The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-22
CHOKEO HIS WIFE TO DEATH;
BROKE HER NECK AND ASKED
THAT UNDERTAKEN Be TOLD
Trouble Cause of Terrible Tragedy at
Pamela Mill in Greenwood County Sunday Az
ternoon-Albert Tolbert, Confessed Slayer,
Tells Horrible Story.

iuS lies on MN tnat she was I'M
faithful. though he did MOI mention
IN details. and that she had made
life HI for him. He declared that
he had determined to kill her a hun
dred times. but had desistcd thinking
mat she would do better. But Sun
day morning Tolbert's rage seems to
nave overcome him and he carried
out his plans of long standing. He
at hrst decided to commit the deed
with an ordinary carpenters ham
mer. which was in evidence. at an
early hour hut Mrs. Tolbert left the
room and went to the Ellenberg side
OF the house. Later she came
back and lie tried to cut her throat,
making only n slight cash on her
race, when she took the knife away
from him. He then clutched her by
the throat. and regardless OF her
cries for mercy. choked her to death
and then broke her neck.
Mrs. E%llenberg.
Mrs Ellcnbcrg heard screaming In
the Tolbcrts' DOM and thought Mrs.
Tolbcrt had tainted. The witness
went to the door, pccpcd in and saw
Tolbcrt cutting at his wifc's throat.
Mrs. Ellenberg returned to her own
room and In about 10 minutes Tolbert
called Claude. Before Mrs. Ellenherg,
and her son answered the witness
heard the slain woman begging. al
bert please, please let me alone" and
h e Tolbert was heard to say: "You
will never draw any more of my
pay" The Ellenbergs met Tolbert
at q rear door. he showed them the
bloody knife, acknowledged that he
had killed her and told the Ellenberg
boy to phone for the undertaken and
sheriff.
When Mr.. Mcmillan and DR.. John
Lyon arrived. Tolbert had told his
story to Mr.. Mcqueen, and was soon
in the hands of the sheriff and be-
hind the bars. Before leaving, after
Dr.. Lyon stated that death seemed to
have been caused by strangulation,
Tolbert said. with little or no feel
ing: Yes, 1t a I choked her to
death"
Tolbert has been an employee of
the local mills for the past two or
three years. It is understood that he
was reared near Mccormick and has
always borne Q good reputation for
industry and sobriety. He married O
woman whom he confessed to have
killed. several years ago. and ac-
cording to reports had lived unhap-
ply with her. having been separated
from her several times. He moved
to the Pamela Mill about six months
ago from the Grendel Mill and had
worked regular every week. Those
who are supposed to have known hin
intimately state that he always
attended to his business and never ut
any time showed q disposition IL
drink to e His close friends
knew that he and his wife had do
mostic trouble. but none OF them ha1
ever suspected hat 1t had reach so
| serious a stage as to cause 'Tolbert to
, commit the heinous crime Of which
he Is charged.
Had Been iii.
Mrs. Tolbert, Before her marriage
was a Miss Hall. of Abbeville county. :,
An Insurance policy in a local COM
pahy. shows that she was % years
old last June. She was married to
The man charged with numbering her
soon after this policy was taken out.
She leaves no children. Mr.. and Mrs.
Ellenberg, who. live In adjoining
rooms declare hat she had always
conducted herself in a becoming
manner in her home. The records
at. the mill showed that she had
worked as did her husband, regular
ly until about a week ago when she
was unable to work on account. of ill
mess.
The fact Of Mrs. Tolbert's illness
furnishes nm interesting sidelight on
Sundays tragedy. A representative
of a local burial aid society stated
that on Saturday, December 18th,
he went to the home of Mr. andlsrs.
Tolbert. to collect tho weekly INSTALL
ment OF the policy IN which Mrs.
|Tolbert was insured and that Tolbert
paid him five weeks in advance,
while he already had ono week of
unpaid insurance. The startling
that Tolbert made to
young Ellenberg to telephone the un-
'dertaker az well as the sheriff would
indicate that he had made all prep
arations for the murder.
Another interesting feature OF the
horrible affair was given by Mr.. n.
d. Ellenberg who stated that Sunday
morning Mr.. and Mrs. Tolbert took
breakfast with him and Mrs. Ellen
berg abont 8 o'clock. Mr.. ElIeaberg
said that Mrs. Tolbert during the
past week. although showing signc
of weakness on account of illness had
assisted his wife and that Sunday
Morning Mrs. Ellenberg went to the
room OF their neighbors and invited
them to take the morning meal with
them. He said that Mrs. Tolbert
came in first and Told him to go In |
md wake up Mr. Tolberta Ellenberg
went into Tolbert's room and after |
some persuasion Tolbert consented
to Join his wife In the ElIenbeYg end
OF the house: Mr.. Ellenberg stated |
that there ser no indications what
ever of any Ill feeling between Toll.
bert and his wife and that soon after |
the meal he went 20 his own room
and late: lsft the house. Before re-