The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-28
WOMAN is SLAIN
WHILE CHILDREN
LAY ILL IN BED
Body Is Found by Husband
Hidden in Cellar Closet.
Feeling Running High Against
Negro Under Arrest.
BODY HORRIBLY MUTILATED
Evidence Shows Victim Was
Dragged From Upper Floor.
Children, Sick in Bed With
Measles, Heard No Noise.
Feeling Running High Against
Negro Under Arrest.
BODY HORRIBLY MUTILATED

Orange, n. J., Dec 2S.-William
Battle, negro, this afternoon confessed
assaulting and killing Mrs. Eleanor
Brighams mother of three. and then
crowding- her body into a closet in
her home yesterday. HIS confession
followed Identification of finger prints
1 on Mrs. Brigham's body and the closet
where it was found as Identical with
Battles.
/ Battles confession was made when
he was confronted with the garments
/ of the murdered woman, He prob
ably will be arraigned tomorrow.
Orange, y. J., Dec. 2s.-Muttering
citizens around the county Jail today
threatened summary vengeance upon
William L. Battles, 19-year- negro.
who was grilIed by detectives thruout
the night for information bearing on
Louise Brigham, wife of a prosperous
business man and mother of three
young children. Tow ill with measles.
whose body was found huddled in a
preserves closet of the basement of
her home last night by he, Mortified
husband upon his return from his Of
flee.
The negro was today Identified by
the 7-year-old daughter of the slain
woman as one VIII had been employed
crime
1t was revealed also that RS. Brig
ham sustained a frightful cut behind
the head, cuts over each eye and her
throat showed signs of strangulation-
1t is believed the murderer used a
rope from a swing that Mrs! Brigham
had just used to rock her babfes. in
The woman was outraged by her as
sailant. the police said, and then
dragged to the closet. dying in a cor
ner of the closet. clamped under a
drain pipe.
Battles denied all knowledge of the4
crime. The police, however, said that
he bore scratches. indicating that he
had been in a struggle.
Victim of Degenerate.
Authorities after an examination of
the body, proceeded on the theory
that Mrs. Brigham had been the vic 4
tim of "a degenerate
Brigham collapsed after he had |
found his Eife's body, and today was |
nearly wild with grief He is a well |
known and prosperous business man.
Mrs. Brigham was a good looking |
woman, quiet and domestic and a de- /
voted mother to three little children,
who were asleep when their mother |
met her frightful fate.
The children were all confined to 4
their room up sta6rs by measles. They 4
told their father that they had not 1
heard any sound
The police say the evidence is that /
kitchen and dragged to the cellar. or /
was attacked suddenly by a concealed /
aSSailant in the cellar when she went L
there on some household errand.
There were marks on the cellar 4
floor showing that Mrs. Brigham had 4
been dragged for several yards.
StrangIed TO Death.
An autopsy on the body of the wo-
man was begun this morning by
County Physician DR.. George L. War
rem He found that welts on the vic
TINS throat were indicative of the
brutal grasp of a stranger who may
have used rope or a strand of rags.
Perhaps, the physician said, the marks
were caused by bare. rough hands.
The body was found by Brigham
after he returned from his place of
business, the varnish concern of Debe-
Voise K Company, Brooklyn, last eve
ming The man went into the chill
dren's room, awakening them.
where's mama ?" The children
did not know, had not heard her for
a long time.
Brigham began to explore the house,
but did not think of the cellar. He
went to the neighbors. No sign, no
one had seen her. The man took
neiEhbOrs and detectives systematical-
" searched the neighborhood. They
found no trace.
Suddenly Brigham thought of the
cellar. He and a detective rushed
there. The sleuth noticed marks lead
ing to the preserve closet. The door
was locked. Brigham seized an axe
and broke down the door His wife s
cut and bruised body with clothing
met the husbands eyes and sent him
reeliQE hack in horror.