Full accounts of domestic violence cases from the 1800s are very rare, even though much allusion is made towards wife battery. It was a touch more common in the 1800s than it is today, but the stories are always the same. This account comes from The Carbon Advocate, July 18, 1874.
THE BLOODY KNIFE
A Husband Possessed by the Green-Eyed Monster Attempts to put His Wife and Himself out of existence.
On Sunday forenoon last a telegram was received here from Slatington announcing that a double murder had been committed there the night previous, and asking that the coroner should come on at once. The said functionary left here at noon in response to the summons, accompanied by the district attorney and some of the newspaper men, arriving at Slatington at a little after two o’clock. It was then found that there had been no out and out murder — that the parties to the tragedy were yet living. The particulars of the affair were as follows: John Jones, his wife and one child lived together in two small rooms in Slatington. Jones came from Wales and settled in Slatington about eight years since, where he met and married Ellen Kuntz, at that time a maid in Neff’s hotel. Their married life appears to have been a stormy one, and, while Jones, having no regular trade, obtained work as he best could, being inclined to idleness and jealousy, his wife seems to have troubled herself but little to make his life better or happier. At various times he had suspected of infidelity, and he insists, with good reason, that she was guilty, while she asserts her entire innocence and states that his suspicions were unfounded. They quarreled frequently, and twice during their married life separated.
The last time of their separation was three weeks ago, and then they parted in anger, he going off to Shenandoah City and other places in search of work. On Saturday night he returned, in the pouring rain, to the place that should have been his home, and, from what he says, met with but a cool reception at the hands of his wife, so much so that he went to the floor above his own, occupied by a photographer named Dengler, and asked permission to sleep there. Mr. Dengler gave his permission and also something with which to make a bed. He lay down to sleep, but awoke about 2 o’clock so wet and cold that he thought he would go down stairs and try to sleep. When he went to the room occupied by his wife the door was locked, but was opened by her after some time. As soon as he got into the room she cursed and abused him, and they quarreled until after daylight, when he in his desperation went into the next room, where he found a butcher knife, with which he returned to the bed room and stabbed his wife in the abdomen as she lay on the bed. He then stabbed himself and pressed the handle of the knife against the door, to make the wound more effectual. Neither stab was very deep — not sufficiently so to penetrate the peritoneum. The surgeon states that the locations of the wounds in both the husband and wife do not vary an inch. His wife, after being stabbed, alarmed the neighbors, who found the couple in a most deplorable condition, both being covered with blood.
Mrs. Jones makes a statement different from this. She says: When he returned on Saturday night she was afraid of him, and so told Mr. Dengler. She went to her bed, and knew nothing more of him until he stabbed her; she did not undress, but kept her clothes on, ready to go out if he came, and was lying on the outside of the bed asleep when he stabbed her.
The lives of both are in great danger. At last accounts the husband was not expected to recover, he being then in a sinking condition, inflammation having set in his wound. Mrs. Jones’ condition was more favorable.
At about 8 o’clock on Sunday evening she was removed to her sister’s residence, Mrs. Hunsicker, where all the attention that can be desired is being given to her. Jones on Sunday stated that he was sorry he committed the deed, and wished he was dead. He loved his wife, but she had “gone back on him.” Ever since their marriage he has charged his wife with infidelity, which accusation she invariably resented. The result was a very infelicitous wedded life, which terminated in the attempted murder and suicide above related. Jones is a young man, of about 24 years, while his wife is his junior by about 4 years. They were not suited as partners, and would not have held such relations toward each other had it not been compulsory — they having loved not wisely but too well. They have but one child, aged about two years, which is cared for in the family of Mrs. Jones’ sister. [Source]
