The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-27
WIFI { SLAYER
SAYS ENEMY
IS TO BLAME

Dedham. Mass, Dec. 27.-"Not guilty.
was the plea entered by DIR. Walter Ra-
leigh Amesbury of Hyde Park yesterday
when formally charged in the Northern
Norfolk district court with the murder
yesterday of his wife, Anna Rees Ames-
bury I'm Hyde Park. There was no hear
ing today, counsel agreeing upon a con-
tinuanco until Thursday, Jan. ..
Dr. Amesbury had been agitated by
an anonymous letter which he received
last week from Hyde Park, and several
persons to whom he showed IL noticed
that IL had inhamed his already jealous
passion and distrust of his wife.
The doctor had been worrying over
the separation, and especially because
with his wife In Danville, Va. he could
communicate with her by letter only
Last week he told several acquaintances
i'm Milford that some one was poisoning
the mind OF his wife and trying to pre-
vent a reconciliation. He charged II TO
an enemy OF his in Hyde Park. and in
proof produced a clumsily written note
on coarse paper. incosed In an envelope,
which had been mailed In Hyde Park.
The note ran:
Dr. Amesbury: | know for fact that
yeHf-wife does not ever intend 10 live
with YOU again. Get wise"
DIR. Amesbury was so excited by this
communication that he telegraphed his
wife and also wrote TO her, asking her
II II was true she had told her friends
In Hyde Park that she would not live
with him. Mrs. Amesbury wrote in re-
ply consoling letter telling him not 10
believe the reports he heard. She bade
the doctor be cheerful and said she would
be at home for Christmas, when they
could talk over their affairs. Mrs. Ames-
bury wrote her husband that some one
was endeavoring 10 make IL uncomforta-
bile for both and she sent a typewriter
letter which had been mailed from Bos-
ton to a member OF the faculty OF the
Roanoke college. where Mrs. Amesbury
was teaching music.
This Is the letter which Or. Amesbury
showed TO several friends last week:
"Mr. --, Roanoke College, Danville.
Va:
Dear Sir--I am surprised to learn that
there Is Mrs. Amesbury teaching In
your institution. III you care anything
about the reputation Of your institution
you will dismiss her at once. as she has
n character that Is far from envlable. IL
YOU place her husband and her mother on
their honor they cannot deny these facts.
and she herself cannot dispute having re-
ceived letters from New York within the
past three months. Dr. Amesbury him
self Is n good man. and has good prac-
tice at Milford. IL you care TO verify
any OF my assertions you can learn all
you want about Mrs. Amesbury from any
OF the residents OF Hyde Park
JOHN ID. HOLMES.
Hyde Park
The only John ID. Holmes living In
Hyde Park is a workingman who had
no acquaintance with Mrs. Amesbury and
knew the doctor only by sight Though
DR.. Amesbury declared that this letter
was written by an enemy of his the po-
lice believe that the doctor inspired the
letter I'm the hope that his wife would
be dismissed from Roanoke college and
be forced to return TO Hyde Park. where
he might prevail upon her to consent to
n reconc11ia ton.
The police say that the letter writer
exaggerated the standing OF the doctor,
as he had little practice In Milford and
barely earned enough TO support himself
in the most frugal style.