The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-23
SLAYS WOMAN
TO GET SMALL
XMAS SAVINGS
Thomas CotherUood
Confesses to Killing
Mrs. SharpIes.

Chicago, Nov. 23.-Thomas Cath
erwood, arrested yesterday, and
charged with the murder of his
sister-in-law, Mrs. Betty Sharples,
%. confessed early today, accord
ing to the police. Robbery was
the motive ascribed by the police
when her bank book, which had
contained $65, was found partly
burned in the kitchen stove. Her
husband said she had been saving
this sum for Christmas shopping
Husband Finds Body.
She was found strangled by her
husband when he returned from
work Beside ner was her baby
IN its crib. In her lap was some
fancy work she was making for
Christmas presents.
A short while later the police
arrested Catherwood on suspicion
and held him after a five-foot cord
was found in his pockets. In the
knots of the cord, according to the
police. were long black hairs SIM
liar to Mrs. Sharples'.
Money in Tobacco Can.
Catherwood told the police that
the Sharples FAMILY had moved
here from Springfield. Ill, his own
home, about year ago
He said, according to the police,
that he had been going to the
Sharples home to visit when he
saw the money and it occurred to
him that he might strangle Mrs.
SharpleS and steal it without sus-
p1cion resting upon himself Fol-
lowing his confession he took
tobacco can froIl his pocket, empt-
led the tobacco, and took from the
can the stolen money.
Another Baby Expected.
Mrs. Sharples, as she rocked the
cradle of her 13-months-old child.
worked on tiny garments for an
other child, expected within a
month, according to the story the
police say Catherwood told them.
The Sharples and Catherwood
families came from Springfield
about a year ago Mrs. Sharples
and Mrs. Catherwood were sisters,
and Mrs. Catherwood's mother had
married Catherwood's father.
For weeks Catherwood had been
out OF a job and his wife finally
said she would obtain work to sup
port the family. 1t was concern
for his wife and dread of her going
to work which, Catherwood told
the police, forced him TO wind a
rope about Mrs. Sharples' neck and
steal the s65 in her bank book
Poverty "WOrried" Him.
MY poverty worried me-" Cath
erwood told the police. When my
wife said she could get work,
couldn't bear 1t. Yesterday I went
to visit my sister-in-law. A neigh
Dor came to borrow some money
and I saw the bank book.
I thought there was at least
5000. I picked an argument with
Betty and grabbed her by the
throat and wound the rope around
her neck"
night with his brother while the
pair were laughing and joking in a
barber shop.
"Catherwood seemed to be with
out feeling in telling his story"
Sergeant James Fleming, who made
the arrest, said.
a corOner's jury held CatherWood
for murder.
Has Police Record.
Investigation of his record by
police showed that he served a
term in the county Jail at Spring
field. Ill, in 1918. for stealing a
watch.
Catherwood told how. the police
said, he went to the Sharples home,
hungry and out of work, and how
his victim cooked a breakfast for
him. He told her, he said. that if
he didn't get work soon he and his
wife would be destitute
(COntinued on Page Fleyen.1