Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-27
Hrs. AmasbnPy, Teacher ID Va.
College, Killed on Christmas Day.
REFUSED 10 LIVE With HUSBAND
Latter Visits Mothers Home to Make
Final Plea, and Being Refused, He
Opens Flre--woman Held in High.
est Eatoem in DanviIle.


cause his wife steadily refused to live
with him again DIR. Walter Raleigh AM
esbury yesterday noon shot her as she
stood In the kitchen of her home on
the third floor ut No. 220 Metropolis
tan Avenue preparing the Christmas
dinner. Mr.. Amesbury ran out OF the
kitchen and fed downstairs, dying in
the corridor below most Immediate
ly. Two sons of the couple rushed In
the kitchen from MI adjoining room at
the sound of the shot, and threw
themselves on the father, knocking
him down and wrestling his revolver
away from him They held him I'M
til the police came.
DR.. Amesbury has been practiclng
medicine In Milford. Mass, since last
August, and has Ieen separated from
his wife for some time. She has been
teaching music in Roanoke College, at
Danville, Va, and came home to spend
Christmas arriving ut the house last
night. The fiat nus been occupied by
Mrs. Ameshurry's mother. Mrs Jennie
lteos. and Mrs. Amesbury's two sons,
Walter II. Amesbury, Jr. twenty years
old, and Ira r., seventeen years old.
These were all in the fiat when the
ttugeuy came 10 climax.
Heard She was Coming.
DR.. Amesbury either came with Mrs.
Amesbury, or else had heard that she
was coming. At any rate he also silent
at the Nat that night, and by his own
statement tonight came prepared to
make the most determined effort to
get his wife to return to him. He
says that he bought the revolver with
which he shot her in Milford yester-
day.
Tonight ut tho police station, DR..
Amesbury, was grief-stricken and re-
morsefnl, but would say very little
about the tragedy. II did not mean
to Kill her." said he.
Il was lonesome without her. did
not feel that could live without her.
And when she told me 10 go ahead and
get divorce from her 1t stirred me
up so that I did not rightly know
what was about"
Asked why his wife left him orig
inally, he seemed unable to give d.
rect reason, but said vaguely that they
could not seem to get along together.
Amesbury was forty years OF age
and q native of Kentucky. Since her
marriage to DR.. Amesbury they lived
at different times in Kingston and
Duxbury, Mass, and Corsicana. Texas.
Somes time ago Mrs. Amesbury went
to Virginia and began teaching music
In Roanoke College. She was an nc
Icomplished vocalist.
Was Popular in DanvilIe.
Danville, Va. Dec, 26.-Members OF
the faculty of Roanoke College. were
horroHtrlcken when advised of the
killing OF Mrs. Amesbury by her hus-
tnnd. Not hint OF the terrible
tragedy had been received, and the
news caused the deepest grief.
Mrs. Amsbury had only been con-
nected with the college since Septem.
Der. but In these few months she had
won not only the highest respect, but
likewise the most affectionate regard
of all connected with the institution.
She had also become very popular
factor in the musical life of Danville.
She was Instructor of vocal music in
the college, and was recognized as be-
ing both singer and n teacher of UNI
usual gifts.
1T is shocking" said an officer of
the college, when the first bulletin.
announcing the tragedy was read to
her. Mrs. Amesbury was such fine
woman and we had come to think so
highly of her.
She had taught vocal music in the
college since September with most
gratifying success, and was also d.
rector OF the choir of the First Bap-
list Church. Her superior gifts and
qualifications were shown in her work
In both places. Mrs. Amesbury was
known to few people in Danville he
fore she came here as a very cultured
and attractive woman
II had feared there would be trou-
lie this lady continued, "as we had
learned of DR.. Amesbury as n drinking
man. His wife had seriously consid.
cred the matter of securing n divorce.
and one of her purposes in going 10
Boston for Christmas was to look into
the matter of taking her family away.
Mrs. Amesbury had two sons-one
about twenty and the other about sey.
enteen or eighteen. 1t was to educate
tho latter, who is deaf, or partially so,
that she came TO Virginia TO teach.
She was devoted to music. sung very
sweetly, and had devoted much OF her
life to teaching music"
supper and watch service will be
held at Trinity Methodist Church.
Tuesday ,aveninp Dec MA Co.,.