The evening times., 1898-10-19
KILLED HER TO Be KIND
William f. Murray Fatally
Shoots His Insane Wife.
THEN HE COMMITS SUICIDE
feaves N Letter to the Physician at
the Sunftarfum. I'm the Grounds of
Which the Tragedy Occurred, Ex-
planning His Conduct-Hfs Self
Murder to Avoid the Law.

Flint Mich, Oct l9-In order to save
his wife from years of suffering from in
sanity, William F. Murray, Of Clinton,
Iowa, shot and killed her last evening at
Oak Grove and then turned his revolver
upon himself with fatal results.
Mrs. Murray had been an inmate OF the
Oak Grove Sanitarium since last Decem-
ber. She was incurably insane. On Sun
day Murray went to Oak Grove to visit
her Early last evening he told one of
the attendants he would take his wife for
a walk about the grounds. When the
couple did not return search was made
and under an oak near the brook the
doctors stumbled upon the bodies of Mr.
and Mrs. Murray.
A heavy caliber revolver that lay by the
side of Murray told the story. Both
bodies had bullet holes in the head, and
the faces looked as peaceful as if hus-
band and wife had fallen asleep. Letters
found in Murrays pockets showed that
the tragedy had been carefully planned
Explaining His Conduct.
One read in part:
Dear Dr. Burr: There is, as you
know, but one way by which ] can save
my wife from some years Of awful suf-
fering and a horrible death. | must kill
her quickly and painlessly. AS the law
would hang me for doing that, 1 must
also kin myself ! will try TO arrange
ii so the notice shall be brought direc ly
10 you. and then ] trust you will be able
to prevent any commotion.
Il desire that publicity be avoided TO
the fullest extent possible. Do not tele-
graph any one for 1 have written 10 all
our relatives, and they viii get the let
ters about the time of our death. In
writing them ! have stated that / sha /
leave YOU full instructions regarding fu-
neral burial and my property, etc.
Bury us as soon as possib e. avoiding
all publicity, and keep ii cut OF the pa
pers or at most get them to be con-
tent with d bare statement Of the facts
OF the death. DO not give out the names
or addresses Of any of our relatives or
friends.
we are simply two people Of Flint,
though I don't care if our previous resi-
dence. Clinton, be given, if you think
necessary Surely no inquest will be
necessary. / have made my viii and you
will md IT, together with memoranda
regarding our effects. in my trunk.
Please consider that as strictly conf
Dental and private and do not allow
anybody but yourself to break the seal.
No other Escape From Woe.
Il assure you, doctor, that i deeply re-
gret having TO throw this burden upon
you, but there seems TO be no possible
way out OF it, i have canvassed several
plans Tor taking ourselves out of the
c0untry-to Homo ulu, TO Japan or else
where-but you know il is wholly impos-
sible In Mrs. Murrays condition. i have
had, therefore. TO Iall back upon Oak
Grove. and that throws the burden upon
you for this, as we'll
p S-Don't send our bodies TO an un-
dertaker's II it is impractcable 10 take
them 10 Oak Grove, please find pri-
yafe house, or even a hospital, but not
down town 10 an undertaker's. Have 4
sJrictly private funeral as soon as possi-
sible Do mot show our faces. Procure
d suitable LOT at the cemetery; plain, in
expensive collins. a cheap, plain head
stone, inscribed only with the following:
~ +. Murray, and Harriet, his wife;
died October IL. 1895
- beg the papers TO say nothing, or at
most, bare recital of facts regarding
the deaths. Do not name our relatives
former residence. or any details of our
lives. If you should feel that you must
wire my father, simply telegraph him
Do not tell him what has happened. My
letter must do that. He viii get it to-
morrow, October 1S.'
WeII-tO-DO and Respected.
Mr. Murray appeared perfectly rational
when he arrived here Sunday. Since his
wife had been at Oak Grove, Murray had
evidently travelled a great DEAL making
his headquarters in Chicago. New York
and occasionally in Detroit. He executed
his will in the latter place last Friday
telegram was received from Murray's
father yesterday morning, stating that he
had just received a letter from his son,
acquainting him with the deed he con-
templated committing, but the place from
which the telegram was sent was not
made public. Simple ++lneral services were
held at Oak Grove yesterday afternoon.
and the remains will be temporarily
placed in a vault at Avondale Cemetery
A telegram from Clinton Iowa, says
Murray Went there in July, 1895, when Fish
Brothers wagon factory moved there
from La Crosse Wis. He was a large
stockholder and secretary and treasurer
OF the company. He was a man of excel
lent habits, moved in the best society and
was highly respected. In February 1896
he married Mrs Spencer, of Toledo. Ohio
They were married at Indianapolis They
lived in an elegant home here A year ago
Mrs. Murray became mentally unbalanced
and was taken to the sanitarium. Muir
ray was thirty-five years old.