Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-06-28
TERRIBLE CRIME.
Attempts the Life Of His Wife
and Daughte, Fires His Home
and Wants to Gre mate Him.
self. Now Arrested. wounds
of the Daughter Probably

duu WautS 10 Cre mate HIM.
self. Now Arrested. wounds
of the Daughter Probably
Faral.
The most terrible tragedy that has
occurred In Cumberland County for
many years, was that In Vineland Tues
day afternoon, when a frerzied old
man attempted the life of his wife and
daughter, and the latter Is momentar-
lily expected to die from the wounds.
1t was about five o'clock when tie
PIONEER was notified of the tragedy
by the Vineland Republican, and at
six o'clock, Thomas Shinn, as special
reporter of the PIONEER, was speeding
toward the scene, eager to obtain the
true and awful story for the readers of
the PIONEER.
Tuesday at noon, there was stand.
ing at the corner of Park and West
avenues, little one and halt story
frame house. It was not surrounded
by many residents, the place being
about mile west firm the West Jer-
sey station, of Vineland. It was the
unprententious, though comfortable
home of Joseph P. Whitsett, his wife,
a daughter and son.
Wken.the reporter reached the scene
there wes nothing upon the site, but
charred pile of smoking embers,
mute memorial of a manfac's awful
deed.
The family were scattered. The
husband and father were in the Vine.
land. lookup. while nearby, at the
home of a..neighbor, Frank Holt, the
daughter lay upon bed gasping for
breath, with an awful wound in the
neck, ar d the mother and wife watch
ing her; she, too, suffering from many
cuts and bruises, Inflicted by the
frer zad father and husband.
The details of the horrible story can
best be told by referring to a time
fifteen years ago, when Joseph Whit.
sett with his wife and seven year old
daughter Minnie, came to Vinsland,
purchased the property mentioned and
took up a residence there. Whitsett
came from Paterson, N. j., where he
had been in the jewellery business.
After time the family left the
Borough, but about two years since
came back, this time the family was in
creased by SOD, Alfred, ten years old,
Since then two families have lived in
| there, the man, bracket maker by
trade. following his vocation.
Jennie. the daughter, large girl
now twenty-five years old, became a
school teacher, and during the school
year just closed, taught in the Back
Neck school house, in Fairfield town
ship and had been engaged to again
teach there next fall.
Last Wednesday, Whitsett left home
and went to New York to visit rela-
tive, and seemed to have great deal
of mental trouble. Being out of funds,
the man walked the entire distance
back from New York to Vineland, ar
irving home but day or two ago.
When he reached home, Mrs. Whit.
sett told her husband that she had re-
ceived a letter from the relative he
had been visiting, and he demanded
to see 1t. The wife refused to permit
this, and violent quarrel resulted.
Tuesday afternoon, perhaps abor
three O'Clock Mrs. Whitsett was lying
upon the floor asleep, having been
working hard during the day, and was
much exhausted. The father and Jen.
ME began to quarrel, and he In a
frerzy threw a sharp instrument at
her, and the noise awakened Mrs.
Whitsett.
Then the man seemed to lose entire
control of his senses, and proceeded
to beat mother and daughter. AS the
blows rained down upon them, they
ran from him and endeavored to es-
cape into the yard.
The old man followed them and
again got them down and beat his
wife with blacksmith's hasp, nearly
fracturing her skull. Miss Jennie
went to the rescue of her mother, and
then Whitsett drew from pocket
sharp razor and cut a terrible cash in
his daughters throat and breast. The
keen blade of the weapon fell diagon.
ally across the throat of the young
woman, leaving cash seven inches
long, and from one and half to two
inches deep.
The wife seized her infuriated and
maniac husband, and he cut her
several times across the hands and
arms.
The now thoroughly terrorizsd
women drew away from the would.be
murderer and ran away crying for
hoIvI