River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-10-29
A Father Kills His Two Sons amd
Commits NmicIde.

Theikilling Of two children by their
father, at Hackettstown, N. j., on Sat
urday, to which brief reference was made
in yesterdays Times, was one ofthe
most heaytless and bold blooded murders
that ever occurred in that State. The
perpetrator Of the crime is German
house and sign painter named John Rut.
ter, about As years of age. lie lived
with his wife and children in little shan.
ty on lane known as Willow Grove
street, in the lower part Of the town. lie
has long been known to be of quarrel.
some disposition, having been frequently
engaged in alterations with his asso.
ciates, and often threatening TO kill
those with whom he quarreled On one
or two occasions he endeayored To
carry his threats into execution, but the
timely interference Of his fellow villagers
prevented him from accomplishing his
purpose. Ten years ago he married a
woman living in Scranton, Pa, 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.
Ruttcr is represented by her ncighbors as
not being true TO her husband. and ru-
mors OF TINS reaching his ears angered
and excited him. Frequent and bitter
quarrels were tho result; and more than
once the woman was compelled to ask the
Intervention Of the town authorities to
save her from her husl and violence. He
finally carried his abuse to such an ex.
IRENE 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. Rutter
followed 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 thcm, was per.
suaded TO take up her residence with her
husband again. On Saturday, about II
| O'Clock, Mrs. Rutter went over the way
to visit a neighbor, leaving her two little
boys playing on the floor in the room fac.
ing the street. While she was there Rut-
ter went in to get his dinner. lie called
to his wife to come over, but she did not
seem TO hear him, and he then fired a
pistol out of the window, apparently to
attract her attention. He then deliber.
ately walked to the place where his little
boys were playing, and placing his pistol
behind the left ear Of the elder fired, kill
ing him instantly. The younger boy,
frightened at what had happened, started
for the door. His father caught him on
the threshold, and lifted him in his arms.
The boy exclaimed, Don t, papa, don't p
but Rutter paid no heed to his entreaties.
and, placing the pistol against his fore
head, sent bullet into his brain. Law
ing the body carefully by the side Of that
OF the other child, he then tried to shoot
his wife, who just then rushed into the
house. She avoided the fate her bows
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 glancing off, leaving only a
scalp wound. The second shot lodged a
ball in his neck, near the base Of the
skull. When the neigh bors entered the
house, the bodies Of the children were
found near the centre of the room, and
their father lying near them in an insen-
sible condition. On the wall opposite the
window from which the pistol had first
been fired were inscribed. in his hand
writing, some German words, which, on
being translated, read: MY wife and
Fred Smeal's wife are the cause of
OF my death and my chidren's.' Rut-
ter was removed to the county Jail at
Belvidere, the county seat Of Warren
county, where he is receiving medical
treatment. HIS wounds are not thought
to be necessarily fatal The victims of
his fury were taken TO their graves yes.
terday afternoon. The whole town and
the people in all the surrounding country
Tor many miles looked upon them in their
collins and attended the funeral.