The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-25
PULF0RD, MURDER
SUSPECT, A SUICIDE
Rich Illinois Man Named in Berry
Case Kills Himself When
Hard Pressed.

Savanna, Ill, May 25.-Bothwell Pull
ford, reputed to be the wealthiest citi-
zen of Savanna, committed suicide to-
day few moments after being ques-
toned regarding the whereabouts Of a
revolver with which he was suspected
of having slain Attorney Daniel s. Ber-
ry, former leading member Of the Hi
nois legislature.
.Pulford had denied any knowledge
of the killing Of Berry, but became
agitated when questioned concerning
the revolver. Today he found news
paper man waiting for him with que
ries as to the revolver. AS soon as the
interviewer had left. Pulford hurried
home and, going to the hayloft Of his
The Woman In the Case.''
The reason assigned for believing
that Pulford killed Berry is that Cos
sip has had it for several years that
the relations between Berry and Mrs.
Pulford were not what they should be.
Mrs. Pulford is woman Of about
30 years of age, is said to be such a
woman as would naturally attract a
man like Berry. At the same time the
re ifa baya between five Berry and his own
home life happy. On the contrary, it
is said that Rulford and his wife have
not had pleasant domestic sailing for
the last five years, and that their re.
latlons seemed at times to be strained
! TO the breaking point. Then the town
gossip grows more definite in its in
situations, and says that for some time
Berry has gone armed, and that the
reason for this precaution was warn.
ing received from Pulford. What the
| warning was can be surmised from the
| nature of the precautions.
Back a Dozen Years.
1t is necessary to go back a dozen
tween Berry and Pulford. At that
| time, perhaps fifteen years ago, Pull
| ford was a struggling druggist trying
to make both ends meet with Indifferent
success. 1t is understood that finally
his affairs became SO near the strain
ing point that he was forced to appeal
for held, and Berry came to his assist
ance.. Pulford rallied financially afte,
Weatherlng. this storm and began then
the era of prosperity which, bv the
strlctest economy in every phase OF
life, resulted in his becoming one OF
the richest men In his part Of the state
Relations Only Platonic.
During this time Berry naturally was
an intimate friend of the family, and
in the natural course of his business
and social relations became well &C
quainted with Pulford IS wife. His
friends believe that the relations be
tween the two have been entirely limo
cent of wrong doing and that Berry
was interested chiefly in protecting hel
from what the gossips have claimed
was the ill-treatment on the part OF
| Pulford.
The husband, however, is known tc
have entertained different belief and
to have shown his jealousy on every oc
casion, brooding over the estrangement
Of his wife's affections and his belief
that Berry was obtaining the mastery
not only over Mrs. Pulford but over 3
| large part of the Pulford property. Dur
ing the hard times of ten years ago
Pulford is said to have turned over 8
good share of his property to his wife
not knowing when the evil day might
befall him. When better times came
Pulford regained sufficient confidence
to ask his wife to transfer the property
back to him. This she refused to do
Pulford is said to have ascribed hi
wife IS perversity in refusing to give
him back his property to the designs Of
Berry. So, added to the loss Of his
wife's affection, thru the advances Of
Berry, was< the chagrin of seeing hi
property passing from his own contro
to that of his wife. Thus, in various
ways does village gossip show wherein
/ lay the motive for the killing Of Berry
/ by Pulford.