Evening journal., 1894-11-17
MEANT TO KILL THREE
An Elnira Merchant Shoots His
Sasu Wife and Her Sister.
AED THEN HE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

The Triple Tragedy Was the Result of a
Protracted Family Feud-strait Emptied
Two Pistols Into His Victims and Himself.
Mrs. Strait Dead, the Others Dying.
ELMIRA. n Y, Nov. 17.-Martln v.
Strait a we'll known flour and feed deal
or fatally shot his wife, put one bullet in
the body Of Mrs William Whitford, which
may cause her death, and then turning
the revolver on himself tried three times
to put bullet through his own heart,
failing to strike that organ but inf1icting
wounds which will undoubtedly cause.his
DEATH The shooting was tho result of
domestic difficulties.
The Whitford and Strait families until
fow weeks ago lived in the same house
on East Hudson street, the women being
sisters. Then Mrs Whitford had trouble
with her husband and had him arrested
for nonsupport The case was not prose-
suited, and Whitford was released. His
wife and her sister then induced him to
return, fearing. it Is said suits for prose-
oution and false Imprisonment.
Had Separated Once Before.
Then Strait and his wife fell to quar-
reling and separated, only soon to bury
their differences. and they again resumed
marital relations.
About three weeks ago they again fell
out and this quarrel seems to have been
Of serious nature. Strait tried in vain
TO regain the good will OF his wife. but
failed. Yesterday he sent her a note by
messenger boy and evidently expected a
conoiliatory answer, but the boy returned
with the report that the woman said
there was no answer.
Then Strait evidently determined ON
his bloody decd, and his first act was to
purchase two 3s oalihor royolvers and
load them.
Early in the afternoon he saw his wifo
and sister in-law In the business section
shopping. He followed them across the
river toward their home. When nearing
the house where they had lived, Strait
met an acquaintance, with whom he stop
ped and oonvorsed, all the time keeping
his eyes on the women and acting very
nervous. His friends attention was at
traoted for minute.
Mrs. strait Dead.
Strait quickly passed around the corner
and caught up with the women. They
did not hear him coming and tho first
intlmation they had of his approach was
when he began shooting, tho first shot be-
ing at Mrs. Whitford. 1t struck her in
tho side and sho fell. His wife wheeled
about with cry, and he fired three bull
luts into hor oil striking her In the stom-
ach and abdominal region and passing
clear through her. He continued shoot
ing until one revolver wns emptied and
then produced another revolver and fired
three bullets into his left side In an en-
deavor TO roach his heart
In oil he fired 10 shots and then calmly
seated himself on horse block. A crowd
| gathered; but as he still held tho smoking
revolver, hssitated TO approach Come
over said Strait There arc only three
| OF us ["
He and his victims were helped into
tho house TO the police Strait said, II
am sorry il has happened, but they drove
me to IT,. Strait and his Bister-in-law
were taken to tho hospital.
Mrs. Strait died two hours later The
two women originally came from Wat
kins n. Y, their maiden name being
Zero. All Of the persons are Of middle
Rge and have enjoyed the best reputa-
tions The physicians say shat Mr. Strait
! and Mrs. Whitford cannot recover.