Year: 1876




affection seemed not only alienated from
her, but that her position and authority
in the house were being gradually usurp-
ed BY the servant. Smarting Under this
injustice, in July last, during the alb
sencs of her father, Miss Russell ordered
the girl to leave the house, and in
such decided terms that she did not
dare disobey the command.


When Russell returned home that
night and was told by his daughter that
she had discharged Lizzie Sackett his
rage knew no bounds. He went away
and returned with the discharged girl,
reinstated her in her place and forbade
his daughter using any authority in the
house thenceforth. The poor girl de-
terrained to remain no longer under his
roof, and hastily penning note to that
effect she left it in her bureau, walked
to the village and sought the house of
friend, where she found shelter. Next
day she obtained situation in family
in the village, and set to work to earn
her own livelihood.


The affair, of course, was soon spread
through the entire community and occa-
stoned great scandal. The indignation
of the neighbors finally became so in
tense that Russell was glad to send the
Sackett girl to her father, and begged
his injured daughter to return home.
She consented to again take her place
on the farm. About tho middle of
August she ascertained that her faith n
wss making frequent visits to the Sack
etts. She at once demonstrated with
him, when he remarked that his visits
to the girl was honorable, and that he
intended to marry her and bring her
back to the farm.


During her brief stay in the village,
after leaving her fathers house, Miss
Russell had been visited by Horton
Hurd. She would not consent to a
hasty marriage, but assured her lover
that she would give him her hand the
coming fall. Recalled to her fathers
house, she resolved to bring him to
agree to her marriage. His subsequent
avowals showed her the attempt would
be futile but when she found that he
had no care for her comfort and happi-
ness she determined to wed Horton
Hurd, let the consequence be what it
might.


On the twentieth of September last
Farmer Russell, after eating his break
fast, dressed himself carefully, and told
his daughter that he was that morning
to be married to Lizzie Sackett that
they would be back to the farm for din
ner. Crushed and dumbfounded atthis
sudden intelligence the poor girl could
make no reply, and as her father drove
away she fell fainting to the floor. When
she recovered consciousness it was nine
o'clock. Dragging herself to her room
she dressed herself and packed valise
with few personal effects. She then
wrote note to her father. Leaving the
house she came to the village, where
her story was soon made known. Horton
Hurd visited her at once and she con-
sented to his proposal OF Immediate
marriage. They proceeded to the resi-
dence of sister of Hurd, where they
were married.


About twelve o'clock on that day Rus
sci returned to his farm with his former
servant, now his wife. He found no
preparations made for his reception,
and, greatly enraged, at once begun
q search for his daughter. He found
only the note in her room. He stormed
and swore like a mailman and started
post haste for Roseville. he went to
the house where were the newly married
couple. He seized Hurd and attempted
to stab him. All the inmates of the room
except the young vito, fled at the san
culinary appearance of Russell. The
Young man, driven to desperation, drew
his pistol and warned Russell to desist,
but the latter seemed crazed with fury,
and redoubled his efforts to kill his SON
ia-law. He at last raised his pistol.
The Young mans wife, wild with terror,
sprung between her father and her hus-
band at the moment the latter pressed
the trigger, and the bullet crushed into
her brain. She fell to the floor and died
without moan.


Russell retreated in horror toward the
door, and the husband kneeled by the
side of his wife's corpse, and franticaly
ctlled her by name. Seeing that his
bride was dead he rose to his feet, and
in an instant shot himself through the
ter .ple, living but few seconds.


Russell was apprehended at once. He
could be held only on the charge
of deadly assault, and he was admitted
70 bail. Russell went home, but it was
seen that his mind was deranged, and it
became necessary for a constant watch
to be kept over him, as it was evident
that he would destroy himself. For
three months he gave no sign OF even a
glimpse of sanity, but finally, by de-
grees, recovered his mind. His wife
had been his constant attendant, hut
when he began to regain his reason he
eyinced repugnance toward her which
eliminated in her being compelled to
seek her fathers house. Since January
Russell has attended to his business
matters as before the tragedy, and it
seemed that he had entirely recovered.
An indictment was found against him
at tbs last term of court, and he was to
be tried. John Coleman, a hired man
of Russell, went to the barn to feed the
stock. On entering the haymow he was
horrifed to see his employer hanging
by rope to beam. He was cut down,
but found to be cold and dead. His bed
had not been disturbed during the
night, and doubtless he had hanged
himself early in the evening. No paper
of any kind has been found setting
forth his reasons for suicide, but they
are sufficiently evident to every one: a
will has been found in Russell's writing
/ desk. dated March Is. 1876. BY which