Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-06-20
SHOOTS HIS WIFE
Bushrod Willis Commits Awful
Deed Late Saturday

Affair is Result Of Family Troubles
and Jcalousy-cut His Throat and
Dies Almost lnstsntly-.womsn Shot
Three Times and May Recover
New in the Hospital.
Driven to the point Of desperation
by the belief that he had been wrong
cd. aud that his home had been brok.
en- up by the acts of another man.
Bushrod r. Willis shot and probably
fatally wounded his wife, Anna belle
Willis and then ended his own life
BY siashing his throat five times with
a sharp penknife Tho shocking trag
edy was enacted at the Willis home,
GSs George street Hagerstown, sat
urday afternoon at 2:t5 o'clock and
vas Witnessed by the couples three
young children, ranging in age from
eight to fourteen years.
All OF the circumstances surround
ing the horrible tragedy indicate that
the deed was premeditated, and that
another person, O man named Garland
Martin, who is cousin OF Mrs. VII
lis, would have been a third victim
had the frenzied man been able to
locate him.
Willis. who had been recently en-
pioyed at the New York Central Iron
Works plant and at the Western
Maryland shops, separated from his
wife on Decoration Day. and since
then has been boarding on West Wash
ington street Mrs willis has been
working for Mendels' Brothers, since
the separation and had been support
ing the children.
After finishing his dinner Saturday
Willis started for his home with the
evident intention of having it out
with his wife, Climbing over the
rear alley fence he went up the board
walk toward the house but was seen
by his wife who was in the kitchen
ironing. She refused him admittanee.
According to the story told by Mrs
c. H. Rice. 621 West Washington
street, a sister of the injured woman
Willis must have gone direct from
his home 10 her place. After making
few inquiries willis started down
town. and it is the supposition that
he either purchased or borrowed the
revolver then.
In about twenty minutes he return
ed to the Rice home, and without
knocking, entered the front door, and
walked through to the kitchen. Turn
ing around he exclaimed. Isn't Garley
! Martin here" Upon being answered
by Mrs. Rice in the negative, Willis
said, "Well, Fun toe late. If anything
happens, | want you to send my two
little girls over to Charles Town.
lie left then and it was shortly after
ward that Mrs. Rice received tele.
phone message telling her of the trag.
cdy
Willis forced an entrance upon re-
tmang to his house the second time
quarrel ensued and Willis without
warming whipped cut The revolver and
shot bis wife. The fact that the irst
4 hot did not cause her TO fall led Wa
is to believe that it would not prove
/ total and two more shots were fired,
all taking effect. Placing the smoking
weapon against his temple ha pulled
/ he trigger Failing to work, he cast
| he sun into the corner and bidding
/ his II year, old son, jesse, to follow
( him, Willis rushed up stairs into the
front room and with an ordinary poe
f ket knife, probably sharpened for the
/ purpose, proceeded to take his own
/ life, before the eyes Of his horror
/ stricken boy. SO determined was he
/ that he sIashcd back aud forth uhtii
I his head was almost severed The
( boy tried to stop his father but with
out avail, as the words of the youth
we're unheedcd The man staggered
aud fell with the knife cluched in
{ his right hand and his life blood fast
ebbing away. The boy rushed down
stairs and told the neighbors and On
entering the room. Willis was found
dead, lying in a pool of blood In his
pocket was bottle Of laudanum, half
of which had been consumed il IS
not known whether willis took fhis
| with suicidal intent or as a dope
Placing the injured woman IN the
/ taxicab, which had brought the Off
GERS to the scene she was rushed to
the hospital An examinations showed
that. while only three shots were FIR
wounds. One entered below the left
I ear, and afler blowing along above
/ the check bone and passing through