The Washington times., 1914-01-21
WIFE BEGGED DEATH.
j: SAYS AGED SLAYER
William EberWein, 80, Tells How
He Beat Injured Woman Un-
til She Died.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. "A storm
Of protest has arisen here against the
Hxntence, practically 4 death penalty
meted out to William Eberwein, by
Jrdge Walling in Criminal Court yes
tCrd8y.
Eighty years old and so feeble that he
had tc clutch the witness stand for sup
port as he told his story, Eberwein tes-
tiled that ne killed his wife, fifteen
years younger than himself, by striking
her repeatedly over the head with a
hoard.
The fact that the Judge sentenced him
70 solitary confinement in the Eastern
penitentiary is the cause of the public
irdignation Eberwein, who IS a veter-
sn OF the civil war, at most can live
but a few years longer. according to
physicians. and the close confinement
viii. it is said, hasten his death.
Eberwain's wife, vino had been an
invalid for years, was found dead in
her home last October. It was found
that death was caused by a fractured
skull, and Eberwein was placed under
arrest. He was brought into criminal
court to face the charge of murder. A
few witnesses established the material
facts OF the woman;s death and the
admission of Eberwein that he had
killed her, and then the defendant was
called to testify in his own behalf.
Tells How He Killed Wife.
Tottering to the bar, the white-haired
old man grasped the rail with trembling
hands and stood there silently.
,,-+ IN
your way" Eberwein's lawyer prompted
him, and the old soldier quietly, and at
times in tones so low that it was diff
cult to hear him, told the story Of the
woman's murder.
we never had a quarrel" he began:
there was never a word between my
wife and me. She had been sick long
time. For seven years she had been
having dizzy spells. They would come
on her anywheres. She always had
bruises on her from falling down.
Then, three years ago, one Of her
feet got something wrong with it. The
doctor said 1t was a cancer. He treated
her, but he couldn't seem to do much
for it. She suffered awful and seemed
TO get worse and worse all the time.
Then the dizzy spells kept coming
down all the time-sometimes in the
kitchen, sometimes on the stairs, some
times in the cellar. II I went out Of
the house l was pretty sure to ind her
lying somewhere in q faint
Then came that day last October. 1
left her upstairs and went out in the
yard to fix the fence.
'I heard a noise in the house and
went in to see what is was. l found
my wife all piled up in heap at the
bottom Of the stairs. I tried to pick
her up, but it hurt her so 1 had to
stop. 1 didn't notice if she was bleed
ing or no, but 1 knew she was in a ter
rible way. ...--
I'm suffering something awful,
William she says to me.
"T'H go get the doctor says.
".No. no. she says. Tm nurt too
bad for a doctor TO be any good. All 1
want is to die. You do 1t, william
''Do what? says.
END it all for me- she says.
"'why. can't do that 1 says; 'itd
he a sin,
she says and she begged and begged
me TO do it again and again.
Board the Weapon of Death.
There was a piece of board in my
hand. I'd had it out in the yard when
was mending the fence, and I'd
brought it into the house with me.
looked at her, laying there hurt so bad,
and I guessed, like she did, that it
wouldn't be a sin.
She looked at the board and then at
me. Go on, William she says; go on.
SO / took the board and l tapped
her with it at once. Then l tapped
again, a little harder. She didn't moan
much. and I kept on. Once when I
stopped she opened her eyes and kind
Of whispered to me: Go on; it won't be
long now
SO / kept on tapping, and presently
she didn't moan any more, and knew
II was all over
The old man stopped for a moment
Then he turned and faced Judge Wal
ling.
'arhats ALL" he said. except that If
7 get out of this I'd like to go to the
soldiers home"
Then, turning away, he tottered back
10 his place in the dock and sat down
No attempt was made to crOss-examine
him or TO urge him to amplify his story.
Sentence was imposed at once.
What will they do with me now?'
me old man asked as the court officers
came to take him to prison, and when
he had been told:
I'D rather have gone to the soldiers
nome" he said, but l suppose they
couldn't send me there.