The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-21
CHURCH MAN
KILLS HIS WIFE
Milwaukee Man COnfesSeS
After Shooting Himself
SHOT HER AS SHE SLEPT
QuarrelIed After Returning from Church
Social, Mr.. willoughby Says inn His
Dying Statement, So He Shot
His Wife in the Head.
SHOT HER AS SHE SLEPT

Milwaukee, Wis. March 2l.--George
Willoughby, manager Of the Jewett &
Herman company, dealers in spice and
coffee, shot and killed his wife, Florence
Willoughby, at their home in Prospect
avenue late Thursday night. Willough.
BY confessed that he had committed the
murder because he was infatuated with
another woman whom he had been sup
porting for four years. After Ahe mur-
der Willoughby fred two shots into his
breast over his heart, and at G o'elocI,
Yesterday morning when the police were
taking his confession and ante norton
statement, his condition was SO critical
that it is not believed he can recover.
Mr.. and Mrs Willoughby Thursday
evening had attended a church social
at the Park Place Methodist Episcopal
church, where both were prominent work
ers. He was a member of the board
Of trustees aud teacher in the Sunday
school class. After the entertainment
they visited Willoughby's brother, Lar
ey Willoughby, then went home. A
quarrel followed. after which both re.
tired.
While his wife slept Willoughby
chloroformed her and then shot her
through the head. causing instant death.
lie then shot himself twice IN the
breast, but despite his wounds dragged
himself downstairs to the basement and
opened the side door SO 81 to make il
appear that burglars had committed the
deed. Hiding the revolver III the wall
Of the basement, he then telephoned for
a physician
When the police were notified they
We're informed that burglar had shot
both Mr.. and Mrs. Willouahby. but
when the officers arrived they 1T once
concluded that il was murder and at
tempted suicide Willoughby made The
confession while he lay in bed.
In the course OF his confession, vii
loughby said:
Il married my wife twenty years ago.
I did not love her, but married her
mostly out Of sympathy. as she was
poor woman. We were married at Lnd-
I'M on, Mich and soon came to this
city Our life never had been happy.
but we took good care not to let onr
friends and neighbor know Of our do
nestle differences We qtRrreled fire
quently. Mrs. Wiloughby was msanely
Jealous 81 me- She continually accused
me OF mt being true to her. and on
the whole we beth had a miserable
existence.
Matters vert on this way for years
-Four years ago, while ! was on my
way to New York, [ met woman on
the train. Our acquaintance ripened into
love Then for the first time ! truly
loved This woman also was living an
life. Her husband was cruel
10 her, and soon after met her be
deserted her and her two small children
Then | began % support her. Two
years ago She obtained d divorce, and
since that time | have been providing
for her and her children. She is living
in Chicago.
My domestic affairs did not improve
and long time ago I decided that
would end it all How to do it was what
worried me. and tor many months
had been planning way. I began to
collect chloroform, buving it in small
los and kept it until had bottle
81 the drug.
4 decided to end 1t all this morning
after my wife had fallen asleep OBJ
aimed the chloroiurm and then / shos
her Then ! fired two shots into my
breast, intending to shoot myself fl the !
heart. ! did not have any more cart
ridges 50 | decided to hide the re-
solver
Willou0hby Is 50 years Old and was
,orn in Richland county His wife was
1hree years his junior and was native /
# Michigan.