Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-01-03
CUT WIFE'S THROAT
With RAZOR

Another cell in murderers' row at
the county prison, Sunbury, is now
occupied and most cruel and premed.
itated murder has been added to the
already long lis of crimes in the his
tory of Northumberland county.
Unlike the many similar crimes re-
Gently committed III that county, in
which the cruel stilletto or the leaden
missile of death were guided by the
hand of some desperate bloodthirsty
foreigner, and those whose lives paid
forfeit were also aliens, the principal
actors III this last tragedy are both
| American born, descendants of good
| families, aud above the average intel
ligence.
About two years ago William Whit
taker was married to daughter of
Robert Williams, who is former we'll
known Mt Carmel hotel keeper, now
engaged as a contractor. The young
| wife was one of the towns most popu-
lar young ladies and the marriage
seemed to be very happy one. In a
short time differences arose, but by
| forgiving and forgetting these little
ripples that appeared on the sea OF
matrimony were smoothed out and
| happiness resulted. Two children came
to more strongly unite the couple, but
later the husband took to drinking and
the life of his faithful wife was made
miserable. Two weeks ago, being un-
able to longer stand his abuse, Mrs.
| Whitaker left her husband and re-
turned to her parents. Whitaker then
made overtures for a reconciliation,
but all TO no avail, as his wife's patti
ence had been sorely tried and she re-
fused to renew her unhappy existence
with him.
On Friday evening about five o clock
| Whitaker, accompanied by his moth
er, went to the home of his wife's par
ents in last effort to have his wife
return to him. Arriving at the house
j they were admitted and he met his
wife and her mother in the hallway.
Going up to his wife he asked her to
go back home with him, but she again
refused He partly forced her into the
parlor and thea closed tire door. Sew
eral minutes time elapsed when the
women remaining in the hallway were
startled by hearing a piercing scream.
Hurriedly opening the door the young
woman's mother was Mortified to see
Whitaker with his knee on the chest
of his wifes prostrate body and just
in the act of arising, having razor
in his hand dripping with blood.
When he fully arose he was covered
with his wife's life blood which was
gushing and ebbiug from terrible
wound in the throat which extended
from ear to ear.
After committing the deed Whittak
er rushed from the house, and physi.
clans were hastily summoned to care
for the injured woman, but she was
|
about seven O'Clock. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Thomas Burke was pre-
sent at the time that Mrs. Whitaker
died.
\ search was then instituted for the
murderer aud he was found at his
home having made no effort to escape.
When placed under arrest and inform
ed that his wife had died from the in.
jurieS he had inflicted, he replied, Il
am glad she is dead and | am satisfi.
ell. He gave no reasons for commit.
ting the crime, merely to state that
when she would not come back to him
he became desperate and could not con.
troll his jealous rage. He did not show
the least sign of being sorry or of any
nervousness.
lookup and taken to the Sunbury jail
Saturday morning on the early train
over the Reading road. After being
placed in Jail and all during Saturday
he did not betray the least emotion.
He is aged % years and his wife was
one year older.
Coroner Dreher held an inquest over
the remains of Mrs. Whitaker on Sat.
urday morning, and the jury rendered
a verdict that she came to her death
due to having her throat cut by heI
husband. The fact that Whitaker car
ried a razor when he called ON his
wife shows the premeditation of the
crime and it does not seem possible
that he will be able TO escape the
| hangman's moose.