Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-07
American Line
Red Star Line


room, made q thorough search for the
revolver which she was in the habit OF
keeping. When she found it was gone,
she said: He has got it, but Mr. New
man will make him give 1t up" She then
noticed the shotgun standing in the cor
ner. She picked it up and broke it. See
ing it was loaded, she said: Hi. what is
this for?" Basket. entering the room
said For anybody who bothers me-"
She carefully unloaded it. and he, with
the remark. Il guess I can put another
in reloaded it.
"Dora, He is Killing Me-"
Mrs. Dora Basket heard this much
from the back room, and the next sounds
that reached her ears were three reports
of pistol and almost Immediately the
wife. reaching around to her right should
CT blade staggered to the door and
gasred. Dora. he is killing me: he will
Kill! your child" with which words she
fell to the floor Mrs. Basket took her
bycone hand. the husband grapsed the
other. at the time pointing the revolver
at the sister-in-law's head. She dropped
the hand dazeG with fright. The wife
then. with a mighty effort got to her
feet, and, throwing her arms around her
husbands neck. chung to him. He showed
her away and she fell-through the door
way on a bed, nearby. He shot her
again, but she got up and staggered to
the front door. where she dropped dead.
Just before she fell the man with the
empty revolver in his hand picked up the
shotgun and fired one shot at her, which
+ missed her head. and entered the Intel
on the door. Then reloading his pistol,
he stood in the front door and fired seve-
raj more shots at her as she lay at his
feet Six of the ten: shots took effect.
The wonan's body was torn to pieces
with bullets.
AS he stood in the door and lily
fired at the corpse at his feet, man
named Jim Carter drove by the house
and witnessed the scene. He continued
on to the house of William Newman, a
magistrate. and swore out a warrant for
the arrest Of the murderer.
Ended His Own Life.
Seeing that his wife was dead, Basket
went into the front yard. and placing the
shotgun against his heart. leaned over
and pushed the trigger, sending a load OF
shot through his breast. He dropped at
the foot Of the steps, not three feet from
the body of his dead wife. In the mean
time, Mrs. Dora Basket and her sister.
Miss Leila Bigger, with the three smali
children. the eldest not more than TOUR
years of age, had rushed from the mousse
and across the field to the road:
Mr.. Srouse and Mr.. EIazelsrove. near
nei.shhors heard the shots. and hurried
to- the scene They paused in their run
at the sight which met their eyes. Ihere'
ono across tine doorway and one at the
foot of the steps. lay husband and WIFE
the murdered and the murderer.
DR.. Deitricl1 the coroner, was sent ior
and the magistrate, with Warrant ~.
the dead man, soon arrived. NO oetdii
Of the horrible picture was disturbed until
-o1 II O
quest to be unnecessary. and after some
time the bodies were moved into the house
and prepared for burial
Mrs. Baskets parents, both OF "hot1l
are living, were telegraphed YESTERDAY
and unless something is heard from them
the bodies will be inferred this afternoon.
United in Death.
The scene of the tragedy, in she twl-
light last night, was a picture w,'ch Will
never be forgotten. In the fronte Dom OF
the little cottage. which consist > of two
rooms and a 'lean-to,'' and aroulsa Whlcn
is the unn?istakab BILE air of poverty lay
the husband and wife united IN death
after a stormy life, during which they had
drifted far apart. It was the irony OF
fate About the room sat the Wretched
brothers family, the children Laughing
and chattering in childish ignorance OF
held her youngest. a badly boy, in her
arms. while she calmly told the eXper-
fences of the day, and when the bodies
were expose to view the child, catching
sight, exclaimed, Jennie, my Jennie,
and chuckled in his baby delight. Inc
sun cast its slanting rays across the two
bodies. and as the history of their lives
was recounted, the gorgeous coloring OF
an autumn sunset faded into hazy
blue and the orb sank behind the horizon.
Presently the small glass lamp replaced
natures glow, bringing into ghastly
prominence the details of the small room,
while the shadows lurked in the corners.
All old negro nanny sat In the back
ground, swaying ba ckward and forward
and mumbling in dull monotony the words
s"Oh, Jesus! Oh, Gawd It's awful. it's
awful. No host Of friends swarmed the
house offering their assistance and sympa-
thy. none were there but the humble fam
lily and their dead.