The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-09
CRIES VENGEANCE.
Aged Widow Would Show No
Mercy.
Wants Murderers of Husband
Severely Punished.
HOW HUNTER DIED.
Aided by His Wife Wounded
Man RepelIed ASSISTANTS.
Though Injured the Murderers
Got Away.

wide. low-ceiled living room Of the farm
house in which she had spent the forty
five years Of her married life. but which
under the laws Of this state she must
soon leave, Mrs. Sarah Hunter told the
story Of the fight with burglars last Sat
urdy- morning in which her husband,
Washington Hunter, received the
wounds which resulted in his death on
Tuesday Washington Hunter was one
of the richest farmers in Burlington
county. He was 76 years old, and had
been elected freebooter Of the township
Of Riverside year after year fer longer
than many Of the present generation can
remember He was known as a just
and generous man who had no enemies
Mr.. Hunter lived alone in the farm
house with mis- wife, who is ~ years old.
The old pair were chiIdIess and the only
other occupant Of the house was Joseph
Rubach. the hired man. who slept in the
attic. Mr.. and Mrs. Hunter slept in a
room on the ground floor
HER STORY OF THE MURDER
on Friday night Mrs. Hunter retired
about II O'Clock. Her husband remained
in the living room reading, and a few
minutes after midnight she was awal1-
ened by a noise of splintering wood.
III ran out into the hail., she said,
''and met my husband staggering
toward me- he was covered with blood
and hardly able to stand
% Washington. oh. Washington I ex-
claimed what is the natter
90 There are burglars outside; they
fell TO the floor.
How I did it I don't know. for he
was a big man and am a frail old wo-
man, but I picked him up and carried
him to our bed and locked the bedroom
door. I took the revolver from the
mantel and put it in his hand
=. washington I said, If they follow
Us here You must shOoty
d" I have not strength to pull the
trigger he said.
IS You must have strength I an
cd il RI hot
of us
SHE GETS THE SHOTGUN.
Then I took the shotgun myself. but
+ did not know how to use it, and I sat
down behind him and propped him up.
Just then one of the men put his back
against the door and broke it down
70. Shoot, Washington, shoOtr shouted
and he just had strength to press the
trigger twice One OF the men screamed
and they both turned and ran and my
husband tainted The noise Of the shots
awolze joe. our hired man. and he ran
for help but the men got away
My poor husband never regained con-
seriousness. He had a great cash in his
forehead and there were thirteen wounds
made by a chisel and a file on his hands.
Washington was a good. kind man.
He had lived in the fear of God and
dealing justly with his neighbors for
seVenty-siX years The men who butch
cred him ought TO be slain with as little
mercy as they showed to him. and, much
as I wish to be with him, I hope to live
to see them punished
Now ! must leave this house where
our life was spent and where nv baby
that is dead was born.
Washington left no will. and as there
are no children the farm. house. stock
and implements must be sold at public
sale and the money divided among his
nepnews and nieces and half of New
Jersey My share may be enough to keep
me for the rest Of my days IN some
home
HAD PREMONTTION OF EVIL
II have often urged him to sell the
farm and 60 away with me to some less
lonely place knew something like
this would occur I had often read of
how old persons in lonely houses were
tortured and killed for their money. but
he laughed a my fears and said that he
wanted to end his days in the township
where he was born and which had hon
ored him.
Coroner William Wells. of Burlington
county. enpanelled a jury or six citizens
Of Riverside today and visited the scene
Of the crime. The inquest viii be held
on Monday morning at 10 o'clock BY
that time State Attorney Atkinson. of
Mount Holly. and County Detective
Packer hope to be able to produce the
mur7erers.
John Kehoe. who, until six weeks ago
occupied a vacant house on Mr.. Hunt
er's farm, viii be asked to testify at the
inquest if he can be found He had a
wife and three children. but is said to
have spent Wha tever money he made 1
on drink. He paid no rent and was al
lowed to live in the house by Mr.. Hun
ter He did no regular work. but picked
up odd jobs now and again and it is
said was on familiar terms with all the
tramps who passed through Riverside.
About six weeks ago he left saying
that he was going to Philadelphia to
seek better luck Before he went he
placed his wife and children in the
county house at Pemberton. twenty /
miles from here. He was seen in River /
side in company with two men who !
looked like tramps on Friday. the day
before the ira gedy. and Detective Pack /
er has learned that he called at the /
County House on Monday and took his I
family away. declining to say where he /
was going.
Mrs Hunter declares that one OF the I
men who entered the house tried to keep I
his face shielded from her view