The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-02-27
Husband Confesses He
Killed Wife With Razor

Emil ksrhu. -. mill worker.
IL In the city Jail today. held
pending the filing Of first de
gree murder charge against him.
following his confession to the
police that he killed his wife.
Alice. with n razor, early We'd
ncsday morning In the home Of
Ernest A. Wanamaker, 40 Kin
near place.
lated details OF the shocking crime
in his confession and made a com
pleie statement OF his reasons. Civ
ing Jealousy 4 motive. to Captain
Of Detectives Charles A. Tenant.
Broods Over Crime
After spending Wednesday In Kin.
near park brooklng over the killing
Of his wife. Karhu went 20 the home
Of his bro,her.in-iaw. +. l. Detering.
1903 w. 18th St, and told of the deed.
An officer was called from the Bal
lard police station and Karhu was
taken into custody.
Alice knrhu. employed as a maid
hy the wanamskcrs. was found at
T.20 a. m. Wednesday on her bed.
in her night dress. her throat slashed.
Ksrhu. according to the police. de.
scribed his last night with her and
the details OF the crime. which he
said occurred because he feared she
no longer cared for him. The couple
had lived apart for about a month
ai;ho Karhu had visited his wife oc-
casionally.
Jealous. according 10 hts confes-
sion. Karhu quit work in the Ballard
khingle mill and prowled about the
wanamaker home for several
nights. spying on his wife. Altho
nothing occurred TO excite his suspi.
clons. he says he Tuesday night re.
solved to kin her.
Paid Last Visit
He took razor for his purpose
and paid the last visit Il intended
TO kin myself afterward." he said.
Tho couple spent the entire evening
quarrcling and retired at midnight
Mrs. Karhu slept finally. but karhu
remained awake. he said.
Shortly before morning. according
10 the police. Karhu got out of bed.
while his wife was still sleeping. Sc
cured the razor. which he had placed
under his pillow. and. leaning over
his wife. attacked her with the
weapon. Just at this moment Mrs.
Karhu woke up and put up a des-
perate struggle for her life.
In this struggle, the woman's
hands were badly cut and slashed.
several fingers being almost severed.
The Wanamaher family, sleeping
soundly. was unaware OF the tragic
event. which was disclosed when
Mrs. Wanamakor opened the maids
door. at $50.
Karhu left the house quietly and
wandered about kinnear park until
remorse and inability TO kill himself
forced him to give himself up.
Loved Her so Much
Il loved my wife so much. that
the thought Of her belonging 10 an
other man was intolerable. SO
spent one last night with her-and
killed her just as we were getting
up In the morning"
This is the text of Karhu's con
fession. according TO City Detectives
Samuel Simundson and w. A. Fuller.
who handled the case.
karhu said that he had wandered
about for days. half erazed by sus.
picion and jealousy. He had no idea
of definite rival. But he fancied
his wife's affections were waning.
and the thought sent him crazy"
detectives say he declared
An the time. a resolution TO kill.
first alice" and then himself. was
formulating, Tuesday. ne purchased
"A razor for this intention
THE only trouble was. cared too
much for her" he said. according TO
detectives. Il couldn't think of any.
thing else.
Thinking OF Her
while | was working, and at
night when | should have been
sleeping, was thinking of her. won.
dering what she was dong. and il
she was true to me. | fcresaw sep
aration And ! couldn't stand the
thought of this. either.
THE only solution that presented
itself, was to kill her, 80 that then,
at least. all doubts would be re
moved. Then. ] was going to kin
myself"
But after the crime, Karhu weak
ened, he told the police. lie could
not bring himself TO take his own
life. but had no thoughts OF becom.
lng fugitive and Attempting to
cyade the police.
After a day spent in kinnear