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The Jealous Man Killed By The Rattlesnakes He Used To Guard His Wife From Leaving Him
More than a century ago, a Pennsylvania man was killed as the result of his own jealousy
Jealousy is one of the ugliest human traits there is. The fear that something will prevent someone from having their way can lead to some truly reprehensible behavior. Consider the case of James Stoner, who lost his life more than a century ago after succumbing to the bites of rattlesnakes he used to guard his house and prevent his wife from leaving or seeing other people.
The June 27, 1911 issue of the Alexandria Gazette reported on the unusual case of James Stoner. He was a mountaineer who lived off the grid near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania with his wife, and was found dead amongst a group of rattlesnakes near his house.
Because of the extreme jealousy he had that his wife might entertain visitors or even leave him when he was out hunting or running errands, he devised a dark and troublesome “security measure.” His home was located on a hill surrounded by a stream that could only be accessed by a small bridge spanning the water. At the base of the bridge, he had stationed four rattlesnakes that he fastened in place with leather straps. Their omnipresent threat had their intended impact.
