Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-21

HORRIBLE NURDkR IN Ne " JERSET.
The killing Of two children by their father, at
Hackettstown, n. j., on Saturday 10th, was one of
the most heartless and cold blooded murders that
ever occurred in that State The perpetrator Of the
crime is a German house and sign painter named
John Rutter, about forty-ive years Of age. He
lived with his wife and children in little shanty
on lane known as Willow Grove street, in the
lower part of the town. He has long been known
TO be of quarrelsome disposition. having been
frequently engaged in alterations with his asso-
ciAtes, and often threatening to kill those with
whom he quarreled. GIN one or two occasions he
endeavored to carry his threats into execution, but
the timely interference of lis acknowledges pre-
vented him from accomplishing his purpose. Ten
years ago he married woman in Scranton. Penn,
and she bore him the two children who died by
his hand on Friday. They were both handsome
little boys, the elder aged seven and the younger
four years. Mrs. Rutter is represented by her
neighbors as not beng true to her husband and
rumors of this reaching his ears angered and ex-
cited him. Frequent and bitter quairels were the
results; and more than once the woman was COM
PEELED to ask the Intervention Of the town authorl-
ties to save her from her husbands violence. He
finally carried his abuse to such an extreme that
the wife decided to remain with him no longer and
taking her two little sons with her. she repaired to
the home OF her parents in Scranton. Ruter fol-
lowed her thither, and succeeded in taking the
children away. His wife went back to their home
in Hackettstown and demanded their return The
husband refused to deliver them, and the mother
in order to be with them was persuaded to take up
residence with her husband again. On Saturday,
about IL o'clock, Mrs. Rutter went over the way
TO visit a neighboi leaving her two little boys
playing the floor in the facing the street.
While she was there, Rutter went in to get his
dinner. He called to his wife to come over, but
she did not seem to hear him, and he then fred
pisfoI ont of the window apnarpntly n hpr
attention. He then deliberately walked to the
place where his little boys were playing and plac-
ing his pistol behind the left of the elder fred
killing him instantly. The younger boy, fright
ened at what had happened, started for the door.
His father caught him on the threshold and lifted
him in his arms The boy exclaimed, 'Dont papa,
DON'T" but Rutter paid no heed to his entreates,
and placing the pistol against his forehead sent a
bullet into his brain. Laying the body carefully
by the side OF that of the other child he then tried
TO shoot bis wife, who just then rushed into the
house. She avoided the fate which her boys had
suffered by running over the street. and Rutter
then shot himself twice, the first ball striking him
on the side OF the head, and CHANGING off leaving
only q scalp wound. The second shot lodged q
bail in his neck, the base Of the skull. When
the neighbors entered the house the bodies
of the children were found near the centre Of
the room, their father lying near them in
an insensible condition. On the wall OPP
posite the window from which the pistol had first
been fred, were inscribed, in his hand writing,
which, translated, read "My wife and Fred.
Smeal's wife are the cause Of my death and my
children's." Rutter was removed TO the Jail at
Belyidere, the country seat OF Warren county,
where he is receiving medical treatment. His
wounds are not thought to be necessarily fatal.
The victim of his fury were taken to their graves
Monday afternoon The whole town and the
people ia all the surrounding county ~ many
miles. looked upon them in their coifins and at
tended the funeral.