Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-07
FAMILY BLOTT[D OUT
ELI BAsKETT KILLS HIs WIFE Ann
THEN COMMITS
SUICIDE.
SAD TRAGEDY In HANOVER
Jealousy Unbalanced the Mind of .
Hardworkine Husband.
OTTER MEN WITH ms w1rn
Basket, who worked Mt the rris<
Yards, Returned Home saturday
to Find His wife Mi.sing-wen(
into the House and Loaded HS
weapons-when His Consort Came
Home He Shot Her to Death.
OTHER MEN WITH HIS WIFE,
Home He Shot Her to Death.

Eli Baskett. a white man, who was em
pleyed at the Trigg shpyards. and lived
Il short distance from Atlee, Hanover
county. shot and killed his wife and the1
committed suicide at his home yester-
day morning about half-past 10 o'clock.
The crime was one of the most desperate
ever perpetrated in the history Of th
county.
The man, beside himself with jealousy.
deliberately prepared to murder his wife.
He awaited her arrival and perforated
her body with bullets in the presence
Of the family. in which were included
several small children.
After firing ten shots at his wife {seve-
raj after she had fallen mortally wound
ed) he went into his front yard. and
placing the muzzle Of shotgun over,
his heart pulled the trigger and sent
himself to his eternal doom without a
tremor.
This double tragedy was the culznira-
ton OF long struggle on the part OF
the husband who felt that he had lost
his wife's love- if he had ever held It,.
and who was repeatedly subjected TO ths
modification of hearing compromising re-
ports concerning her. He was madfy II
love with the woman. and as true as ever
husband was. according to report. Work
ing in Richmond. he returned every Satur-
day night and deposited with her the
better part of his salary. She. on thd
other hand, it Is said. showed him little
affection. and permitted the attentions OF
other men. Finally these attentions nar>
rowed down to one man. Lester Slater.
After time her husband began to hear
runors. and the breach began to widen.
Husband and wife were rarely together
that differences did not arise. and often
ending violently. Yesterday marked the
crisis the sequel of which closed the
chapter of their lives.
1t Was Runaway Match.
The beginning of the end dates back
several years. when pretty Jennie Big
ger. of Prince Edward county. came to
Atiee to visit Eer married brother. Then
it was that Eli Baskett. a man who had
the reputation of being a woman-hater.
fell madly in love. with her. Her visits
to AtIee became more frequent and of
longer duration. and finally the young
couple expressed their mutual love and
decided to marry.
On beautifu. Sunday night in thu
month OF April, eighteen months ago.
they silently stole from the same houSd
IN which the tragedy was committed.
hurried to the depot. and caught ths
night train to Washington. where they
were married. They soon returned home.
and the husband. who was in bad health.
worked IN the neighborhood. that hs
might give mis- young bride the necessi,
ties and a few of the luxuries OF life.
Last summer he secured a position in tho
drilling department at the Trigg yards.
ha1 Ep1 rel inn
home every Saturday and staying until
Monday. They had no children: Mrs.
Basket lived with her brother-in- law.
Last Thursday Mrs. Eli Baskett went
to see Mrs. SpiiIer Butler. an aunt OF
CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE)