Year: 1869

Murder md suicide il 0hioVA @ n, Wom1n's


The Cincinnati Times of the s7th inst has
the following


Perhaps the most startling deed of blood, the
most shocking and awful of terrible family ira
gedles that has ever occurred hereabouts since
the memorable and maniacal Cawan affair, was
transacted last night near Cheviot, village a
few miles west of this city, on the Harrison
turnpike. In all its phases the tragedy is the
most sanguinary and startling that the incarnate
demons Of hell could suggest, leaving no miti-
eating circumstances to vail the shivery shock
of horror that the awful act will entail.


The public will remember that some several
months ago John r. Wilder became unhappily
notorious in cowhiding young lawyer named
Nicholas Bird, who had been detected in send
ing love-notes to his daughter, an inmate of the
Hughes High School.


The assault on Bird by Mr.. Wilder, occurring
ON the most prominent street in the city, natu-
rally gave an immediate notorety to the affair
that otherwise, perhaps, 1t would not have OBJ
tanned. Besides, the standing of the principals
led to very general expression of opinions-so
much So indeed, that Mr. Bird published card
in one of the newspapers, in which he alleged
that his correspondence with Miss Wilder was
known to her mother, whose consent in such a
course he claimedsto have.


This card of Birds caused great discord be-
tween Mr.. and Mrs. Wilder, and domestic quar-
| rels were of frequent occurrence. Additionally
| Mr.. and Mrs. Wilder owned considerable pro-
| perty in the city, some of which was occupied
| by the keepers of bagnios and women of ill
| fame. For renting property to these parties
| both were several times under indictment, and
we believe are under bonds at the present time
| to answer for this offense.


| Some few weeks ago Mr.. Bird and Miss Wilder
were married. Mr.. Wilder was bitterly opposed
| to the marriage, and during an alteration last
evening he accused the wife of favoring the
match. The thought of it seemed to arouse his
| worst passions, and the more he brooded over it
the more desperate he became, until finally from
| words he proceeded to violence.


He struck his wife a desperate blow, and
then taking large pruning knife, cut her throat
| in several places, and also her head and face,
| and left her, as he doubtless thought with fatal
| wounds. The son, youth of some fifteen
years, being witness to the affair, ran out for
| help, and proceeded to the residence of Squire
| Thomas Wells, to whom he related his sad and
| painful story.


The magistrate at once proceeded to the house,


and on his arrival there found the desperate


man in his room, which he had strongly barri-


caded by placing bed before the door The
| official called out to him to open the door, but
| the infuriated man only replied by answering


that he would not be arrested alive, and that any


one who made the attempt to arrest him would
| be severely dealt with. There being loaded
| double-barreiled shotgun in the room as the


Squire was informed, he thought it better to


send for assistance, and therefore at once des-
| patched messenger for the constable, who
| lived some two miles distant


Shortly after the messenger was gone the re-
| port OF discharged gun was heard, and then


another Immediately following. On hearing this
| it was determined to break open the door,


This was at once done, and horrible to relate,


there lay Immediately IN front of the Fireplace


with a loaded revolver in his right hand, the


lifeless body of the unfortunate, with the right


side of his head blown away. The breech of the
| shotgun, which was fastened to the fireplace


told the sad story of the suicide, for the weapon


which he held in his hand when found had not


been discharged. Here was indeed house OF


mourning and of blood. Below was the wife
| suffering from her numerous wounds; above the


husband welterng in gore, and the son frenzied
| at the sight he was compelled to witness.
| Mr.. Wilder is about ffty-five years old and


was noted as man of violent temper. 1t is


said that previous to their marriage he was in


sane for year, and it is thought at the time o.


the committal of the deed he was in demented
state.