The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-31
Virginian Kills Wife and
Stepdaughter, Then
Commits Suicide.
TWO CHILDREN
MAKE ESCAPE
Defenscless Women Are Shot
Down in the Kitchen of Their
Home-Assassin Declares In
tcntion of Wiping Out His
Family, and Begins
Firing.
Especial 10 The rimes-Dispateh.

Especial TO The -Dispatch.l
Baltimore, Md, December 30.--In a
ft of jealousy, driven onward by
liquor, William p. Strickler, Vir-
ginan, declaring that he would wipe
out his family, shot to death his wife
and stepdauglter and then sent ball
through Ills head. The crime was com
mitted shortly before 2 o'clock this
afternoon in the kitchen of the Strick-
Ter home, 2itT East Lafayette Avenue.
strickler was taken to St Joseph's
Hospital. where he died shortly after
midnight, His skull sustained com
pound fracture from tho force Of the
.3S calibrc bullet. The dead are:
william r. strIckler, fireman, the
murderer and suicide.
Mrs. Flora Stricklcr, aged thirty
eight years, formerly Mrs. FIorn Kite,
Of Shenandoah Rnd HnrrisonburE, Sn.
She ~ns shot through the head and
left leg.
Miss EuIa Kite, ngcd pinetecn years,
stcpdnuShter of stricklcr, shot through
the head, the bullet entering an inch
behind the right cnr.
Two children in the srniee who es-
capped the sin'saanok1llets. are
Clarence Kite. aged fifuWe years. and
Miss Myrtle Kite, aged y teen years.
fOlccmau at be-
With Strickler unconsc {. at the
hospital. Captain Citing of the
Northeastern District, stationed
policeman beside his bed with instruc-
tions to remain there until death came
or Strickler recovered sufficiently to
be taken TO jail.
Coroner Caruthers Is making thor
ough investigation of the circumstances
leading up TO tho dual tragedy.
Motherless. and with their father.
from whom their mother was divorced.
in remote part of the country, the
two surviving children---CjaraEce and
Mytrie-are being taken care OF at
the home of AIRS. George Smith, 1892
North Patterson Park Avenue. The
children have not realized the enor-
nifty OF the crime.
Probably the saddest man in Balti-
more tonight Is Raleigh Newman,
fiiance of the murdered girl. He boards
at 1929 Patterson Park Avenue, and
he shares the grief with the two chill
dren. He is nearly heartbroken. for
an engagement between him and Miss
Kite had existed for six months and
the wedding was 10 have taken place
in the spring.
The killing OF the two defenseless
women by Striclsler was one of the
most cowardly deeds In the history
of Baltimore murders. They were shot
down without being given an oppor-
tunity TO escape and with the final
shot the assassin attempted TO end his
own existence. Strickler was fire.
man employed in the greenhouses of
Cook Bros. near Ellicott City. Re-
Gently he and his wife quarreled over
trivial matters. Mrs. Strickler was
of peaceful disposition, and on nu-
merous occasions she refused to an
swer her husband when he cndeavored
to start quarrel Three days ago
there was quarrel between them
over visits made to the house by Mr..
| Newman. Mr.. Newman is a painter
and decorator, about twcnty-six years
of age.
Quarrel Over Visit.
Last night Miss Eula and Miss Myr-
tie visited Newman's boarding house,
and this visit Strickler found fault
with, and to-day he upbraided his wife.
Mrs. Strickler defended her daughter,
and a bitter quarrel ensued. Strckler
had been drinking, and for a while he
sat near the kitchen door. Mrs. Strick-
Ter was sewing and her daughter was
pressing a skirt. suddenly, with the
| Strickler Whipped out a revolver. aimed
| at the frightened stepdaushter, and
fired. She dropped to the floor with
bullet in her brain. The mother at
tempted to reach Strickler, but she
| too. was shot down. Death to mother
| and daughter was instantaneous The
two children in the house managed tc
escape just as Strlckler turned the
| weapon on himself
| Strickler came to Baltimore with his
| family eight months ago from Harri-
sonburg. Formerly they lived in Shen-
andoah. where they have relatives. The
| relatives have been notified of the
| tragedy.
came to Baltimore about four months
ago from Harrisonburg. his home. Mrs
| Strickler was formerly the wife of Err.
nest Kite, now of Clifton Forge. Va.
The bodies will be held waiting ac.
ton of Virginia relatives.