Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-05
COMMITS SUICIDE
AFTER BUTCHERY
Slayer Of Mrs. Burner and Her
Three Children Takes
His Own Life.
VERDICT OF CoRoNER's JURY
William Nichols Believed to
Have Been Goaded to Slaugh-
ter by Jealousy.
VERDICT OF CoRoNER's JURY

~ ~.
i.uRAY. VA, January Tie dead
body OF William Nichols, the top Of
his head blown nf by Il shotgun. was
found this morning IN the house OF
Wesley Price. not far from the scene
or Saturday nights tragedy, at Mas
sanutton Mountain, five miles from
here. \ coroner's jury. Investigating
the murder OF Mrs Charles Z. Burner
and her three litti" children. returned
n verdict this afternoon that Nichols
had committed the crime. and had then
committed suicide
FORCES WINDOW OrEN
AND SECURES SHOTGUN
After wipinp out the Burner family.
Nichols. who mad been paying atten-
tion TO Mrs. Burncr. went To the home
OF Wesley Price. to whom ne had
loaned a shotgun several weeks ago
Price being away from home, Nichols
broke n window sash and gained An
entrance. lie went to the place where
he knew Price was In the habit of
keeping the weapon He placed the
gun against the wall. and is believed
to have pulled ,nc trigger with his
foo,. tho load practically tearing his
head away.
When found. by Sherlm Sedwick. Mich
OILS is believed to have been dead about
twenty hours.
When Burner the husband and
father, left his home on Saturday night
TO come to l.uray. from which place ne
was To 20 on the following day To
the printa MIL ncighhorhood, several
miles cast Of Lu!ay. Nichols rcmaihed
at the Burner home with the under
standing that he was TO look after
burners stock until he returned.
Neighbors OF the Burner family believe
that Nichols suggested TO Mrs Burner
that they clopc Enraecd by her re-
fusal, he carried out the murder with
an aX. This a& was found Al the
Price home. and had been used to break
open the window.
IN HOUSE FIFTEEN HOURS
BEFORE BODIES ARE FOUND
The murdered woman and her three
children remained in the home about
iiftccn hours before they were found
by two boys who haa gone there on
sunday morning To nave Burner cut
their hair.
Evidence shows that Nichols and
Mrs. Burner had finished the evening
meal. and Mrs Burner was preparing
the children for bed when they were
murdered, their shoes having been
placed away for the night The oldest
boy, James, five years old, was most
badly mutiiat.d. The blade of the AK
laid open the back OF his head to the
brain. Two fingers were also cut on.
and he had cuts over his entire body.
From the back oc the bed, Walter,
tour years old. WAS pulled over so that
he would get the full force OF Nichols's
ak. His face WAS split open almost
from ear TO ear. one OF hts hands
Was also cut OFF
The baby. one year old. which was
found clasped in the mothers arms. had
it's face crushed by the fiat side OF
The
Bloodstnins on the door facing and
Just outside show that Mrs. Burner
made II desperate effort TO free herself
from tn" murderer. Deep gashes cover
her entire body, one going halfway
through her head.
Until N.chols's body waE found. the
half dozen watchmcn who had been
placed III charge OF the premises re-
fused 10 make an Investigation. fearing
for thoir own safety.
SERVED TERM IN PRISON
FOR FOtGING CHECK
Nichols was son OF Chrlstophcr
Nichols. OF Rappahannock County at
whose home Charles Sisk, the thrice
murderer OF that county. is said TO have
taken refuge while cludng officers al
ter escaping from Jail Nichols had
served three years in the Virginia
Penitentary for forging :. check on the
Page Valley National Bank of Iuray.
While attempting to nlieht from
freight train in this place several years
ngo lie lost a leg.
Nichols's body remained in the Price
home this evening. and strong is
the feeling IN the ncirhborhood against
him that there have been many sug-
Scstions that the building should be
burned TO consume the body. Prices
property Is all that Is saving il from
cremation.