Arizona republican., 1906-06-03

Whittlesey went to the side window, peering in to shoot again, when J. M Reisinger. cousin of Mrs. Whittlesey, who was in the house, came to the window with a gun and fired at the intruder, the bal entering his left shoulder, ranging through against the backbone. Whittlesey fell, but still thirsted for gore and kept on shooting until his pistol was empty, the shots going wild.
 rReisinger was arrested by Sheriff Hunt. while Whittlesey was taken to the hospital and treated by Dr. Hug hart.
 To-day Reisinger was given pre- liIninary hearing and discharged. the evidence showing he acted in defense of himself and occupants of the house, since Whittlesey seemed bent on shoot ing somebody.
 "Dr. Hughart reports that Whittle- sey is paralyzed from the effect of the shot and the chance of his recovery is slight.
 Mrs. whittlesey states that since she obtained a divorce last Monday her husband repeatedly threatened her life. He had been drinking heavily and was arrested the day before for disturbing the peace
 Below are the facts concerning the breaking up Of WhitNesey's home:
 I am J. Monroe Risinger, son of Wm. Risinger of Burnet county. Texas. Mrs Whittlesey was formerly Laura Ris- finger daughter of Jas. Ris'nger of Llano county. Texas. Wm. Ri=inger's second wife is sister to Laura Whit tlesey's mother. My own mother and Mrs. Whittlesey's father are both long since dead. At the age of 17 Laura Risinger married Roy Whittlesey and went west with him. The marriage was unhappy and they frequently sep arated.
 On or about January :. 1906. I went to Bisbee and a week la CT learned that MT. and Mrs. Whittesey were once more reconciled and living to- gether there. They had joined the l Christian church and attending ser vices with them I was introduced by 1 Whituesey with the words this is our cousin" From February to April saw but little of them. but they in April moved near my place of employ ment with the C. & A. Mining company and as they were keeping bOarders insisted upon my taking my meals with them. I believed they were liv- ! ing happily, but on May 14 learned 1 from Whittlesey himself that they were at warfare. He said, "I had my pie ture taken with the cook and the old woman flew off the handle and stopped i the boarding house"
 This quarrel proved irreconcilabIe and was followed by another as to who should take the children. Mrs. Whit tlesey concluded to let the law decide land her husband blamed me for influ- encing her. I admit that she asked my advice and that I gave 1t. Whittlesey ] told me. with gun in his belt, accom- panied with a half threat on my life that if the matter came to law he would 'scandalize." I thought this a bluff and needed it not. As he had often threatened his wife's life during their continued disagreements, she became at last so frightened that existence was a misery and felt that as her relative I should see that he did not murder her.
 Acting upon her lawyers advice to keep out of the way pending the di- vorce proceedings I took her and her children to Tombstone. left there to lobtain work and Mrs. Whittlesey went to the house of Mrs. Engle and stayed flor several days after the divorce suit began on July 9. She gained the suit land Whittlesey drank heavily and act ed so badly that his gun was taken from him by the hotelkeeper. He ob- tained it again on the 27th, when the shooting took place, mentioned in the foregoing article from the Prospector.
 As soon as possible afterward Mrs. Wh;ttlesey returned to the home of her mother in Llano, Texas. where she has since resided. I have spent the time in or near Phoenix.
 Now. if this is breaking up a home I am guilty. If it is a crime to save the life Of d woman, I am criminal But if guilty and a criminal, why does mot some one bring charge agains; me and try me? Will any one blame a man for protecting his near relative who had no one else to turn to? Will Iany one blame mother for wanting to keep her little girl babies? And what should right minded people think of a man who wilfully defames the mother of his children, knowing her entire in- nocence of the charges he brings against her?
 God is my witness that in this whole matter I have wished and tried to dc only what was right and my entire duty. I have done no wrong and brought no disgrace upon my name.
 J. MONROE RISINGER
 Phoenix, Ariz., June ?, 1906
 
 TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDS.