The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-30

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woman begged the police to release her
husband, whom she said she had for
| given. 1t was only after she was pro-
| missed he would be released she could
be induced 10 tell of the attack.
From her story it appeared Wheeler
| had planned TO murder his wife, but his
courage failed him when the work was
nearly done, and, after making hasty
attempt to erase all traces of the crime
he drove his wife to a DOCTORS office ov-
er a mile away Here he said her inju-
ries were inflicted by tramp, and it
was on this supposition the polise work
ed for day.
Wheeler, his wife, and a 1e-year-old
| daughter moved to the house No. 5000
Halsted street, some time ago. About
a week ago they quarreled and Mrs.
Wheeler, with her daughter. returned
to her mothers home No. Sheldon place
Wheeler visited them several times in
I an effort to get his wife to return 10
! him. On Saturday she consented to
go back and help pack up the furniture
/ in the Halsted street house.
The husband and wife reached the
/ house about 10 o'clock, They were
seen to enter. Some hours later, Vince
| Ter drove up to the house again and en-
tered A incumbent later he was seen
TO CARLY Mrs. Wheeler down the stairs
and lift her into the buggy and drive
north on Helsted street.
Wheeler drove directly in front Of the
Stock yards police station, where sew
eral policemen saw him. They wonder
ed why the woman who was with the
man was wrapped up and had bandag-
es about her head, and their wonder
whip UP the horse when the police eyed
him 50 curiously.
Just about the time the man and wo-
man went past the police station a man
who said he was a minister called UP
the stock yards police station and asked
for Lieutenant Keleher, and told him
to investigate an assault by a tramp
on woman vino lived at 5009 Halsted
street The party who claimed 10 be
a minister said the woman was dead
and the tramp had escaped.
Lieutenant Keleher FASTENED 10 the
house, but found no signs of life. He
forced open the door of the fat down
stairs and found the occupants contem-
plated moving. Furniture and carpets
were turned over and packed, the win
dows were darl1ened by papers being
placed over them, and across the half
of the front room was long curtain
behind which was a bed mattress plac-
on two boxes. In the darkened room no
traces could be seen of struggle that
would indicate that any person had
been assaulted.
The man and the woman in the buggy
were not thought of after the moment
of the strange occurrence until many
hours had elapsed.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning DR..
Lumley, who has an Office affinity
third and Stae streets, called at the
Stock yards police station and told
Captain OrNeiI of visit that he had
about o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
He said a man drove up to the place
and carried a woman into the office.
The man gave his name as Charles
Wheeler and said he lived at No. 5000
Halsted street. He said the woman
was his wife and they were preparing
TO move move Saturday and We're at
work when he went out Of the house
into the yard. While he was gone he
said a tramp entered the house and TAX
ing Ratchet had assaulted his wife.
The blows the woman received were
murderous ones. One extended for
several inches on the crown OF the head
and penetrated 10 the brain. A second
had destroyed the left eye and a third
made a glancing but deep wound over
her left temple. DR.. Lumley dressed
the wounds and Wheeler carrying his
nearly dying wife down the stairs plac-
ed her in the buggy and drove away.
Captaiu OrNeill, Lieutenant Kelerer
and several detectives then set to work
TO unravel the mystery. The several
hospitals were telephoned to and finally
the officials IN charge of thu the Presby-
terian hospital replied that on Satur-
day afternoon they had admitted q wo-
man named Wheeler. who had been as
sauTted by a tramp-for such was the !
story told.
Wheeler was now the man to find. |
Lieutenent Keleher, guessing rightly, |
that the husband would visit his wife |
at the Presbyterian hospital, went TO |
the place, while Captain O'Neill, taking |
with him Detectives Crotty, Clancy. |
Tousley and Duffy, went 70 the Wheeler /!
to make q thorough search of /
the place.
When Lieutenant Keleher reached the !
Presbyterian hospital he found Mrs. /
Wheeler in a precarious condition. up /
on which the doctors could venture no 4
opinion.
Her injuries. they said, were OF a Sc
r5ous character and might prove fatal. 1
on Saturday her husband. she said.
went 10 her mothers home and induced /
her TO go back to vhe Halstcd street
home and assist in packing up She
went. and about 10 O'Clock. when they
had everything arrang. d 70 move from
the place. he told her she would feel bet
ter II she would lie down and sleep
awhile.
The woman without any suspicion.
put on a nigh gown and knelt at the
side OF the bed with her back 10 her hus-
band.
In the meantime he had secured a
Ratchet and walked close 20 her, talk
ing so as 10 iisarm any suspicious She
was still kneehng when, without any
Wheeler struck her on the top
Of the head with the weapon and knock
ed her down
Quick as a fash he pulled the weapon
from where i had stuck in her skull
and as she turned 20 get up he struck
her again. this tine on the left temple.
Wheeler was now beside himself with
rage His wife. wS;h blood flowing
from her wounds. begged him TO spare
her life. but ne told her that ne was 60