The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-09-03
WOMAN HELD
FOR MURDER
Of HUSBAND
WIFE OF GRocERYMAH SLAIN
WITH HATCHET AT MUSkO.
GEE, ACCUSED OF MURDER -
INSTRUMENT IDENTIFIED.

Muskogee, Okla, Sept. 2.-Charget
with the "hatchet murder of her hus
band, w. B. Province, the suburban
grocer killed in his store at midday
on August II last, Mrs. Province, the
widow, was arrested Thursday after
noon on a warrant sworn out and au
thorized by County Attorney Fred P
Branson.
The arrest of Mrs. Province came
only after officers had pleaded fol
days with the county attorney tC
take this course and after a sensation
al Identification of the hatchet useG
to kill the grocer-the hatchet which
Mrs. Province swore before the coro
ner's inquest, did not belong to the
store.
Two days ago former Deputy Sher
iff W. l.. Robbins telephoned Bran
son stating that his 14-year-old boy
had played with the Province boys
for a long time and would probably
be able to tell whether or not the
hatchet belonged at the store.
Thursday morning Branson secured
two old, rusty hatchets and the
hatchet found after the murder. He
put the three hatchets together in
the waste basket of his office. WheI
young Robbins was brought to the
office, Branson asked him if he coulG
swear positively that he had seen 6
hatchet on the Province place.
81 can" said the boy, "and l woult
know it."
well, if that is So said Branson
pulling the hatchets from their hid
ing place and laying them on the floor
tell me if all of these or any Of
these is the hatchet you have seer
and if so point out all Or any that
you have seen ON the Province place.
This is the one" said the boy
without a seconds hesitation, as he
reached down and picked up the
hatchet which was found by officers
in the store after Province had beer
murdered.
Three adults also have sworn posi-
lively that they have noticed hatch
ct at the Province place but none
have made such a positive identified
ton as the boy. To Offset this tes
timony there are statements by al
least two people that there was nc
hatchet at the Province store.
Ever since the day of the murder
many officers, as well as Pinkertor
detectives especially employed on the
case, and many people living neal
the Province home on Twenty-siXth anG
Okmulgee streets, have requested
Branson to arrest the woman, but
until Thursday afternoon he stood
firm in his refusal.
There has been evidence said
Branson only few minutes after the
warrant was issued, that Mrs. Prov
ince has left her husband upon one
occasion, that she has Leen quarrel
ing with him over many matters, and
it has been called to my attention
that her mind may have been affected
at different periods in lifH.'
1t is understood that Branson, the
sheriff's force and police officers who
have been quietly working on the
case ever since the murder have ac'
cumulated mass of evidence which,
however, will not be given out at
this time. One piece of this evidence
is said to be contradiction of Mrs.
Provinces statement that she was in
the tomato patch adjoining the gro
Gerry store just before her husband
was murdered. The time was shortly
after a rain that left the ground soggy
but after a careful examination by
two officers that same afternoon fail
ed to reveal to them any tracks in
the garden.
Pleads Not Guilty.
Mrs. Province was brought to the
justice court of W. G.. Miller, where
she has been arraigned, pleading not
guilty.
Dressed in black gown which she
has worn since the day after her hus,
bands murder, Mrs. Province inter
rupted while Justice Miller was read
ing her the charge, to plead mot
guilty" Her voice was calm and ap-