The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-01
MRS. NETT|E |NHEBY, A WIDOW,
KILLED BY MAN SHE. REJECTED
JOE ALEXANDER is HELD ON
CHARGE OF BRUTAL SOUTH
SIDE MURDER.
Daughter of Victim Beaten BY Assas-
sin When She Attempted to Help
Mother-Gunman Leaps on Body.

oauahter of Victim Beaten BY Assas-
sin When She Attempted to Help
Mother-Gunman Leaps on Body.
homicide that appears to have
been one Of the most savage murders
committed in Ohio county in recent
wears occurred last evening at NO.
222S Main street when Mrs. Nellie
! Wheby, 34-year-old Syrian widow, was
I shot to death by Joe Alexander. a
rejected sutton of her own national
; inv Sixteen-year-old Mrs. Abraham
George, a daughter Of the murder
, victim. was beaten into insensiDllltS
! hv Alexander as the young woman
! ATTEMPTED to aid her mother as she
! law diving on the sidewalk in front
| of her home. But not satisfied Win
! this. according to the statements OF
| eva witnesses Alexander returned 10
! the side of his dying victim. pushea
! aside men who were bending over her
nr0strated form, leaped rudely upon
: her body and attempted 10 KICK her
before he was knocked down ana
overpowered.
Alexander. who was arrested be-
fore his victim expired, was rusheu
at once to the county Jai! where NJ
Is being held 10 face charge or mul.
der. The accused man Is declared Dy
] Police Lieutenant William Bucey'
CAPTAIN OF Detectives Tom ke!ley'
Roundsman Ed Minard and others 10
| have been bad character ana laSt
| night did not mark the beginning u
| his career Of trouble making.
Was Rejected Sultor.
| That Alexander's deed was the
carrying into effect of threats 10
shoot Mrs. Wheby if she did not con-
sent to marry him was clearly es'
tablished by witnesses whose State,
ments we're taken before Court
Stenographer Louis Walters by AS,
! sistant Prosecuting Attorney Ca'
! Bachman shortly after the murder.
Mrs. Wheby, It was learned. was sit-
ting in the front room at 222S MAN
street shortly before seven ocloCh'
with her children, Mrs. Mary george
Saline Wheby. age IA, son. ana d
baby q little past two years olo; anu
Mrs. Flo Harris. a neighbor. WINE
| they were seated there Joe Ale3anuel
burst in the rear way ana came ",
ward the front room. There ne Spohc
in Syrian TO Mrs. Wheby. who hhanS
asked him to leave. Then ne deInaliu,
ed that she see him alone IN lnS
kitchen and when she started IOWA
him as though TO put him Out OF 'no
house. he drew a revolver from
eide coal rocket and grabbed her
wrist with his free hand. WITH ing
revolver leveled at her body, Alex
ander fired three shots at Mrs. Whepy
! while in the front room. Tier oauSn.
Tar and son rushed to her side anu
steadied her as she walked OUT 'ne
front door. AS the woman stepped 10
Tho novement. Alexander fired twice
more and she fell.
Mrs. Mary George, whose husband
had returned TO the house just IN
time to see the trouble. and who mad
rushed out to find an officer as soon
az the first three shots were hred'
STOPPED at her mothers side on the
walk, according to her story. Alex
ander then began beating her win ms
revolver, inflicting several bad GUS
/ in her her head Then he struck her
on the head with some other lnstTu-
ment which the girl says seemed 10 De
bottle.
Leaps Upon Dying Form.
Leaving the scene temporarily, Alex
ander was gone but little while:
Pushing his way through the crowd
which gathered about the dying wom-
an, he grasped George Gillespie D!
the hair and attempted to push away
George Scott. who we're giving their
attentions to Mrs. Wheby. He leaped
upon her with both feet and was
irving to kick her when he was
knocked over by blow from George
SCOTS fist and was grasped ny
/ Soloman George, who held him until
officers arrived.
Alexander was searched by Captain
of DETECTIVES Tom Kelley. who tounH
in his pocket .3S.call0re ivers u
Johnson revolver, with freshly shol
cartridges in the cylinder and tWeni!'
five cartridges for the gun. me
SLAYER was turned over TO Fatrolmeh
Sam Moran and George Crumbacker
and rushed to the jail
The body Of Mrs. Whcby was car,
ried To couch in her FROM room ana
she died few minutes later. before
DR.. E. NJ. Phillips, the first physician
! that could be reached. could get 10
! the house, The doctor turned his at
Ieu1ion to the wounds OF Mrs. Mary
George and soon had her in condition
to 90 to the court house to tell hcr
story Of. the tragedy
! The statements secured by Assistant
Prosecutor Bachman included the as
sertions of Mrs. Mary George and her
brother Saline Wheby. that their
mothet had told them that Joe A leX,
lander had often asked her 10 marry
him and that he had threatened 10 XII
her if she did not accept the proposal
The same story was heard from
Mrs. Flo Harris. who Witnessed the
shooting.
Trouble Last Sunday.
On last Sunday. il developed. Alex
ander was at Mrs. Wheby's home AFTER
following her so church. and while
there he attacked Mrs. Helen Rachad
a Syrian woman, whom Mrs. NneoE
called down from the second iloor OF
the house TO stay with her because
she was afraid of the man.
| From Abraham George. the muir
Idercd woman'S Son-inIaw. it was
Learned that last Saturday evening: at
Mrs. Whebys home, Alexander had
Told the young man that he would
shoot Mrs. Wheby if she did not marry
him, but the remark was not taken
seriously. The son-in-law. the only
witness who understands the Syrian
Language we'll enough TO relate the
conversation between Alexander and
Mrs. Whrby just before the shooting,
entered the house after Alexander had
gone in. ~.
"What are YOU going t0 do for me-
he interpreted Il question when nc
| said Alexander asked Mrs. Whcby.
81 can't do anything for you, nc
said she replied.
You'd better so out Of here; the