Homestead History


ANOTHER TRAGEDY

Nicholas Bills Murders His Aged Wife and Kills Himself
A Written Statement Left by the Dead Man--Old Family Troubles The Cause--His Account of the
Feud
Our citizens were shocked on Monday last by the startling rumor that a brutal wife murder had been committed a short distance down the river, and about four o'clock in the afternoon a man mounted on a foam-bedecked horse, and grim with dust, dashed up to the Sheriff's office, and seeing Sheriff Crossen, informed him that
A Terrible Tragedy
Had just been enacted at the house of Mr. Robert Dinsmore, living about 18 miles below town, on The Dalles and Sandy Wagon Road. Nicholas Bills, an old and well-known German citizen of this county, shot and afterward stabbed his aged wife causing immediate death.
The full particulars, as gathered by our reporter of this fearful tragedy, are as follows: Nicolas Bills and his wife formerly lived in the State of New York, and had raised there a family of ten children, but not living happily together, Nicholas left his wife, and taking the children came to Oregon several years ago, and settled on a place below town , near where the tragedy occurred. A few weeks ago Mrs. Bills came out from the East ostensibly for the purpose of seeing her children, most of whom had in the meantime grown to years of maturity, and she had been visiting a married daughter who lives in this city. During this time several meetings have occurred between Bills and his wife, which were of a somewhat stormy nature, he accusing her of

Following Him To This Country
To make him further trouble, which, however, she denied, saying that she had no other motive than to see her children. A few days ago Mrs. Bills went down to visit her daughter, Mrs. Dinsmore, whose residence is near that of Mr. Bills. On Sunday one of Mr. Bills' sons, Chris, a young man about 18 years of age went over to his sister's house, and when sent for by his father on Monday forenoon, refused to return. Mr. Bills immediately went over to Dinsmore's evidently believing that his wife was responsible for his son's refusal to come home, and it is supposed a stormy meeting between the took place at that time. Mr. Bills returned home, and arming himself with a shot-gun and a large bowie knife again left the house about 2 P.M. Nearing Mr. Dinsmore's residence, he saw the mother and daughter sitting together but a few feet from the open door, and raising the gun, without a moment's warning, fired at his wife, the contents of both barrels entering very near the heart. The poor woman fell forward, when the murderer dropped his gun, drew his knife and sprang into the room. Bending over the
Prostrate Form Of His Victim
He plunged the knife into her breast twice. At this moment the son Chris, rushed into the room, and seizing the gun which his father dropped struck him over the, head breaking the stock and felling him to the floor. Fearing that the frenzied man would also attempt the life of this sister the boy started for help, and returning in a few moments with Mr. Dismore and a hired man they beheld the daughter supporting the form of
Her Dying Mother,
But the murderer had fled. A messenger was dispatched with the utmost haste to the city and as soon as a warrant could be issued officers were started in search of the murderer, and strenuous efforts to capture him were made but without avail. On Wednesday morning, about 6 o'clock, Deputy Sheriff Marlin received intelligence that Bills had returned to his house during the night, and upon search being made, his dead body was


found in his bed - having shot himself at some time during the morning. The unfortunate man had placed the barrel of his pistol to the left ear, and the ball causing instant death. The deceased had written a letter in the German dialect, and addressed to the editor of the Mountaineer, which was found near the body. Following is a translation
Of His Written Statement:
The Dalles, June 1, 1880
Mr. Hand - Dear Friend: Please have the kindness to put these lines in your worthy paper for publication, so that my friends and neighbors will have an idea what my story is. About nine years ago my wife left me alone with ten living children, the oldest 15 years of age and the youngest 1 year. There were 5 boys and 5 girls. She was trying to get a divorce from me and to get separated from my table and bed. The Court allowed her $4 per week. I could not pay this amount and she had me put in the county jail, where I had to stay two days and two nights until my friends got the money together to settle the matter. After that I could leave the jail. This is $4 per week I had to pay for about a year before the suit was settled in the court. The whole expense took from me a very nice home in the State of New York. I fought the case through with good success, because the court could not find a good reason for a divorce. After this she had me taken up for arson, but they could not find any proof against me and let me go out free. Then she had me arrested again, after this, for burglary, with the same result as in the first case.
All three lawsuits cost me over three thousand dollars in cash. My land had to be sold to pay the debts, and I was left without wife or home, but with ten little, living children, and my wife followed me continually to get me into trouble again.
After this I took nine of these children, the oldest one my wife kept, and I went to Oregon about five years ago, so I could get away from her altogether, but still I was fooled. - She kept on writing letters to the children trying to set them against me, until she


came out here to Oregon herself, about three or four weeks ago, very unexpectedly to me. - The whole trouble commenced anew, and she was trying to get my children away from me. Last Sunday she was successful in getting my oldest son away. Last week I commenced a suit against her to get a divorce, but she was neither willing to come home, nor allow me to get a divorce from her. I could not part with the children, and it seemed to me she only wanted to get them away, or set them against me. My children did not like to be witnesses in the divorce suit, and I thought without witnesses I could not get a divorce. So I came to the conclusion to put her and myself out of the way of all further troubles in this world, because it had been nothing but trouble for me for the past nine years, to raise a big family without a mother, and every one who has a family will know what that is. All my neighbors know that I was a hard working man and tried to do everything I could to raise my children a good honest way, but now at once this comes to an end in misery and disgrace, and I hope and wish my neighbors, friends, relatives and acquaintances will not condemn me for what I have done.
No one but God only knows what I have endured here. The deed I committed was fearful, and now I must stand as a murderer and an outlaw before the public, but I believe that God will not look on me as a murderer. - He only knows the troubles I had since my wife came out here again. She did not let me rest by day or night, and kept me away from working. As I hear this morning they are after me, but I think it will not be necessary, for they will not get me alive, and they will not wish for my body when the sun rises again, because I will not be counted among the living then.
I say goodbye to everybody. With best respects, I am yours,

Nicholas Bills.