MAURICE CALHOUN HARRINGTON KILLS WIFE AND SELF SATURDAY NIGHT. Homicide and Suicide follow quarrel it was learned. L.H. Pease and wife jailed for part in fuss before tragedy. Funeral services held Monday morning and afternoon.
Maurice C. Harrington took his own life Saturday night after he had killed his wife, Cora Johns Harrington, following a quarrel during which Mrs. Harrington threatened to leave home because of domestic misunderstandings.
L.H. Pease and his wife, tenants of Mr. Harrington, were placed in jail by Sheriff W.J. Haynie who was called to the home by Mr. Maurice Harrington,Jr., after the tragedy. Mr. and Mrs. Pease were linked with the crime because of their part in the quarrel which had taken place before Mr. Harrington committed the deed.
Mr. Harrington had been in Milledgeville with Mr. and Mrs. Pease on Saturday evening and when they returned to Mr. Harrington's home a quarrel followed. Evidence given at a coroner's inquest held Sunday morning by Coroner C.I. Newton showed that Mrs. Pease attacked Mrs. Harrington and struck her with a stick after Mrs. Harrington had accused and upbraided her for illicit relations with Mr. Harrington. After the Peases had gone to their home Mrs. Harrington made plans to leave, her daughter stated, and when she started from the room, Mr. Harrington, who had gone to bed, got his automatis shot gun and fired it into the back of his wife's head. He then picked up a thirty eight Colt pistol and killed himself, the bullet piercing his heart. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington were found lying side by side dead, Mr. Maurice Harrington, Jr., who had been summoned by a daughter of Mrs. Harrington.
The corner's jury investigated the case and returned a verdict of murder and suicide.
Mr. Harrington was fifty-nine years of age and has been a prominent farmer of this county for many years. He was ex-oficio Justice of the Peace of this militia district at his death and was a former member of the Board of Tax Accessors.
Funeral services which were largely attended, were held Monday afternoon at Hopewell Methodist church where he had been a member for many years and was prominent in the work. He had been married three times having eight sons by his first wife and one by his last.
Mrs. Harrington was Miss Cora Johns before she was married to Ollie Pennington who had died several years ago. She was then married to Mr. Harrington nine years ago and had one son, Perry, by this marriage. She is also survived by three sons, Grady, Charlie, Erby Pennington and three daughters, Miss Mary Lizzie, Clara and Ollie Pennington.
Mrs. Harrington is connected with one of Wilkinson County's oldest and best known families being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Johns. The funeral services which were held at Nunn and Wheeler church in Wilkinson county was attended by a large concourse of friends. She was known for her sweet, attractive disposition and had a wide circle of friends throughout Baldwin and Wilkinson counties.
Mr. Harrington survived by eight sons all of this county, Glenn Terrell, Maurice,Jr.,Felix Edward, Lawrence, Hugh, Millard, Mark and Guy.
Rev. J.F. Yarbrough of the First Methodist church in this city and Rev. J.L. Rutland of the Milledgeville Circuit conducted both funeral services.