The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-22
WIFE MURDER IN WISCONSIN
Breaking a Womnn's Neck aud Fixing -
Tabieau 20 Indicate Suicide.

From he Wid'hard County Args
HANCOCK, Wis, July ls.-Hezekiah Whit.
ney hAt leen a good enough citizen. but has had
many mental pecuiarities. For many years
he was given TO drink. but seven years ago a
religious sSeemSshi spr enme up e s He
gave up his drinking habits, and entered with
Just as much intemperance upon the practlce OF
10 fancy that in all he did God gave him special
directions. oven to the most trivial matters oil
business. For. some time, he has had an occa-
sional spell Of being ugly. during which his be;
havior has been 50 violent ina, MS vic t anu
TfGa Rgs ss Mr. Mrs Whney BY
her brother. W. G.. Rogers OF Oasis. came 20
Wautoma to ascertain whether measures could
be taken TO place him whore he could do no
harm but no action was then taken. Whitney
had said that God had dug agrave for two Of his
more was thought of this until sunday, when
word was brought to town that Mrs Whitney
whitney lives in the northeast corner Of the
town 81 Deerheld. about eight miles northwest
OF Wnutoma. His family consists OF his wife
home two being married. On Sunday morn
ing Whitney got up and built fire. and went
10 the barn 10 milk his cows. His wife got up
and put tho food over the fire 10 cook for break
fast. The daughters got up ana TOOK the
breakfnst-gei IN hand, ana tne motner Went
ten rods distant Whitney soon came in. tho
breakfast was put on the table. anu tho wife
not coming In. she was called and no answer
being received the father and daughters ate
their breakfast and then chapter in the Bible
| IL ~
not yet having arrived, the little girl Alta. wen,
| out 10 look for her. She soon found her. hall
sitting half leaning her back against an oak
| grub about an inch and half in diameter. one
| hand resting in her lap. the other on the
ground. Around her neck was tied Q rope such
| as is used to tie cattle in their stalls. one end
being tied in the fork Of tho grub, about four
| feet from the ground. The tender bark showed
| no signs of any weight having rested on II, ana
| the soft ground was entirely free from any eNI.
dcncc OF a struggle such rs IS usual IN cases Oh
The little girl told her father and he. ran and
| got the body, and putting II on the bed. chaied
| H. expressing n belief that she would soon come
to. Tho horse was hitched e. the wagon, and
| the girls drove three miles to Mr. Rogerss no
| summoned his neighbOrs and went To the house.
| Whitney told tho party. that. II they entered,
| they were dead men, but threats OF Tying Quleteu
Drs. Mcintyre and Whitman found the body
| much discolored about tho neck, a few marks
| on the back and hands and the neck broken.
| The mark Of the rope was visible on the neck,
| but there was no evidence that any force had
been exerted. Below the rope mark was plainly
though the edge OF an inch board had been VIC:
lently pressed against il. Mcintyre expressed
the belief that the neck had been pressed
on the edge OF the Manager in the stable, and
her neck broken by n violent wrench.
Near the place whero the body was ionnd., .
grave partially dug was discovered. In inc
barn marks of teeth We're found on me edge o.
the manger which correspond with the teeth o.
| the dead woman. and were doubtless maze b>
her when he placed her neck upon Tie edge o
the board in an ondeavor 70 prevent MN ron
| doing SO. There is no doubt that he placed he
neck across the manger. and broke her neck by
| the strength Of his powerful arms then carried
her over q brush fence, between the barn an'
the place where she was found, to the little bush
and there tied her up in order TO throw upoi
her the suspicion Of suicide.
Mrs. Whitney WAS n slight built, nonutliu
Intelligent, and ladylike person. mighty es
teemcd Whitney 10 TO be sent 10 an asylum 10
the insane.