The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-11
AWFUL DOUBLE TRAGEDY
THE POLICE INVESTIGATED THE
DEATH OF THE PRUITTs.
DIR. w. b. Fletcher Thinks the Man
Was Not in His Right Mind
What NeighbOrs Say.

The police made quiet investigation yes
terday among the friends of Mr. and Mrs.
Pruitt, whose bodies were found in the eel
lar at 220 East Ohio street late Thursday
afternoon. and now feel confident that
Pruitt killed his wife and then to cheat the
law fired a bullet into his own brain. The
knife that was said to have been used by
Pruitt in stabbing his wife has not yet
been found The police have made search
of the premises. but could find no trace
of ii.
The roomers in the house and those who
were well acquainted with the couple ridi-
cule the idea of double murder. They are
sure Pruitt killed his wife and then shot
himself. as he was Of mean disposition
and had threatened his wife on several &C.
casions. They said it was not pleasant to
room at the house on account of the quar-
rels of the couple. All speak well of Mrs.
Pruitt, who. they say. was an Industrious
woman and worked hard to support her
husband and her little son.
DR.. w. b. Fletcher, living on North Ala
bama street. said last night that Mrs.
Pruitt told him on Aug. 10 that she was
afraid of her husband, whom she thought
to be insane He called at the Pruitt home
in search of a young woman whose hus-
band was at his Sanatorium in demented
condition. Mrs. Pruitt told DR.. Fletcher
that she sympathized deeply with any one
who had demented husband because her
own life had become a great burden
through the eccentricities of Pruitt. Mrs
Pruitt asked DR.. Fletcher what he thought
she ought TO do, as Pruitt had threatened
to Kill her and she was sure that some day
he would carry out his threat DR.. Fetch
er advised Mrs. Pruitt to go to Justice of
the peace and make affidavit that Pruitt was
insane ha Ihe woman 6i took the suggestion as
sure Pruitt was not in his right mind IL
he should learn of such action on her part
he would kill her before she could get him
confined in an asylum. On the other hand
if she succeeded in getting Pruitt into an
asylum he would probably be released after
a few months and would return and kill
her. She told the doctor that she saw no
way out of the dilemma, but would wait
patiently for the time when he would carry
| out his threat and kill her. DR.. Fletcher
| said he could not advise the woman
| further, as she seemed to be in bad pre-
| dicament. He said that from what he had
| heard of Pruitt he could not but think he
was of unsound mind.
| CLIPPINGS ABOUT SUICIDE.
pocketbook belonging to Prutt was
| found yesterday in his home by the police.
1t contained a number of newspaper clip
| pings about suicides. One of the clippings
was an Associated Press dispatch from
/ Paris telling of the reported sufferings OF
Sarah Bernhardt. whose friends thought
she was contemplating suicide. From the
| dispatch the following sentence had been
/ copied on piece of manila paper by Pruitt
/ 1T would be merciful if death would spare
| me the bitterness of conscious decrepitude "
| The last word evidently made an impression
on Pruitt. as he had looked for it's meaning
i in dictionary and copied the definition
| Because OF these clippings the police are
of opinion that Pruitt had contemplated
/ self-destruction for some time. Some O;
| the clippings are dated as far back as April
| 20 of this year.
| Alice Pruitt, a daughter of Fruits first
| wife, said yesterday that her mother died
| a natural death and was not poisoned, as
| was told by some people Thursday night
| well.
In regard TO the shooting of the second
| wife she said that she was surprised thai
| any one should think her father had any
| murderous intentions at the time she said
the shooting was entirely accidental.