Abigail McElfresh

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      Sex: F

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Individual Information

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     Birth Date: Abt 1852 - Indiana, USA
    Christening: 
          Death: 21 Jun 1878 - Hardinsburg, Dearborn, Indiana, United States
         Burial: 23 Jun 1878
 Cause of Death: Murdered by her ex-husband.

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Parents

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         Father: Samuel De Mint McElfresh
         Mother: Abigail Miller

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Spouses and Children

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1. *Ezra Guard
       Marriage: 7 Feb 1871 - Hardinsburg, Dearborn, Indiana, United States
       Children:
                1. James Guard

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Notes

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General:

Had three children. All died.

Per 1860 US Census: 6/27/1860 Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
Saml McElfresh is a 40 year old farmer from Kentucky, with personal estate valued at $1,000. Abigal McElfresh is 50 years old and from Indiana. Lucy McKinney is 20, from Indiana. Enoch McElfresh is 17, from Indiana. Saml McElfresh is 15, from Indiana. Abigal McElfresh is 8 from Indiana. Joseph McElfresh is 5, from Indiana. Mary Brewer is 16 from Ohio. James Mills is 26 from Kentucky. Ed Johnson is 20 from New York. John Miller is 21 from Prussia.

Per 1870 US Census: Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana
Samuel McElfresh is a 50 year old white male farmer from Kentucky, with real estate valued at $10,000, and personal estate value at $1,500. His wife, 55 year old Abigald is from Indiana. Daughter Abba is 18, and from Indiana. Also living in the house is Otha Hays, 12, from Ohio; Laborer 20 year old Michael Smith and 20 year old Henry Smith, both of Indiana; 14 year old Charles McCann of Indiana; and 35 year old Nancy Willliamson of Ohio.
Listed on the same census page is Samuel's son Enoch and family next door.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette (Cincinnati, Ohio) State and Suburban News, Amelia 6/24/1878
Lawrenceburg
The funeral of Mrs. Abbie Guard, the lady who was killed by her divorced husband, took place Sunday at 2:30 p. m., in the Bellview Church, Rev. M. L. Wells, of Lawrenceburg, preached the funeral discourse.
Mr. Ezra Guard, who shot and killed his divorced wife on last friday and then shot himself, was brought before the Mayor on Saturday. He waived an examination, and was returned to jail to await the action of the Grand Jury. In extracting the bullet from his forehead, it was found to be lodged and flattened between the outer and inner bones. The wound is not regarded as in any way dangerous. He doubtless still intends to commit suicide, as a razor was found concealed in some clothes sent to him in the jail. His trial will not take place for several weeks.

Per Cincinnati Commercial Tribune (Cincinnati, OH) 6/24/1878 Page 284
LAWRENCEBURG --- FUNERAL OF MRS. GUARD
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
LAWRENCEBURG, IND, June 23.-The funeral of Mrs. Abbie Guard took place to-day, from the residence of her mother, in Hardentown. We counted one hundred and ten vehicles in the procession, and not less than five hundred people were around the vault in Greendale Cemetery when the body was deposited there. The services were conducted by the Rev. Wells, of Lawrenceburg, and whenever the reverand gentleman made any allusion to the manner of her taking off the feeling was most intense; and if her murderer's wish to attend had been complied with, we don't think a jail would have been necessary to hold his carcass.

Per Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, OH) 6/24/1878 Page 6
SHOCKING TRAGEDY
Wife murderer and Attempted Suicide at Lawrenceburg-A Wife Brutally Beaten and Shot-Arrest of the Murderer, [from the Cincinnati Gazette, 23.]
A shocking tragedy occurred at Lawrenceburg, Ind., yesterday afternoon, which resulted in one murder and an attempt at suicide. The parties to the tragedy are Ezra Guard, and his wife, from whom he separated about six months ago. Guard is a young man about thirty years of age. He is connected with one of the wealthiest families of Lawrenceburg. They had been married about five years and had three children. For some years past Guard has been very dissipated in his habits, and this was the principal cause of his trouble with his wife and their separation. He was partially intoxicated at the time of the tragedy. Since their separation Mrs. Guard has been living with her father, Mr. McElfresh.
About 2 o'clock yesterday forenoon Mrs. Guard went to the depot of the Lawrenceburg Junction to meet some friends whom she expected on an excursion train. Guard was at the depot at the time, whether from expectation of meeting his wife or by accident is not known. Seeing her, he handed her a slip of paper, upon which he had written, "Abbie, a short talk with you, if you please. Ezra." She did not grant him the opportunity requested, and he became so enraged that he alarmed her. Turning to a friend she remarked that "Ezra looked bad," and that she thought she had better go home. Her father's house is but a short distance from, and in sight of the depot. She lost no time in getting there, and soon after she left the depot, Guard also left and went to his own home, which is about a half a mile from the depot. From there he went to Mr. McElfresh's house and knocked at the door. Mrs. Guard responded, and invited him in, but without replying he struck her with his umbrella, and then exhibiting a revolver, demanded that she accompany him home. She refused, and he then seized her and dragged her about fifty yards, beating her furiously all the way. He finally drew the revolver and fired, the shot taking effect in her right eye. The woman fell, and Guard, seeing what he had done, pointed the revolver at his own head and fired. The bullet, however, inflicted only a slight flesh wound. Leaving the body lying on the groung he went home and stretched himself upon a bed, where he was found by a constable soon afterward and taken to jail.
Mrs. Guard died in about twenty minutes after the shooting.
[Same article in Cincinnati Daily Gazette 6/22/1878 added one sentence]
The affair has created intense excitement in and about Lawrenceburg.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/9/1878 Page 3
The case of Ezra Guard, who shot his wife last June, will be called in court to-day. But it is probable that the trial will not take place until next week.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/26/1878 Page 3
In the trial of Ezra Guard, which has been in progress for nearly two weeks, the examination of witnesses closed yesterday moring. The pleadings in the case will begin this morning, and probably close to-morrow. The main defense set up is that of insanity.

Per Cincinnati Commercial Tribune 9/26/1878 Page14
LAWRENCEBURG, IND, September 25 - In the Guard murder trial the defense closed their testimony this evening, and the arguments of counsel will begin at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/28/1878 Page 3
LAWRENCEBURG
The argument in the Guard murder trial closed yesterday evening. Thursday was occupied by Bromdlay and Swartz for the State and Thompson for the defense. Yesterday Judge Haynes, for the defense, spoke seven hours, and Judge Holman, for the State, closed the argument in a three hours' speech. This morning Judge Roberts will deliver his charge and the case will be given to the jury. The penalty can not be less than a life term in the penitentiary.

Per Cincinnati Daily Gazette 9/30/1878 Page 9
THE GUARD MURDER TRIAL
The Prisoner Convicted of Murder in the First Degree and Sentenced to Imprisonment for Life
Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette
LAWRENCEBURG, Sept. 29.
The Guard murder trial closed yesterday afternoon. Judge Roberts read a very clear and explicit charge to the jury in the morning, after which the jury retired and deliberated upon the case until 3 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time they brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and fixed the penalty at imprisonment for life. All who were acquainted with the circumstances thought that the penalty should have been no less than life imprisonment, and many favored the death penalty. There are some threats of lynching, but that is not very probable. There never was a more brutal murder, but it was claimed that by a long life of drunkenness the defendant's mind was affected, so that he should be regarded as of unsound mind. This is all that saved him from the gallows. He will be sent to the Prison South some time this week.

Obituaries of Dearborn County, Indiana Index 1860-1879
Per Lawrenceburg Press
Mrs. Abbie Guard (nee McElfresh), daughter of Sam/Abbie McElfresh, murdered by husband, Ezra.

Per virtuallibrary.cincinnatilibrary.org
Per Democratic Register June 27, 1878
Abbie McElfresh

Marriage Notes (Ezra Guard)

Listing in http://virtuallibrary.cincinnatilibrary.org
Per Democratic Register Feb. 17, 1871
Ezra G. Guard to Anna or (Abby) McElfresh
and
Per Lawrenceburg Press February 9, 1871
Ezra Guard to Abby McElfresh

Per Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959
Name: Ezra Guard
Event Type: Marriage
Registration Place: , Dearborn, Indiana, United States
Marriage License Date: 07 Feb 1871
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name:Abby Mcelfresh
Spouse's Residence Place: , Dearborn,
Spouse's Gender: Female
GS Film number:001313307
Digital Folder Number:004476593
Image Number: 00169
Number of Images: 1