The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-31

Ills motive is not clear TO the authorl-
ties, although it is believed that he is in
sano and that his mind was unsettled by
business cares
lie is about 50 years of age. 1t Is
thought his wife and two daughters will
recover. They are at the hospital at
Montague City.
The circumstances made it difficult for
the authorities TO secure a connected
story of the anair From what could be
learned from the victims who were able
to talk and from an incoherent note left
by Bitter in the store after the shoot
ing of Miss Columbe, and from his own
story. IL appears that the youn. woman
Was killed by accident and that fearing
arrest and conviction on the charge of
murder, the man decided TO exterminate
his entire family. including himself.
DISCOVERY OF BODY.
Business was progressing as usual at
the store on the principal business street,
which Bitter has conducted for several
years.
Miss Columbe was attending TO her du-
ties about the place, being engaged in
putting away the Christmas goods.
Sometime after 10 o'clock It was dis
covered that matters were not all right
I'm the shop and an investigation led TO
the discovery Of the body OF Miss Col
umbe, with a bullet hole I'm the head.
on the counter, written on the wrap
ping paper used I'm the store Bitter had
left pencilled note explaining the anair.
AT ehe back OF the store, the door was
open and a pane OF glass i'm 1t had been
broken.
Following this clue persons interested
Nrlatr fg "A
away, and there they found that the man
had killed his son but that he had not
succeeded I'm taking the lives of the others
who comprised his household.
INCoHERENT LETTER.
The exact time at which the shooting I'm
the store occurred cannot be determined
but IL appears that the young woman was
killed instantly. The letter which Bitter
left was an almost incoherent tumble OF
words
AS far as the authorities could make IL
out IL said that Bitter was cleaning his
revolver when IL was accidentally dis
charged. Overpowered by the accident
and fearing arrest as the murderer OF the
girl he made known his determination to
go to his home. end the lives of his wife
and children and of himself
lie asked that al his funeral the hymn,
Nearer. My God. 10 Thee be sung. and
that a local undertaken whose name he
mentioned, should have charge of the
bodies.
lie wished that his property should be
given TO his brother and 10 his aged moth
er. and he ended the letter with an eX-
preston 90 the effect that God would
not blame "A man FOR doing what he had
done"
II appears that having completed this
note. Bitter went TO the rear door To
make his way home why the glass was
I,=f.l a. apfF sf.4f 10 va 70
down the street. hatless and apparently
greatly excited.
BLOODY WORK AT HOME.
Evidently ne lost no time I'm carrying
out his purpose. once he had reached hts
house The members of the family were
all there the little hoy being ~ in bed
was the one first sssalled or not has not
been determined by the medical examiner
but that The child was shot and killed as
he las I'm his couch was plain.
The sixtcen-year-old daughter. Annie.
possibly was fired az twice, as she sus-
tained a wound through the left hand and
another in the car. 10 a. ousidercd pos-
sible however. that one bullet may have
caused both II the girl raised her hand.
| The l2-Noar-Old daughter, Carrie. was
shot through the mock Mrs. Bithtr was
hit I'm The face, the bullet passing through
| tho nose.
Tho sound Of repeated shots led noigh-
| bors 90 rush into the house and soon
phy sicians aud the police Wcrr at manu-.
! ~ was found that the b0y had Dcen killed
Instantly The others though ali uaiu-
| fully wounded were not considered tR
particular danger and they were removed
| io the Farren hospital uf Montague CIV.
From the Institution came thc news that
an were cons dersd us having good
/ chances for recovery
BITTER ARRESTED.
| Tu the midst 0f The tumult arising rom
! the discovery 90 the deed the arrival or
/ those who hHd traced thc man fruw tli-
| store 90 his home and The arrival % the
1 doctors. Rt2cr was arrested Tie was
| sopn iu The lookup.
| While guarded iiF three ~ the local Uo-
| lice thp man nadc "a statement concern
1 iuV tho an1Ir very similar NV nature %
4 80 A.. - r.afr ~shfr, h~ iaff ln the atora.