The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-09
Jesse BlLLINGS'S ORDEAL.
WoRrH 4 oUtRrER or MILLION. AND
10 RF TRIED ron WIFE MURDER
The shot Through the Window that startled
yiticr'. Bridae Lust J"ne-A Daughter
pn.>ionatciy Accusing her Father OF the
Murder of her Mother Bniinps's Aiibi.

Murder Of her Mother -Tntinps's Ann. |
The trial of Mr.. Jesse Billings Jr., charged
with the murder Of his wife. is to begin to-mor-
row morning in Bnllston. Saratoga County. Mr..
Billings il worth at least quarter Of II million.
He made this money through his own energy
and industry. lie IL the owner Of two stores. u
hank coal yard. n boat yard. over n hundred
canal boats, and several farms in Saratoga. Bill
lincs was born near the spot where Gen. Bur
roync surrendered, and his family dates from
the Revolution. He was Woodworking boy.
when II years old he accidentally shot his
brother while squirrel shooting. He married
Mary +. Harris. n farmers daughter. twenty
five years ago One child daughter. was born.
Billings and his wife lived unhnppily. The
wife was undoubtedly tcrmnGant. ana seemed
To take delight in inccnsing her husband. She
accused him of numbering his brothcr threw
hot tea in his face while at tho table. stoned his
hank. and villifcd him in the presence OF his
neighbors. He did not patiently bear it. and
She seems TO have had good ground for some OF
her actions She accused him OF intimacy with
tho woman who cleaned out his bank. and cX-
dressed fcars Of murder. She said that he had
twice tried 10 put her out of the way. once with
chlnroform and n second time by saturaiing her
bod with kerosene and firing IT, These at
,cmpts however. did not cause her To leave
him. She claimed that 1t would have pleased
him too well. and persisted in remaining. Her
daughter sympathized with her and took the
mothers part in all quarrcls
The evidences taken before the Coroner after
the murder shows that Mr.. Billings was eN-
cccdingly anxious To- rid himself OF his wife.
Ascryant girl swcars that she heard him offer
NJ '""-'' 49,, .,,,, ..,,,, h,, .,
nl''"'i ""' ~, ,,,'s,1 .h,, -
an asylum nc ""' -,
sherman. clerk, petivlh'u 10 th' "huEn'cI.
The servant girl also swcars that the husband
and wiie neither sep, nor ave 'oHe.n', " .t'
Billings would run INT" u'o pr'or anu i"eA VIC
door whenever she saw her husband coming.
- i... 49,, r,,,,, ,ro dn,, haf,rn sha ANY
ie E'' lh'.' u'o i"',' va. Wy
him. and sh" started Tor the parl"r. Wloh ne
aimed nm imaginary gan at her and shouted
49,, 80, a., mum. q, g.. s,,,,1 hnI about
,N ~, 40 -. ,.or,at,,
sho would 800 murdered. that she made her
,,,.. ,..,,,t.o "a, ,r,,,id sr,,1 ,bn lac,
cent # It in securing III" conviction OF her nus
hand II he v,,s eyer tried for her murder
On SUNDAY. the "a IT last June. John c. Sher-
man and Mr.. Billings wcre ErrasinE the aNleS
of "A carriage. preparing To- 20 ia church. They
-, - - pnti,. .,,i Ia
h'"I" NV i'''i' w KUN pl''''N' 9"'H ~
owned two guns. and asked sherman II he
lnew WHARF ,l.,v were. The clerk replied that
INV WIZ wy ~ ,'''',
one iercN huh,ct '"iii''u wv VI '"'i'' "''u ""''
taken II away. Tho other was in small room
or the hail over tho store IL was a brooch
III. a.,,,.,, ~, =. - 49,. .or ,io, cl,,,or
l"""'h~ '"i"'i'' Va " "''' ~ 80 ' ~ '
SAYS he never saw cartridge that would Ut IT,
After the axles were creased Billings drove to
,,,,,rh ot,r. On tho ,,,,, ba ovar,ool, Mrs
cn"IO" ".'.' "" ~ Wv" 49,, ~ Nv 80.
Curtis. the woman who cleaned MS bank. ana
of whom his wife was Jealous. He lifted her
49, ,ho voo,r md ,bev occuniad the Same
into inc wagon "nu 'ne, "ecupiei INC s nr',he
m.
makes this action peculiarly remarkable Is the
fact that Mrs. Curtis had sued Mrs. Billings for
slander, and the trial WAS to come of within
fortv-eighi hours.
On June 3 Mr. Billings drove to Fort tiwhrd
and other places. and i is understood did not
return home that night. On his way back on
the following day he stopped at the house OF his
mother-in-lnw three miles from his own home.
II was his first visit in two years. According 70
Mrs Harris they had n violent quarrel. He
wanted her TO get his wife 20 leave him. and she
accused him OF aduliery He mnGe AZ counter 1 Mt,
pure pure A. an angel. she triGd to ect billings q
swear that he was pure. He put his mana on
the Bible and attempted an oath. but could not
get il out. Billings denies this, but acknowl-
edges that he told the mother-in- Law, TINT he
would give her daughter some good advice. II,
then went home. After transactlng some bust
ness in the bank he drove over to sch1yleryilie
Meantime the mother in law came to the h9use
and had'a long interview with her daughter
She returned home before dark ..,,,o .h.,,
4
5P, VI. He says that he was about TO walk over
the farm and SAT- his cattle when ne saw storm
coming, up. He took refuge IN the bank build
ing The storm was terrific. Trees We're over
turned and fences and outbuildings prostrated
After the storm Billings went home ana saw m.
wife and mother in-law in consultation bu'
does not seem to have made any. comment
Whether he was told the result OF the con
sultatinn is uncertain He invited one
John Terhune to supper. anil, the mea
concluded left the house. Ten minutes
aterwnrd his clerk saw him pass the window
in his wagon Mrs Curtis also swears that she
saw him drive past the bank building about the
same time There was n salt measure in the
wagon Between half-past and ten minutes
~ . Billings drove up TO the house Of Justice
Nashburn a neighbor living a quarter OF u
mile away. The Justice was not at home. and
he sat down TO wait for him. saving that no had
come for a summons ia at the Justice had agreed
10 give him Mrs Mashburn and her son and
daughter agree that he was there from twenty
tothirty minutes before the Justice came home
Az Mr. Washburn entered the door Billings
said Good evening, Justice. | have come ioI
that summons" The Justice returned the sal
utation, and spoke to his wife in low tone
saying Mrs Billings is hurt and wish you
would 20 right down and see her"
Mrs Washhurn objected She said she was
not on speaking terms with Mrs. Billings. Hell
husband was reprimanding her. when Billings
caught an inkling OF the conyersntlon and
hsk"l what WAS the matter. Well. your wife
Is hunt tie Justice replied. Billings inquired
how and WUDrp " Sh,. has hpon shot the j us