The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-01
A sInruInr Mlfn ,Iurder.

A brutal wife murder was perpetraied
al No. 91l South Fifth street PhiladeI.
phiAi ~ we learn from q paper Of that
city. The murderer ~ named William
m. oakinH, and lac has been employed
for long time past as foreman Of tlla
earpenters engaged in the construction
'of the government appraisers stores ON
second street, below CheEnut The
sietim was MFz. Mary A. osiins. The
two lived for number Of years &C No.
All BOHth street. where Mrs. Oakins kapt
amillinery establishment The husband
and wife appeared t0 get along very un-
happily together, In consequences Of has
dissipating aud drinking great deal
On several previous occasions bis wife
has left him. A day or two ago she said
she would leave him Tor good, and went
10 the h0sIse Of Mr.. Frank Register,
where the murder was committed. Dur
ing the time she was there the murderer
called upon her several times and tried 10
induce her 10 return aud live with him.
Yesterday morning he made another
vinlt. and lris wife told him In ronae-
quance oi his bad habits she WAS afraid
Of him. and would not live with him.
and that she intended 10 take measures
for divorce. He expressed his wiling
ness 10 this, aud said he would come
again to-day and talk the matter over.
He then left. and Mr. Register cautioned
him against making any trouble, as II
would be useless, and advised him 10
meet the matter quietly. He answered
that be would " About 3 AS o'clock yes-
terday afternoon he called again, when
Mr.. Register was ont OF his Office. The
clerk, Mr.. John ~ Stow, was in the front
Office. Mrs. Register and deceased had
Just come in, having been ont 10 consult
O lawyer with regard 10 procuring d.
vorce. oKkins walked In, apparently
Father excited. but with 3 steady step.
he appeared 30 he somewhat under tbe
influence OF liquor. He walked np 10
his wife, who was sitting on a chair, and
said 20 her, Are you goingto make this
your residence She endeavuTrd 90
make some reply 10 the etfeet that she
did not know but what she would haFs
10. Re mumbled something, which
could not he heard. He then deliberate
~ took OF his hat and PLACED il on the
mantle, pulled aix-barrelled revolver
from his pants pocket and fired several
shots. two of which took effect, one in
the head near the left temple. and che
other near the heart. After he fired the
first shot she tried 30 escape and get be-
hind a bookcase. but he forced her night
into a corner Of the room and there fred
the fatal shot Mrs. Register, who lwna
In the room, endeayored 10 gefthe child
cut Of the room aud render asSistance 10
the poor woman. Before sire could dc
this, however, the shooting was nll over.
The firing attracted the attention OF the
neighbors, and Colonel r.. A. Winslow,
who liTes ON the csrner Of Fifth and
Powell streets, was called in. When be
arrived he arrested 0skins and took him
10 the Central Police Stotion, where the
pistol was found oI him. He was ar-
ranged before Alderman Becker, who
committed him 10 await the resRlt Of the
Cnronern inquest oskins in abolt s6
years Of age and his wife s5, she, fpr
her age, was \ very ane looking Woman.
They have two children, one a yonnE
man nearly a0yeRrs on age, and the other
a boy Of 10 OF II. 'f "'