Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, January 10, 1855
Awful Tragedy in Coventry
We are enabled today before our readers, this week, the particulars of one of the most awful tragedies which ever occurred in the record of crimes. The facts we have received from a gentleman residing in the neighborhood of the occurrence and they may be relied upon as furnishing a true statement of this bloody affair.
On Thursday, the 5th inst. David D. Davis of Coventry in Chenango County [NY] who, as it subsequently appeared, had resolved upon the murder of his own wife, and of the family of Mr. Benjamin B. Hotchkiss with whom she was boarding, was at the house of Mr. Harvey Gillmore, a most respectable inhabitant of the town of Greene [Chenango Co. NY] when Mr. Hotchkiss came in. Mr. Hotchkiss resided in Coventry; his house being situated about 100 rods from that of Mr. Gillmore. Mr. Gillmore was the brother of Mrs. Davis. Mr. Gillmore, Hotchkiss and Davis, conversed for some time, with apparent cordiality, when Davis said to Mr. Gillmore, "I would like to have you send up to Mr. Hotchkiss' and have my wife come down here. I want to see her." Mr. Gillmore sent a young man after her. Mr. Hotchkiss got up about the same time, and Davis said to him, "Are you going home Buell?" Mr. Hotchkiss replied, "I believe I will." Davis then said "You can speak to Mrs. Davis about coming down here." Hotchkiss answered that he would. Mr. Hotchkiss then went out of the back door and was immediately followed by Davis. After going out, they stopped a moment, as if in conversation. Mr. Hotchkiss then walked round the house toward the road, Davis still being a few steps behind him, when the latter drew a revolver and shot Mr. Hotchkiss in the back, the ball passing through his heart and lodging in his vest.
Mr. Gillmore, who heard the report, ran out immediately and found Mr. Hotchkiss lying upon his back dead, and Davis standing a few steps off, with his pistol in his hand. Mr. Gillmore said to Davis, "Davis, have you shot Buell?" Davis coolly replied, "Well, I have and don't you come near me or lay your hands on me. If you do, I will shoot you through in a minute." Davis than started on a fast walk for the gate. The young man who had been sent for Mrs. Davis, seeing or hearing the occurrence, came back and met Davis at the gate. The latter said to him. "Keep away from me. If you lay your hands on me, I'll blow your brains out in a minute." As Davis started for the gate, Mr. Gillmore said to him "Davis, Don't go to the house." Davis replied, "I shall go."
Davis then walked up the road toward Hotchkiss' house in which were Mrs. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Davis. Mr. Gillmore following him, while Davis continually warned Mr. Gillmore "to keep his distance or he would shoot him." When they had got within a few rods of the house, in which the women were, Mr. Gillmore hallowed to them to run. Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Hotchkiss hearing this noise, the former came to the front door of the house and opened it. As she opened the door, Davis had got over the front fence and was rapidly approaching the door with his pistol in his hand and as soon as it was opened, he fired. The ball took effect in Mrs. Davis' abdomen. Mrs. Davis did not fall, but immediately closed the door and fastened it. this door was on the north side of the house. There was another on the east side and Davis started for that. Mrs. Hotchkiss attempted to fasten it when Davis burst it open and fired at Mrs. Hotchkiss, but the ball did not take effect. Mrs. Davis was still standing by a chamber door, nearby facing her husband. Davis fired again at her, the ball hitting the panel of the chamber door, and glancing off, entered Mrs. Davis' thigh. Davis then turned around and walked off, about two rods from the house, when he placed his pistol to his right breast and shot himself and was already dead when the neighbors reached the spot. On searching his person another revolver was found loaded. Mrs. Davis lingered in great pain for three or four hours, when she also expired.
The following is supposed to have been the motive of Davis in committing this brutal tragedy. Mrs. Davis, after her marriage, received on the death of her father some $1100 or $1200. Davis had been to California and returned about a year ago. Immediately on his return, he endeavored to get possession of his wife's money and succeeded in obtaining $500 or $600. The means he resorted to, to accomplish this, and his brutal treatment of his wife otherwise, led her to separate from him in July last, and she had commenced proceedings for a limited divorce on account of his bad treatment of her. The cause was on the Calendar of the Circuit now sitting in this village. No other motive is assigned by those acquainted with the parties than the effect of the separation and the proceedings for a divorce upon the brutal disposition of Davis.
Davis was about thirty-five years of age and has never borne a good character among his neighbors. His body was taken by some of his relatives and buried two or three miles below Greene Village.
The funeral of Mr. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Davis took place on Sunday last, amidst a large concourse of citizens - some 3,000 or 4,000 in number - who were drawn together as well my sympathy for the relatives of the victims of this bloody affair, as by the excitement attending such a horrible deed. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Aaron Parker.
Both Mr. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Davis were among the most respectable and esteemed inhabitants of the locality, and this horrid event, unprecedented in our annals, has cast a deep gloom over the community where it occurred.
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