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HOBRIBLE DEATH.A Volinv Ladv Tlirowy He ------ \vlioela - -nesth the Wheel* of a Riiiltvr Killedimm. ana IN luiiiiuii tvmcAffecting Letter of the DeceasedCFrotu the Chicago Times.)■ Tho usually quiet locality of the vi lago of Dauby, a station on the Dixc Air-line Railroad, distant twenty-thri I miles from Chicago, was thrown into high state of excitement on Thursdt ' evening last, by the discovery of tl t mutilated remains of a young lad who was well known in that vicint upon the railroad track, u short di tance from tho station, in such pos tion as to leave no doubt that si had been run over by the passing trui but a few minutes previously. In thi little village, containing less than 31 inhabitants, the news that Miss Hai nah Weidman, but a short time befoi the petted favorite of tho little socii circle there had como to such a trag: end, spread from mouth to mouth wit telegraphic speed, and tho excitemei was by no moons lessened by addition! discoveries, leaving no doubt that was tho rosult of a voluntary net on hlt; part; a deliberate desire to end a lit that, to her tortured imagination, w; bereft of its pleasures.HANNAH WEIDMAN,the 'deceased, was a young daughtcteen years of age, daughter of M Jonathan Weidman, a well-to-d farmer, living about a mile and a ha from the village of Danby. Thoug of German descent, Mr. Weidman wt American bom, having emigrated t this State from Pennsylvania yeai ago, the daughter having known n other home than Danby. As a chili she was sprightly and intelligent, of vivacious and ardent temperomen strong in her attachments, traits tho marked the lato years of her lili Without any marked educational ad vantages, sho had acquired a considers ble degree of cultivation and refini ment, and particularly fond of mush in which sho had attained to considei able proficiency.THE LOVE HISTORY OF THE DECEASEI Some two years ago, then but foui teen years of age, but, notwithstanc ing, possessed of womanly affection she becomo acquainted with a youn man, resident at Danby, named Fred erick Myers. Their acquaintance soo ripened into a warm friendship, an from that, by easy gradations, at lea; on her part, into a deeper and ur changeable affection. He became he constant attendant; at church, at thand at every other available opportuplighting of her troth, only increase m intensity as tho years rolled on. Th young man who had won her hear was a carpenter by trade, whose habits if common report can be relied upoi were good, not an unsuitable match fo her save in one rospect— he had th misfortune to bo poor. But ho wo young and ambitious, and poverty pre sented no obstacle worthy of considei ation to the consummation of thei mutual desires. Beyond the lack of plethoric purse and her extreme youtl outside the paternal roof, no word wa ever whispered against the perfect prc priety of the matchand through a] the trials that succeeded, and the stil greater intimacy that existed, no sus picions of any improper conduct evo fouled the name or reputation of eithei PARENTAL INTERFERENCE.The reasons other than those alread; alluded to, for the opposition of th' arents to the match are not known rhatever tho cause, as soon as th knowledge of the intimacy between th'posed by them, and was, at least, per emptorily forbidden. The oppositioi of the parents to, the match betwcei young Myers and Hannah bore its le gitimate fruits.Forbidden to visit her at her home clandestine interviews were had, which coming to the knowledge of Mr. Weid man, resulted in a very stormy scene and ono often repeated, in which he in dulged in very harsh language towarc the daughter who dared to thwart hi commands.come, as it seemed to her, unbearable and she left the paternal roof to residi with a married sister, Mrs. Jones. Ai her house she was permitted to receivi the visits of young Myers.Thus matters stood when, on Thursday, she was visited by her parents.— The interview seemed to have been £ stormy one, and after a wordy altercation, she was ordered to accompanj them home. Expostulation was of nc avail, and when she refused to obey they expressed an intention of taking her home the following day, by forco ii necessary. In measured words thai should have given warning of the volcano slumbering in her bosoip, she replied that they “ would never take hei home alive.”THE SUICIDE.With what tcrriblo meaning these words were fraught was too soon learned. Tho Geneva accommodation train, which loaves this city at 5:30 inafter it passed, Mr. H. W. Phillips, a resident of the village, as he testified at the inquest was returning home, having been to the station for an evening paper. The crossing, about one hundred rods east of the depot, is situated about midway between the house of MrB. Jones and tho cottage occupied by young Myers and his mother, which are but forty or fifty rods distant, and in full view of each other. At this crossing which he had passed just previous to the passage of the train he met a spectacle that chilled his blood with horror.By the side of the track, lay the mangled form of Hannah Weidman.— The wheels of the cars had passed directly over her head, completely severing all but the lower jaw from the body; the track was bespattered with her brains and blood. So completely had her head been crushed that even yesterday fragments of her skull were picked up and preserved as melancholy mementoes of the terrible deed. Her left arm was broken, and ono of her foot considerably mangled, beyond which the body and the extremities were but slightly mutilated. Tho remains were taken up and convoyed to tho depot, and nearly tho entire population of tho place soon collected there, anxious for a glimpse at the ghastly spectacle. An inquest was at once held. The most important testimony was that of Mr. Phillips, who stated that ho had walked over tho track where he bad subsequently discovered tho remains, just previous to the passage of the tram, at which time tho track was clear.In the pocket of her dross, written upon the blank of an old letter, in a trembling hand, was found her dym-message, which reads as follows : 'My Own Dear Fred : Right opno-site your house I sit -writing this note I to you. For thee I must die. I cannotf1 ive you up only in death; you arc too ear to me for us to part'irom each other. I suppose the folks will think me foolish, but I can’t help it. I would always be in misery-. So, dearest Fred, good by. In death I remain yourUpon a margin of the same sheet were also the following words : May God bless you and keep you in tho j right. Think of mo often.”! A little daughter of Mrs. Jones tozti-1 tied to having seen the deceased writ-i ing during the afternoon, but from tho | allusion in tho note to her position ’ while it was being written, it is proba-: ble that it was indicted immediately i before the commission of the terrible I deed, while sitting- on the bank near ! tho track. There could bo no doubt that her death was tho result of a dc-1 liberate suicide, and a verdict wa3 ren-1 dcred accordingly.
Newspaper Details
Fort Wayne Weekly Democrat
Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Wed, Feb 03, 1869
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 02 Jun 2025
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