Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-04
WIFE SLAYER RESCUED
TIE MAN SHE LOVED

Continued from Page ono
In II Mrs Duncan promised everlasting
affection for the man whom Duncan res
eued
When the shooting was discovered by
Pollock and Frederick Slater, from whom
the farm was rented. Duncan's hand held
this note written by Mrs. Duncan, a last
message to Slateand an open letter which
Duncan never completed. The wife's let
ter was addressed to the farmland at
1927 Poplar street, Philadelphia, a house
he visited in December. He returned to
the Duncan farm before the letter was
delivered. 1t was this note, according to
Prosecutor Kraft, of Camden County. who
investigated the murder, that drove Dun
can to the shooting.
The letter to Slater asked him to keep
his children Arville, years old, and
Florence, Z, from knowing of the crime.
Take them to Fred" he wrote. 81 know
that my people will see that the children
are cared for. 1t is hard to leave my
dear children and take their mother from
them, but for me to die and think that
he CpollOck) win take my place is hard
thing to do"
Duncan's failure to make the farm he
rented from Slater pay him depressed
He had been i'll for several months. His
crops last gear were unsuccessful and
debts amounting to nearly $1,000 were dis
covered by papers found in the Duncan
house.
Duncan appeared to be i'm good spirits
Tuesday night That evening he asked
Mrs. Slater and her daughter to come
over and entertain his wife, Patience,
while he vert over for talk with slater,
his landlord. Mrs. Slater, her daughter
and Mrs. Duncan played Finch until
$3.50 o'clock. Then Duncan returned from
the Slater house and the card game
ended. The Duncan children studied
their lessons at a table i'm the living
room while their mother played cards.
TAKES CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
Only two hours before he shot his wife
and ended his own life Duncan had
driven the children to Blackwood, the
nearest school. He returned about 1880
o'clock, according to Mrs slater From
that time until the murder was dis
covered, the farmer and his wife were
alone in the house, Pollock, the farm
hand, and Slater were narrowing a quar-
ter of a mile back in the fields. At noon
Slater went to his home, only a short
distance from the Duncan house for his
luncheon. He had hardly seated himself
Wuel Pollock ran INTO llle mouse IlSlllN
excited and said he had found the din
ner burning on the kitchen range in the
Duncan home and that Mrs. Duncan must
be i'll.
When Slater entered the house he found
Mrs Duncan on her knees before couch
IN the front room, a bullet hole through
her forehead. Upstairs, where he had
thrown himself across bed, Duncan lay'
a revolver clutched in one hand the two
letters in the other. Pollock who APP
peared to be stunned, returned to the
kitchen, where he spent the afternoon,
except while being questioned by Prose-
cutor Kraft. He did not know that
one of Mrs. DunCan's letters to him had
gone astray, he said.
''She did write YOU though, didn't she!'
he was asked
well, I got one letter from her while
| was away" he answered. 81 didn't
know about this letter Duncan was
good to me and 1 liked him.
MRS. DUNCANs NOTE.
The letter which Mrs. Duncan wrote TO
the farmland read:
JIM felt very much worried this
morning when you said you had no money,
when / knew you had money yesterday.
Jim YOU promised me you would get
work and make a man of yourself, and |
think YOU might do that much for me,
knowing / have always done all l could
for YOU. And as long as you keep your
promise | will keep mine, and stlll be your
best friend When YOU have no other
YOU will' still have me. l will not write
any more, as / do not know who may get
this. | remain as ever MRS. ID,
''P S-If you answer this, address II
TO Mrs. Robert Renshaw Laurel Springs,
n, j."
Nelghbors said that Duncan was
forced to employ Pollock when he re-
turned frola Pk'.adelphia on February
"A. Mrs Duncan lad insisted on taking
him back, they said,
To-day the two bodies lie in the front
parlor of the Duncan home, The funeral
viii be held from the house Sunday at
1880, after which the couple will be
buried In Evergreen Cemetery, Camden,
The two Duncan children will he turned
over TO Fred and II. IL. Duncan, brothers
OF the dead man. who run a grocery store
at 4th and Arch streets, Camden.