Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-20
Horrible Murder

The killing of two chidren by their father at
Hackettstown. New Jersey, GU Saturday, to
which brlet reference was made 10 our tcle-
graphic dispatches, was one of the most heart
less and cold blooded murders that ever occur
red IN that State. The perpetrator OF the
crime is German house and sign painter named
John Rutter, about forty-6ve years Of age
he lived With his wife and children Ia a little
sharty on lane koown as Willow Grove St,
10 toe lower part OF the town. He has long
been known to be OF Il quarrclsome disposition,
having been frequently engaged in alterations
with his associates, and ot,eu threatening to
XIII those with whom be quarrelled On Que or
Two Occasions he eudeaVored to carry his threats
TOTO execution, but the timely interference of
his fellow villagers prevented him from ac-
compllsh!ug his purpose. Ten years ago
be married woman living 10 Scranton,
Pennsylvania, aud she bore him the two
children who died by Ills 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
reachog his ears angered and excited him.
frequent and bitter quarrels were the result,
aud more than once the woman was COMPELLED
to ask the intervention of the town authorities
to save her from her husbands violence. He
finally carried his abuse to such an extreme
that the wife decided to remain with him 10
longer, and taking her two little SOUS with her,
she repaired to the home OF her parents in
Scranton: Rutter followed her thither and
succeeded in taking the children away. His
wife went back to their home 10 Hackettstovn
ADD demanded their return. The husband re.
fused to deliver them, aad the mother, 10 or
der to be with them, was persuaded to take up
her residence with her husband again. OuSat
urday, about - o'clock, Mrs. Rutter went
over the way to visit neighbor, leaving her
two little boys playing on the f)or in the room
facing the street. While she was there Rut
ter went 10 to get his diuuer He called to bis
wife to come over, but she did not sem to
hear him, aud be then fired pistol cut Of the
window, apparently to attract her attention.
He then deliberately walked 10 the place where
bis little boys were playing, and placing his
pistol behlbd the left ear of the elder, FIR d,
killing hun instantly. The younger boy, fright.
ened at what had happened, started for the
door. His father caught him on the threshold
and lifted him ID bis arms. The boy exclaim.
ed, Don't! papa. DON'T - but Rutter paid 20
heed to bis entreaties, and placing the pistol
against bis forehead, sent bullet toto his brain.
Laying the body carefully by the side OF the other
child he then tried to shoot his wife, who lust
then rushed into the house She avoided the
fate which her boys had suffered by runuing
over the street, and then Rutter shot himself
twice, the first balstrikiog him on the side ofthe
head, and glancipg of, leaving only a scalp
wound. The second shot lodged bali 10 bis
neck, near the base of the skull When the
neighbors entered the house the bodies of the
chi Idren were fouod near the centre of the
room, their father lying near them in az insep.
sible condition. On the wall opposite the win.