Evening journal., 1913-03-25
JEALOUSY
THE MOTIVE
FOR MURDER
Farmer Shot Wife, Rival and
Child, Fired Home, Then
Committed Suicide
COROKER'S AUTOPSY
REVEALS SAD STORY


al the coroners aulopy, in the bodies
OF Mrs. Leo A. Wharton, Lillian, her
6-ycar-old daughter and Johnson
hcmphiil, wealthy farm manager.
indicate that the trio wsre victims of
whhrton's jealous fury. Wharton
either took HE life or succumbed 70
injuries received in a struggle with
Hemphill That Wharton, eoaded by
taunts, touched a torch TO his home
two miles from here, the burning
dwelling proving a funeral pyre for
the four, is little doubted
There IL theory that burglars may
have slain the Whartons and Hemp
hill, bachelor, who lived a mile from
the Wharton home There is nothing
TO substantiate It. What facts have
been gathered by Coroner Stultz point
only TO a iendish crime-the result
Of the anger OF a man In doubt of the
affections of his wife. This anger was
rekindled Sunday morning, when Mrs.
Wharton and Hemphil returned to
the farmhouse after an evening spent
IN Williamstown.
h1 nitu ~ tue inliN udu OftU Ndl~
1ered In. The weapon welded may
have been either the butt OF a shot
gun or a heavy bludgeon. kept by
Wharton In his kitchen. A revolver
bullet dropped from the child's BRAIN
as soon as Coroner's physician, r.. NJ
Oudield. OF Glasboro. separated the
crushed bones OF the skull.
Hemphill was shot twice. In his
rlght chest was found a cartridge Of
fhe same weight as was fired into the
brain of the child. His heart was
torn to shreds by a charge OF bird
shot, which, in ripping through the
meeh. filled each lung The bullet
wound. Doctor DufIield said, was not
Natal. II entered his chest three
dnches above the heart and took
chanting downward course. the assail-
ant having fred from an elevation
Wharton was shorter by a foot than
Hemphill
A charge OF birdshot had shat
tered Mrs Wharton's right shoulder
blade. The shots pierced tho back.
and would have been fatal, the ply
stefan says OF the many theories
advanced none OF which Is substan-
tiated by facts, 1t is pointed out that
Mrs Wharton may have rushed bo-
tween the two men toward Hemphlll
end thus been shot
Nharton's Body hutllated.
Whartons body, inclnerated until
with arms and legs missing he re-
scmblcd a charrc gate post was in
such a state that the medical expert
could make little Roadway IN prob
ing for bullets or pellets OF shot
Doctor Dufteld says the head APP
parcntly was battered IN
NhartOns revolver, with two
chambers empty corresponding with
the number OF bullets found In the
bodies, was combed from the ruins.
The shotgun, with the brass cap OF
a discharged she'll IN one barrel and
the other empty, was decovered Sun
day.
County Prosecutor summerill Of
Gloucester county, yesterday coop
grated With Coroner stultz IN at
tempting 70 solve the mystery, Dep
ny Prosecutor Beckley traced the
movements Of Homphill and Mrs.
Wharton from the time they drove
from the farmhouse Saturday even
ms at 100 aclook until the farm
manager left q general store. after
making o few purchases, shortly az
ter u o'clock He was unable TO
learn II they had visited q moving
picture show, the ushers falling 10
remember the two.
The last chapter IN the tragedy
probably will fall today, when tho
bodies, placed In one casket. Will
be removed from here to Yardley
Pa, the home OF Wharton's relatives
The burial will be Ii Newton Gene
terry, Newton, Bucks county, the fol-
lowing morning
That Wharton was insanely Jealous
Of his wife II borne out by statements
Of q half dozen residents OF this town
10 Vernon Champion. who lives on
the lanvier road, he recently said;
Things are not going right az home.
and am sick Of the mess" Champ
Ion Is a contractor, and Wharton
worked FOR him as carpenter
Wharton Disappointed Wife.
Those who profess 10 know the
state Of Affairs proclaim that Mrs.
Wharton was disappointed In her hus-
band He had not made the pro-
Bress that she expected, Wharton did
not manage his farm. permitting those
duties 10 fall 10 Hemphin. thrifty
Individual who deveioned from an
cTpaan boy into one OF the most IN.
huennai farmers and property owners
Of the county.
Miss Isabel J stanger, at whose
home Hemphili boarded. stated thai
she overheard Mrs Wharton say C
her husband God gave you a hrair
and why don't you use IT. You hav,
a fair chance. and you must succeed
Miss stangsr stoutly championeC
Heuphill's character
Coroner Stulz has received report,
that Wharton asserted FFlday nigh
that ne intended 10 put an end 20 hi,
troubles He was also informed
that Wharton had signined that h,
contemplated going TO Philadelphia
Saturday, returning on a train arrlv
ms here shortly before l O'Clock IL
the morning The information cor
roborates a theory Of the Coorner tina
the carpenter had laid trap for hi
wife and Hemphill and killed them
IN his rage shooting his daughter {,
prevent her being disgraced in afte
years, and then committed suicide.
ri