The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-23
BRUTAL CRIME COMMITTED
NEAR HIGHLAND COAL WORKS


anger Of the husband until he became
insane Mr.. Stitz denied this state
ment although It il understood that
the coroner holds a statement OF a
very discriminating nature, although
Sutz II not now In custody.
John Thomas. aged 13 years. made
the following statement to Prosecuting
Attorney Addleman; MY father came
home from Mingo yesterday evening
between and o'clock with a basket
OF beer. After a while they (meaning
Mr.: and Mrs. Thomas) began drinking.
and he began swinging -er around the
room She told him TO stop and ne
got mad. Then she began teasing him
ABOUT woman in Welisburg. and he
struck her over the head with a spoon
holder and then a beer bottle. This
maze her head bleed This was borne
out at the post norton by a cut on the
scalp.
This was about s o'clock. and they
went upstairs, and my little brother
and l went TO bed. When / went TO
sleep they were still quarreling. and
that was all | knew until morning af-
ter had made the FIRE down stairs.
! went up to waken her and couldn't.
dead. Then We called Mrs. Guy. who
lives next door. and some other wom-
en- came in. Then the officers come.
He was cross-questioned BY the prose
cutor. but stuck 10 his story without
culver. His brother. -omas Thorn.
as. aged 10. also bore out his story.
The boys said that their father had
.SS caliber revolver Of the Ivers &
Johnson make. This corresponds with
the bullet found in the body last night
at the post norton. The BOYS said
they did not hear any shooting Mon.
day night. Mrs. Guy. Elanora Haw
kins and other women living near tes-
tined similarly to the boys. saying they
mad often aided in parting the man
and his wife.
No Shots Heard.
Yesterdays crime took place in the
second story of the Richland Coal
Company's tenement. the same being
occupied by ten other families. No
one heard any shots. No trace has
been found of the deadiwoman's cloth
ing, and the idea prevails that after
be had committed his murderous deed
he destroyed the clothing to hide the
blood. The room in which she was
found was filthy with dirt. and on the
whole was repulsive sight.
A letter that was written in an ef
fort TO cause the belief that 1t was
suicide. was found by Coroner Mitch.
ell. The writing is jumbled together.
showing that the writer was In
high nervous state. There were some
words that could not be made out,
but the exact words. in so far as they
could be interpreted. follow
Don't punish my husband for this.
! did u all. SO God bless my two
boys. My husband 10 leaving me on
(three words unlntelIigibIe). He has
left me and did this for the sake
Of him."
On another part OF the same sheet
Of paper. which was folded, the fol-
lowing was found:
so. don't try to punish him. He
left me at half past eight, and ! am
leaving at o'clock sharp to die. He
70 gone from me to stay, went TO
wheeling. did this murder Good
Bye"
The fact that the body was stin
warm leaves the officials 30 draw
their own conclusion The deed ard
the condition Of the body contradiots
the thought conveyed by the letter,
they claim.
II Is expected that something VII
develop at the inquest this morning.
that may cast some light on the pos
sible cause. Thomas. who f. CHARGED
with the murder. IL colOred: height.
feet 5 inches; weight. $40 pound,
age 3S or 30: IL a little bow legged;
wore long blue coat. buttons or
sleeves and six buttons on front.
Thomas coducted a barber shop a. MS
home, having been discharged from