Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-19
STAYS HIS WIFE
AND HER MOTHER
Ashton, Ill, Man Shoots Woman
as She Stoops to Kiss
Her Child.

Ashton, Ill, Aug. 19.-Mrs. Warren
Sanders was shot and killed by her
husband Saturday night as she stoop-
ed to kiss Naomi, her 7-year-old daugh-
! ter. Sanders then murdered his moth
| er-in-law, Mrs. George Griffith, and at
/ tempted TO commit suicide, but was
| restrained The child was not hurt
The double murder occurred at the
! Chicago Southwestern railway sta
ton. Mrs Griffith had brought the
/ baby to meet her mother, who was
returning from Chicago, where she
! lad been living for some time at the
| home of Mrs. Ricordo Gradwell, 1892
! Fast End avenue.
Sanders was arrested and taken to
the Lee county Jail at Dixon. He eX-
pressed no regret-in fact, he said he
wanted to be sure his mother-in-law
was dead.
Il have been living in hell for the
last five years." he said. "and / am
glad that it is all over
The Sanders couple have been sep
arated for over year. The wife, 1t
is said, had started suit for divorce.
According to Sanders. an agreement
was made that he was TO have the
custody of the child on Sundays.
Saturday evening Sanders went to
the Griffith's home to get the baby. His
father-in-law told him the graudmoth-
or had taken the girl to the train TO
welcome her mother home. Enraged,
the husband hurried to the station, ar
irving there shortly before the train
arrived.
He strobe up to Mrs GrifIiths and
demonstrated with her for taking the
child away. Mrs. Griffiths told him
the reason-that the baby's mother
was coming.
This seemed further to incense the
husband and a heated dialogue fol
loved. Sanders angrily accused the
woman Of being responsible for the
!, breaking up OF his home.
In the midst of the quarrel the
train pulled in and Mrs. Sanders
alighted. The little girl and bel
mother started for each other, the
mother crying, Baby, here is nam
Ima!" Sanders tried to hold the child
ard Mrs. Griffith interfered.
AS Mrs. Sanders gathered the little
one in her arms the husband drew
-, revolver and shot her in the head
Swiftly turning to his mothcr-in-law
tho SLAYER fired twice at her. Botl
I women died Immediately.
, The baby ran sCTeamingiy up th'
street and the murderer then started
, 70 point the gun at his own head. Bu
nv this time the trainmen had sur
: rounded him and they took the pis
tol from him. lie made no fuTtheI
, fight and said he would give himsel
, m Soon after that an officer PLACED
him under arrest and was on the va!
10 Dixon with him before many II
the town knew of the murder.
The bodies of the slain women were
{ taken TO the Griffith home.
/ News OF the crime quickly sprea'
r and neighbors fiocked to the hous'
r OF death 10 express coincidence.
, Coroner Smith, States Attorney Ed
wards and Sheriff Reid arrived In Ash
= ton this morning and impaneled
! Jury of business and professional men
The Jury viewed the bodies and too
the testimony Of Mr.. Griffith, VIII
only a few hours before the murde
mad returned from Ohio, where b
buried his only brother. The jur
! held Sanders without bail TO the Sci
= tember grand jury.
: Sanders is 20 years old. His wif
/ was 2G. The couple were marie
nine years ago.