Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-11-03
TRAGEDY IN HALIFAX
Drew Revolver as Mrs. Whitney Prepar-
ed to Leave Following Auction-came
to Brattleboro after Separating.


ed to Leave Following Auctlon-came
to Brattleboro after Separating.
Shooting at close range and unques-
tionably with the intent to end the lives
of both his wife and himself, Winfield w.
whitney of Halifax fired a bullet into
his wife's head Saturday forenoon and
then sent another into his own brain.
He was partly successful in that he died
of his wound a few hours later, but his
wife,, although seriously injured, prob
ably will recover. The bullet entered
her right temple and fractured her skull
for a distance of about two inches, fiat
tening out and imbedding itself in the
crevice thus formed. The ball which cut
off Whitney's life went from the right
side of his head through to the left side.
The tragedy took place the morning af-
ter the sale of furniture by an auction
which marked the end of the Whitney
home. already rent by discussions and
unhappiness, and 1t stirred the town of
Halifax in a way that has not been
equalled in many years.
For some years, so his neighbors and
relatives say, Whitney had been subject
to mental disturbances approaching in
sanity, and his spells" and things that
transpired in his home were matters of
common knowledge among the residents
of the hamlet of Harrisville, where the
Whitneys lived, about a mile and a half
north of william B. Warren's mill. At
one time, 1t is said, he smashed the stove
with an axe. A dent in the door of one
of the rooms, made by an axe, Is a ST.
lent reminder of another occasion when
things did not go as they should. Mat
tiers reached a point where Mrs. Whit
ney declared she would not stay with her
husband and she went away, but after
wards returned. Mr.. Whitney was af-
fiicted with a cancerous trouble and a
few months ago DIR. E. r. Lynch of
Brattleboro operated upon him in the
hospital in Montague, Mass. After his
return a nurse from Brattleboro cared
for him a short time. He improved
somewhat and was able to get around
with the aid of a crutch and cane. but
he continued to have spells even worse
than before and some two months ago
his wife left again and came to live with
her brother, Charles Miner, in West
Brattleboro Whitney came here to live
with relatives, two sisters, Mrs. Ashton
Taylor and Mrs. Walter Stacy, and two
brothers, Philip Whitney and Mervin
Whitney, living here.
Three or four weeks ago Whitney re-
turned to Halifax and lived with another
brother, Emory Whitney, and with his
guardian, Francis T. Miner. his wife's
brother. Desiring to have the furniture
removed from the Whitney house so that
he could rent the place, Mr.. Miner de-
cided to hold an auction sale and one
was held last Friday. Mrs. Whitney
went there from West Brattleboro
Thursday and both she and her husband
were at the auction Friday. Part of the
goods were sold that day and the sale
of the rest was postponed. Mrs. Whit
ney announced her intention to stay
over night at the old home. whereupon
Whitney said he was going to stay too.
Mrs. Whitney then changed her mind as
her brother had warned her that she was
in danger when in Whitney's presence.
Che ctava1 in tho homo Of Alhart Thur
Der and Whitney slept in the old home
just across the road. 1t was Mrs. Whit
ney's intention to go from the auction
to Monroe Bridge, Mass, to stay a few
days with her daughter, Gertrude, wife
of Floyd Clark. who keeps a store. and
then to come back to Charles Miners
and do nursing in this town. On Satur-
day morning Mr.. Clark came for her and
she put a bundle in the wagon and then
she and Mrs. Thurber started for the
Whitney house after another bundle.
Several persons who had bought articles
were there picking up their things.
Whitney, who had kept near his wife the
day before and had gone over to the
Thurber house while his wife was getting
ready to leave, followed the two women
across the street and although his
progress was slow on account of his in
trinity he caught up with them as they
stopped to talk on the lawn. 1t was
then about 1870 o'clock. Taking a re-
volver from his pocket he reached
around from behind his wife and shot her
in the right temple before Mrs. Thurber,
who saw him, could give any warning.
Mrs. Whitney fell to the ground. The
sound of the shot attracted the atten-
ton of all who heard it, but there are
conflicting statements as to just what
took place next. Some say he fired
another shot in the direction of his SON.
in-law. Holding the revolver to his own
head he pulled the trigger and sank to
the ground.
Mrs. Whitney arose from the ground
and was assisted to the Thurber house.
Mr.. Clark hurried to the nearest tele-
phone and called DIR. Lynch and noti-
fed Selectman William B. Warren of
Halifax. DR.. Lynch reached the place
In about an hour and Mr.. Warren was
on the scene in a short time. Whitney
was removed to his house. where he died
about 2 o'clock without having regained
consciousness. The bullet was extracted
from Mrs. Whitney's head, and she is
recovering. She will return to her
brother's as soon as she is able. The
revolver belonged to Mr.. Miner, Whit
neys guardian. Whitney put it in his
pocket before going to the auction. AS
soon as Selectman Warren learned what
the situation was he telephoned to
States Attorney Frank e. Barber of
this town. The latter had visions of
another murder trial and was making
preparations 10 go TO Halifax to make an
investigation when news came of Whit
ney's death, which made legal action
unnecessary.
Winfield W.. Whitney was about 4S
years old. He was born in Halifax and
was a son of the late Martin Whitney.
He was brought up on a farm and mar
ried Miss Jennie Miner of Halifax. At
one time after their marriage they lived
in Esteyville. Their place In Halifax
consisted of eight to 10 acres of land
with buildings. Besides his wife, the
daughter, two sisters and two brothers
mentioned Whitney leaves a son, Willard,
or Monroe Bridge and a sister, Mrs.
Hoyt of STAFFORD, this state. Funeral
services were held In Halifax Tuesday at
10 o'clock, Rev. w. M. Hitchcock off,
ciating, and the burial took place In West
Halifax.