIy him,
but as no approached the door, Fidler
warned him not to come in, and Mrs.
| Fidler then told Joe he had better go
down. short time later Mr.. and Mrs.
Fider were sitting at the window when
| John Dechant, clerk at the hotel, came in
sight and Fidler asked Dechant if Charlie
wanted him and who had the warrant.
Mr.. Dechant replied there was no war
rant and no on3 wanted him, and to rest
easy. Mrs. Fidler then asked Mr.. De-
chant to come up and explain 10 him, but
| Fidler said, no that he did not need to
come up. These were the last words that
anyone living heard. Shortly alterward
! the reports of three shots were heard and
the sound of someone falling on the floor.
After first sending for constable Raiisny-
! dor Iobp na.hopt N Il HnOypr and
others tried 10 get into the room but
found it barricaded. They finally kick ed
the lower pannels in and peered into the
room and could see him on the floor and
ty minutes or more they succeeded in
loI cling an entrance, to find before their
eyes the lifeless body of Mrs. Fidler and
her husband as described. One of the
shots had evidently been fired at pair
of trousers which hung alongside of the
window-no doubt taking them for q
man. Drs. Beck and Yingling were at
once summoned and after examining the
wound OF Mrs. Fidler which evidently
had caused instant death, went TO work
to sustain the last spark of life in him
who had committed the terrible tragedy,
but all attempts to bring him back lC
consciousness proved futile and at $40 he
passed to the great beyond. Mrs. Fidlel
had evidently been sitting on the side Of
the bed and the revolver held right close
to her temple as her face was powder
burned. a 92-calibro Smith * Wessor
5-shooter lay along side of him witt
three chambers enptied."
Fidler was aged about 80 years and en-
ga. ed in the hotel business at Marien'
Vile about six years ago, owning the
Forest House. He had wide acquant
ance, and when sober was regarded as {
man of good impulses and quite wei
thought OIL Mrs. Fidler was considered
a model woman; highly esteemed for hel
many good qualities of mind and hear
by those who knew her. She was ageC
27 years. One child, boy of years, il
left an orphan by the sad tragedy. The iu
neral was held on Friday afternoon ant
was under charge of the odd Fellows
fraternity, of which Mr.. Fidler had beel
member for a number of years.
An inquest was held on Thursday On
the body of Mrs. Fidler, Squire Jas. I
Rose acting as coroner, the verdict ren
dered being in accordance with the fact
here related.
f Gas Explosion in Citizens Bank.
A., ,,.,losi,,, n 9 ,,,y IL, tho boatar in /,