The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-11-08
TRIPLE TREGEDY
SROGKSMEMPHlS
IA RUTHERFORD KILLS WIFE,
HIMSELF AND ,ANoTH-
En- MAN.
CUEHINATIOE OF LONG QUARREL
E. n. Pests, One Of The NIT
dersd ones, Was Former
Politician.


shocking triple tragedy. the result OF
domestic unhappiness and divorce pro
ceedings, vas enacted at 5 o'clock
this afternoon at the boarding house
conducted by Mrs. Victoria Ruther-
ford at 81 Washington avenue. J. B.
Rutherford welded the pistol which
snuffed out the three lives. and when
his bloody work was concluded, there
Law upon the floor of the same room,
the dead body of E. H. Peete, former
county clerk of Upton county. and
Rutherford himself, while over the
body of the latter lay his wife. gasp
ing for breath with a mortal wound in
her abdomen. A fourth man by the
name of Luther, who witnessed the
tragedy and who is supposed also 10
have been shot, has escaped and can
not be located by the police.
Rutherford's terrible deed was the
elimination of ten years of constant
ouarreling with his wife, which re-
suited a short time ago In the Wife
applying for suit for divorce. the
coupIe> came to this city about nine
wears ago from Covington, where
Rutherford had been engaged In the
saloon business. and the wife opened
a boarding house.
In her divorce petition Mrs. Ruth
erford alleged that her husband quit
work after coming here and has been
dependent upon her for support.
TWO years ago Peete was dismissed
from the office of county court clerk
at Covington, it being charged that
he was short in his accounts. A short
time afterwards his wife applied Tor
and secured a divorce. Peete then
came to this city and took up MS
residence at the home of the Rutner-
fords. He began to drink heaviiy
after his arrival here.
Some months ago Rutherford mao
his wife arrested on charge OF manc-
ious cutting, alleging that she threw
a plate at his head and cut him so
severely that he came near bleeding
to death. The husband refused 10
prosecute and the case was dismissed.
The divorce petition of his wife was
filed Immediately after this event.
yesterday afternoon Rutherford
who had been drinking, went to the
home Of his wife and asked her TO
withdraw her suit for divorce and re-
turn to him. This the woman refused
to do, declaring that she had determ-
lned to quit him forever. A few an
CRY words passed and the noise OF the
quarrel attracted Peete and the man
Luther to the room just as RUTHERFORD
was drawing the pistol from his pock-
ct.
well. il you won't live with me-
Won can't, live at ALL" declared Ruth
erford, as he flashed the weapon
Peete tried to grab the pistol, but
rutherford was too fast for him and
sent him to the floor dead with a bui'
let in his heart. Quick as a flash ne
turned the weapon on his wife and
shot her through the body Luther
ran from the room and Rutherford
fred at him as he went out OF the
door With cool deliberation the
twice murderer placed the pistol 10
his head and sent a bullet into his
own brain. expiring Immediately
When the police arrived the room
presented a CHASTITY sight OF carnage.
Mrs Rutherford was in dying con-
.dition and although she was rusneo
to the city hospital she hardly hVed
to reach that institution.