The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-10

was probably trying to get away from
him.
EVIDENCES OF THE STRUGGLE.
Evidences of a struggle were plainly
visible about the washtubs. The soft earth
was scraped up and boards were thrown
back. showing that the woman had fought
desperately for her life.
The woman's hair was hanging down her
back and was covered with blood. 1t is
thought by the police that Pruitt, when
his wife tried to escape, grabbed her by
the hair and rained blows on the back Of
her head. The woman fell across some
boards that were placed on the floor of
the cellar. Her husband, when he fired the
fatal bullet through his brain, fell across
the body of his wife. Pruitt was neatly
dressed. He wore new linen collar.
was attired In black suit of clothes and
wore a watch and chain.
After the police had taken hurried view
Of the situation the city ambulance was
called and both bodies were sent to the
Jesse Berry, the womans son by a former
marriage, is a bright boy. He has been
attending the Benjamin Harrison school.
He said that since his mothers marriage
TO Pruitt, three years ago, the couple had
not got along amicably. He said Pruitt
married his mother In Kansas, where they
formerly lived. Pruitt originally came
from Edinburg. Ind, where he has num-
Der OF well-known relatives. The boy said
his mother had been a widow for ten
years prior to marrying Pruitt. His father
died when he was one year old and the
family for time lived In Iowa CITY.
Pruitt often made trips to the Western
States and during one of these visits met
his mother. Mrs. Pruitt had two children:
the boy lived here with her and married
daughter, twenty-four years old, living In
Exeter. Neb. The boy said that after his
mother married Pruitt the family moved
to this city. They at once moved into the
house on East Ohio street, where Mrs.
Pruitt sublet the rooms. He said his step
father had never shown any inclination 10
work. He would always wear good clothes,
but would never clothe Mrs. Pruitt nor
give her any of the money he received. Pruitt
was a penSioner and the money received in
this way he spent on himself. This was the
main reason, the boy said, that his mother
and stepfather never agreed. He said 1t
ferenees between the two that anv harsh
words We're ever spoken. He said his
mother, since her marriage to Pruitt, has
not been going to the Catholic Church,
as she formerly did when she lived in Iowa
City.
MOTHER WORKED HARD.
His mother had a number of boarders and
roomers in the house, and for most of these
she did laundry work. The money she got
I'm this way she kept, but when Pruitt took
a notion that he was in need of money he
would take part Of 1t from her and spend it
among strangers. The boy said Pruitt was
not much given to drinking. but he had
seen him on several occasions when he
thought he was slightly intoxicated. The
boy was always afraid that his mother
would be terribly injured by her husband
at some time. as they were continually
quarreling. He said his mother was aware
that Pruitt had killed his second wife ten
years ago by blowing of the top OF her
head with a shotgun. He said he heard his
mother speak Of the affair, and when he
asked her how Pruitt escaped punishment
she replied that he was not wholly respon-
ity he was cleared The boy said this
seemed not to disturb his mother until a
short time ago, when Pruitt annoyed her
so much about money matters, and she
decided to get a divorce.
Miss Lucy Morgan, who roomed with the
Fruits, was one of the first to go into the
cellar. She said she was well acquainted
with Mrs Pruitt prior to her marriage
with Pruitt. She came to this city from
Iowa City to attend a business college. She
took rooms with the Pruitts on account of
this acquaintance. A short time ago she
was compelled to leave the building for a
week, as the couple were continually quar-
reling. They annoyed other roomers, who
also left. Miss Morgan said she knew 1t to
be a fact that Pruit had killed his second
wife ten years ago In Edinburg. She said
she was of opinion since her acquaintance
He always appeared to be a morose man
and would never greet any one In the house
in a civil manner.
Nicholas Yeager one of the roomers, said
that he came home yesterday at noon and
heard Mrs. Pruitt at work in one of the
upper rooms He thought she was cleaning
suite Of rooms in the front part of the
house. as she expected some new roomers.
He said he did NOT see Pruitt about the
place. One of the young women living next
door said that when she came home at IL 90
stone steps. He was holding his hands
against his face as If he were in deep medi-
tation. She said she was in the house but
a short time when she came out again and
found Pruitt gone. She had heard the
couple quarreling on several different occa-
sions Once she heard Pruitt make the
threat that the day would come when he
would Fix her.
Nicholas Yeager said he heard the couple
| quarreling at 10 o'clock yesterday morning
| At that time both were I'm the cellar, where
| Mrs. Pruitt was at work over her wash
tubs. Several or the roomers heard the
quarrel. as the couple did not try to con-
| ceal their animosity towards each other.
PRUITTS TWO SONS.
Pruitt has two sons living I'm this city
They are Leslie and Clyde Pruitt. twenty
| one and eighteen years old, respectively
! The boys did not live at home, but room a,
| 219 East Ohio street, Immediately opposite
| the home of their father. Both boys are
employed in plumbing shops. Neither would
talk of the tragedy yesterday. When ap.
preached for statements concerning the
| habits of their father neither would volun-
| teer any information.
| IL was said that Pruitt was formerly
| man of some wealth and prominence In
| Edinburg. He married three times
| Prior TO marrying his second wife. whom
| he also killed. he lost a great amount o.
| his wealth through speculation The money
| that he possessed when he killed is SECOND
| wife ten years ago was used up in the lit
| cation that followed.
1t was said last night by Jesse Berry tina
Pruitt at several different times had oper
ated small stands at street fairs, where h,
| was known to have made money, yet n,
never brought any Of II 10 his mother. III,
said that during the last State fair Mr.
! and Mrs. Pruitt had lunch stand on IN,
grounds, which was looked after mainl,
by Pruitt. Young Berry alleges that Pruit
did not turn over to Mrs. Pruitt all tn,
money received through this business ven
ture but claimed the money was lost Th
| angered Mrs. Pruitt
In a way the police department cor
| roborates young Berry's statements abou
his stepfather. Ii was said last night b,
| one OF the detectives that about one yea
| ago two detectives were called over to tn,
! Pruitt house by Mrs. Prutt who sal,
| that she had lost $50. She told the detective.
| she had concealed the money in a shoe
| which was placed in dark closet Suspicion
| al that time rested on Pruitt. He was no
! arrested for the theft. however