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Bent Murdock went back to Ironton, Ohio, married the sweetheart of his boyhood, Frances Crawford, and came to El Dorado March 4, 1870. They had two children. Mrs. Murdock committed suicide after killing their son. Their daughter, Mary Alice, became the editor of the El Dorado Republican.
OUR AFFLICTION
Some of the Causes and the Sad Sequence
In behalf of our afflicted brother, the editor of the Times, whose mind in this dark hour of his life is illy fitted to the task, and in behalf of his suffering wife, we will give a short statement of the sorrowful tragedy which...
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Bent Murdock went back to Ironton, Ohio, married the sweetheart of his boyhood, Frances Crawford, and came to El Dorado March 4, 1870. They had two children. Mrs. Murdock committed suicide after killing their son. Their daughter, Mary Alice, became the editor of the El Dorado Republican.
OUR AFFLICTION
Some of the Causes and the Sad Sequence
In behalf of our afflicted brother, the editor of the Times, whose mind in this dark hour of his life is illy fitted to the task, and in behalf of his suffering wife, we will give a short statement of the sorrowful tragedy which so startled the citizens of El Dorado and so shocked and prostrated those that are near and dear to us by the ties of nature. This statement is published to the end, that unwise conjectures and surmises may be obviated and that the people of Butler County, to whom he is so intimately connected as editor and publisher, may not be compelled to give ear to rumor. Our words will be few, the duty a sad one;
At Emporia, on last Monday morning, as we were leaving the bedside of a sick father, preparatory to returning to our own home and duties, a telegram was handed us which contained the painful intelligence that our brother's babe was dead – his wife in a dying condition. There being just time for us to catch the morning train west, we, in company with a younger brother, started, reaching El Dorado at sunset, when from eye witnesses all the details of the previous day's sad history was given us and which are briefly these:
The family of our brother consisted of himself, his wife, a little niece of 11 years whom they were raising, a little daughter between three and four years of age, the babe about fourteen months old, and a young man employed in the TIMES office, J. W. Hart by name. They had temporarily moved into a small house opposite the Court House about a square from the main part of the town. Upon the arrival of the mail between the hours of 12 and one o'clock on Sunday, the father and husband stepped down to the post office on the main street for his mail. In returning home, Hon. Sidney Clarke and Gov. Sharp, who were on the corner near the hotel in full view of his house with whom he stopped and conversed for a short time then started for him which he had almost reached when he heard his little girl and niece scream. Just as he got to the corner of the house the bloody form of his dying child on the ground near the other corner of the house caught his gaze. Flying to it where he could see the back part of the house, his wife, prostrate and bleeding but alive, was next seen. Taking her in his arms, he carried her to near the front door where he laid her down and called for help. Dr. McClaran was called at once, who sewed up and dressed the wound in a few minutes. Mrs. Murdock had, with a razor, first cut her child's throat and then her own. The arteries of the child's neck had been severed completely and it died without a struggle. In the attempt upon her own life she had horribly mangled her throat almost severing the windpipe but failed to sever the important blood vessels cutting too high, although an artery was grazed. As soon as the deed was done her powers of reason returned, and while the doctor was sewing up the gash she signaled for pencil and paper with which she told her distracted husband what to do with the little daughter together with other things of minor importance, winding up with the charge or prayer for him to lead a Christian life. This she wrote under the conviction that she was dying.
Without dwelling further upon the details of this doubly sad tragedy we will give the causes that led to her aboration of mind, and the committing of the deed, as told by herself and corroborated by the family. And in the contemplation of the principal cause of this dark cloud which so suddenly destroyed hope, happiness, and life, comes to our breast the emotion of indignation. The next morning, it being Monday, our afflicted and suffering sister's mind was as clear as it ever had been and then she told her agonized husband all. Upon the heads of the fiends, at best unprincipled villains, who wrote that letter dated Douglass, but mailed at Augusta and signed "Committee" rests the blood of that sweet promising boy, whose bright form we helped to lay away on last Tuesday upon the mound that overlooks El Dorado and the valley of the Walnut. From the date and reception of that letter, she says her life has been a constant dread of "vigilanters." The letter spoken of ordered the editor of the TIMES to take back the County within ten days. Sleep fled from her eyes and all desire for food left her. Hourly she was expecting that the ones who had threatened to take her husband's life sat by the window a sentinel and guard over him she loved better than her own life, momentarily expecting to see him dragged by murderers from her presence, until reason toppled and reared from its seat. Of all this her husband had not the least suspicion, as he had on several occasions in answer to her questions, endeavored to satisfy her that he apprehended no personal danger, until last week, Wednesday, upon his return from Leavenworth when from the manner of his reception and from the unrest of her eye the dreadful reality of the condition of her mind flashed upon him. Immediately communicating his fears by letters to his parents and friends in Emporia he insidiously by every power of his love and mind endeavored to sooth and comfort her, not leaving her day nor night but for a few minutes at any time thereafter. Unfortunately the letter to his parents was not received until too late. Of course the late political and county seat contest in which his paper took so prominent a part together with the fearful storm, the terribly effects of which we now see upon every hand about this beautiful town all went to intensify the fear of that poor mother's and wife's heart, - that fear, which she says herself counseled her to hide the razor with which she intended to save herself and the boy from all trouble. Many little things and notions now are plain that were not understood previous to the calamity. She says, the last incident which immediately drove her to the desperate act was the fact of her husband stopping to talk with the gentlemen heretofore mentioned. She asked Mr. Hart, who was in the house, what men they were and how many there were of them; at the same moment she saw a man walking up the street with a rope in his hand. Thinking that the fatal hour had arrived, she picked up the baby, slipped the razor into her pocket, rushed to the back part of the house and our readers know the rest.
Mrs. Murdock was born in Marietta, Ohio, was educated at Cincinnatti, and possessed not only a good education but was highly accomplished. Her physical organism is extremely delicate, illy calculated for the hardships and excitements incident to a frontier life. She lost her parents and only sister when a girl. As a wife and mother she was wonderfully affectionate and apparently perfectly happy until the life and interests of her husband became, as she thought, jeopardized by the threats of irresponsible or inhuman wretches.
At this writing our poor unfortunate sister, under the care of Drs. McClaran, and McKinsey is doing as well as could be expected, and is at times in full possession of her faculties and affections, no doubt fully realizing her sorrowful situation. She has been a consistant and devout Christian from childhood up. All that kind friends of El Dorado could do for her comfort and that of her husband whose sorrow is almost too great to be borne, has been done, for which in behalf of those we love we tender our warmest thanks. (Walnut Valley Times, July 7, 1871, Friday)
DIED
On last Sabbath, July 9, 1871, Frank C. Murdock, wife of T. B. Murdock, aged thirty years. Our readers are already aware of the sad circumstances surrounding Mrs. Murdock's death, therefore further comment at this time is unnecessary.
DEATH OF MRS. MURDOCK
The following article on the death of Mrs. Murdock, is taken from Emporia News and written by Jacob Stotler, a brother-in-law of Mr. Murdock:
"Over the river they beckon to me
Loved ones who've passed to the other side."
Mrs. Frank C. Murdock, wife of T. B. Murdock, died, at El Dorado, on Sunday, July 9th at half past twelve o'clock p.m., aged 30 years and 10 months.
The facts which led to the tragic death of Mrs. M. have been given by us, and it useless to reiterate them here. We can read of such tragedies at a distance with considerable unconcern but when they come so near home – when they suddenly take from among us an acquaintance, a friend, a relative – our grief and horror are intensified and take hold of our soul with a heavy weight.
Mrs. Murdock was born at Marietta, Ohio in September, 1840. Her father was a Methodist minister, and throughout life Mrs. M. entertained the religious feelings and opinions instilled into her mind in childhood. She maintained her membership in that church from youth and faithfully and honestly discharged the duties of life. Her nature was gentle, affectionate and true hearted. She chose to strew flowers rather than plant thorns along her pathway.
She was well educated at the M. E. female seminary at Cincinnati, was an accomplished musician, and was well read in current literature. Indeed, she had a passion for reading. Her intelligence was considerable above the average. She was naturally very sensitive and predisposed to melancholy. If these were not native to her, enough of sorrow had fallen to her lot to sudden her life. Besides losing her father and mother, she had lost two dear sisters and other relatives by that tell monster, consumption. Before leaving Ohio it was thought that this disease had taken a deep hold upon her system. She improved in our climate and became quite rugged. Lately, the disease gained upon her and a physician had announced to friends that she could not live a year. This undoubtedly depressed her spirits and made her an easier prey to the fancies which dethroned her mind of reason. She was little calculated to endure the excitement and hardships in a new country. She seemed to be in constant fear that some evil would befall her husband. It was in vain that he persuaded her that the brooded evils were imaginary. Piled upon all her sorrows, came to the terrible trial of the late tornado. Her mind was filled with frenzy. The fright of that occasion seemed to be the finishing stroke to her troubled soul and although she had acted in such a manner at times as to attract notice, it was not until that ordeal came that she was hopelessly insane. It terrifies us to contemplate that she should have taken it into her head to destroy herself and babe. Little EARLE was a beautiful bright and healthy child. He was of more than ordinary promise, with a streak of sunshine sent into the world to bless and brighten the pathway of his parents, than a bud which should so soon droop and die:
To our brother, thus bereaved in early life we tender our deepest and heartfelt sympathy. Words fail to convey what the heart feels under such circumstances. T. B. Murdock and Frank Crawford were school mates. In that early time of their lives they were lovers, and there is something poetic and romantic in the constancy with which their love withstood fifteen years of separation. They grew up one in Ohio and the other in Kansas nourishing their holy affection for each other, until on the 12th day of December, 1866, they were married. They lived together most happily and affectionately, each realizing in the other that true happiness which their constant and true love had dreamed of for so many years.
About a year and a half ago Mr. Murdock went to El Dorado and engaged in the publication of the TIMES. Possessing natural newspaper ability and taste, he has succeeded well in a business and influence. Both he and his wife were beloved by the people. Not many of the women of their town, had more or warmer friends. But it seemed that the tired spirit was weary of all earth's hopes and promises.
Few men have been afflicted as has Mr. Murdock so early in life. In the prime of young manhood, his cup of happiness is dashed to pieces, and his wife and babe, of a few days ago, lie under the sod. May the merciful Creator soften the pangs of grief which he is called upon to suffer and heal his broken heart. (The Walnut Valley Times, Friday, July 14, 1871)
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