The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-26
Captain Wilton Of Lawrence Is a
Wife Murderer.
FAMILY ROWS WERE FREQUENT.
Home was Happy Before Liquor Took =
Part-Both Husband and Wife Took
UP Drinking Together and Finally II
Ended In Murder.

LAWRENCE, Mass, Dec 20. = Captain
John Wilton, a spinner in Stevens mill
murdered his wife, Emily A., Sunday
afternoon. The tragedy took place at the
family residence in Stevens village, three
quarters of mile from the center of the
town and was the outcome Of family
quarrel. No weapons figured in the affair,
the victim being brutally beaten to death.
For Is years past the couple had con-
Quoted the factory boarding house Of
Stevens village, and Mrs. Wilton was en-
gagged about the house in preparing the
dinner when the deed was committed.
Mrs. Wilton was in tho sink room when
she called TO her husband to aid her In
cutting some meat. Wilton went into
the sink room from the sitting room, but
refused to comply with her request.
Knocked Her Down.
Words were exchanged, and Wilton
was seen to strike his wife, telling her to
the floor. She arose and made tantaliz-
ing remarks TO her husband. Finally she
went into the dining room, and as she
passed Wilton, he kicked her. Following
her into the latter room the quarrel was
continued.
Some five or six minutes elapsed, and
then Wilton left the house, saying as he
passed through the room where the board
ers were that he wasn't coming back"
and bidding them goodby.
Hugh Soraghan then visited the dining
room and found Mrs. Wilton lying upon
the floor with her head resting against q
cupboard door.
About the room were scattered teacups
and other articles which Mrs. Wilton pre-
sumably had hurled at her infuriated
husband.
Murderer Was Cool.
After Wilton had left the house he pro-
ceeded to the corner of Osgood and Pleas
ant streets, short distance away, where
the electric street railway track leads to
this city.
There he was seen by Samuel Stevens.
Salutations were exchanged, and Mr..
Stevens drove by. Upon reaching the foot
of the court where the Wilton residence
Is located, Mr.. Stevens was met by Sorag-
han, who informed him that Wilton and
his wife had quarrel, and that he, Sorag-
han, thought the latter had been killed
Mr.. Stevens deemed it advisable to de-
tain Wilton, and driving back, overlook
him walking rapidly toward North An
dover village Upon being questioned
Wilton denied having assaulted his wife,
but finally admitted that she had thrown
teacups at him and that he EV1 struck
her.
Officer Toohey shortly afterward gave
the startling information that Mrs. Will
ton was dead. Wilton was then locked
up. Upon learning the effect of bis bru-
tality Wilton was overcome and wept
like child.
Liquor at the Bottom OF It.
Captain John Wilton, the murderer, is
well known in the town of North An
dover, and derived his title from having
once been at the head of old Cochicke-
wick hand tub company of North An
dover. He was horn in Prestbury, Eng,
May i, 1912, and came to this country in
1872.
Fifteen years ago Wilton and his wife,
whom he had married in England previ-
Gus to his leaving that country, and who
had Joined him after taking up his resi-
dence in North Andover, opened the
boarding house in Stevens village.
For time the couple lived happily
together, until the craving for liquor
secured its hold upon both, and then the
trouble began. Wilton was powerful
man, good hearted and kind except when
his temper was aroused.
Mrs. Wilton was born in Yorkshire,
Eng, and was 40 years of age. She was
quite small in stature, and no match for
her husband.
Wilton and his wife had had no child
rem, but an adopted daughter, Florence
f., aged ls years. was member of the
household, and at the time Of the tragedy
was confined to her bed by illness in an
ad toiniou room,