Evening journal., 1909-07-26
KILLED WIFE
AND HIMSELF
New Bedford Man After
Quarrel Hacked Woman to
Death With TOmahaWk
BLEW OUT OWN BRAINS
IN A POLICE STATION
By United Press Leased Special wlrO.

AANNNNA
NEW BEDFORD. Mass. July 2s-
Waylaying his beautiful wife on a
lonely country road and striking her
down with an old Indian tomahawk
Robert L. Tanning of Westport. He'd
to his home, wrote a startling letter
to the chief Of police Of New Bedford,
delivered the letter in the Central Po-
lice Station. and then i'm the presence
of three police officers. blew out his
brains. dying almost instantly.
Tanning literally hacked his wife to
death with the tomahawk, which he
had dug from the grave of an old
Indian chief near here. Tanning $
crime was caused by drink.
Five years ago, Tanning, a man in
moderate circumstances. met Tina
Hall. the beautiful daughter OF George
Hall. the wealthiest man i'm Westport,
enjoying an income OF $4,000 a year.
Mrs. Tanning was a reigning beauty.
For two years they lived happily. Then
Tanning began to drink and there were
frequent quarrels. The birth OF a baby
girl failed to heal the breach.
Had Violent Quarrel.
Sunday the couple had a violent
quarrel and Mrs. Tanning. in alarm
fled to the home Of George Tripp. a
miller. half a mile distant. She lefi
Tripp's house at $50 o'clock last might
to return TO her own home.
Tanning waylaid her on the wesi
side OF Lyons Brook, and beat hei
death with the tomahawh. hiding hei
body in the bushes. where IL wa'
found to-day. horribly mangled.
Tanning then returned to his owl
home. where he wrote the following
worded letter addressed to the chile
of police of New Bedford:
ITO whom it may concern:
IT am very, very sorry for what hai
occurred and the public can judge fo
! themselves If ] was not too hasty, an'
| likewise my wife. God bless her. NJ
baby is still living by this time, Coz
| bless her. and I hope she will neve
know what happened 10 her goo'
father and mother. 7 loved my chill
better than myself. May God give m
( His blessings and 20 my child everlast
/ ing good will. have had a goo
deal to put up with and the end
near.
'sTrustinE my baby win have the be-
OF care. as sho is one Of the best babh
that ever lived II Is hard 70 leave sue
a happy child. but my God. I must
"Oh. God. I wish could live to comfo
my child: she has everything to live 10
I hope she will benefit by it. as there
enough for her to be wealthy. wou
Ike to have my baby Join us but as cru
as I am. have no heart for SUCH NJ
wife's body lays on the west side {
Lyons Brook. about 50 feet to the sout
OF the bushes. Please give Il your in
mediate attention and remove same Z
soon as possible. At my request pleas
bury us both together. Trusting you wi
do your duty, I remain,
yours very truly.
Robert NJ. flaming
P. S. Don't fail to look for my wife
body and remove same as soon as possibl
Oh. my God. what have 1 done :.
for baby.
P. S. Be sure and put my baby in goc
hands. My folks will take her as 1 wis
which is my last wish. Hoping my bal
will be looked after, as I know my foil
will attend to it. goodbye, pa and m
brothers and sisters and to all my friend
= God bless you all and not forgetting n
own flesh and blood, my baby. Mrs. Mu
ray Is a kind woman and I must not forg
her God bless her. am sorry for what
have done Please give my ring and b
longings to my brother WIN.
Tanning then entered his automobl
and drove TO Parker's garage in this cit
where he left his car and walked to q
central police station. He was great
excited when he walked up to Poll
Lieutenant ComstoclS's desk shortly b
fore 1.sO O'Clock this morning. He steadi
himself sufficiently to ask Ideutena
, Comstock to read the letter. The offc
perused a part of the contents and TIL
turned to Tanning:
What do you want me to do aoo
thisf'
Tanning laconically answered, ''ju
this" and drew a revolver the muzzle
which he placed in his mouth L'eutenan
I Comstock and Wing and a private polio
= man rushed toward Fanning. but hefo
a they could reach him be had pulled I
n trigger and sent a bullet into his bral
d dying instantly.