Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-08-24
WINE CAUSED HIM.
TO MURDER BRIDE.
SAYS MORRIS MAN.
FARMER MAKES PARTIAL CON-
FEss,oN OF NUMBERING YOUNG
WlFE--pENIEs sATuRATlNc
cLoTHlNe AND SETTING 1T ON
FIRE.

Morris, ILL.,, Aug. 24.-Thomas Cust,
ing, "a, scion of wealthy family Of
Grundy county farmers, made partial
confession yesterday to the staying
of his wife. Mrs. Marie Gushing, IL.
bride OF four months, according Ia
county officials at Morris.
He made the admissions to States
Attorney Frank Flood and Sherlh
James Mack after coroner's jury
had returned verdict ordering tina,
he be held to the grand jury without
bail on charge OF murder.
n had had a drink of wine.
vaguely remember of striking her
twice. cannot remember what
struck her with or what happened
after that" he is alleged to have
confessed.
He insisted that ii he later satG'
rated her clothing with gasoline and
ignited it he had no recollection Of it.
According to Mr.. Flood the ac.
oused man admitted perjuring himself
before the coroner's jury in his test'
mony that he did not intlict the sca'p
wounds found upon the body OF MS
wife.
with this as an entering wedge,
both the sheriff and states attorney
believe full confession will be wruns
from the young farmer soon.
In an effort to get detailed comics
sion from him he was subjected to a
merciless grilling last night by the
~. 90 of
Gushing killed his Wife said
States Attorney Flood There Is no
Yonger any doubt Of that. believe
the way is paved for speedy, COM
plete confession"
Cushing was placed in a cell in the
county Jail Immediately after the coro-
ner's verdict had been returned
He paced the floor necessarily and
fnuttered to himself
When Mrs. Wyeth, wife of the
taller, took his food to him at noon
yesterday, she talked with him about
the verdict of the coroner's jury.
Z Her version of the conversation is
as follows
aThey did not believe your test
mony." said Mrs. Wyeth. There was
no one in the house but you. and the
wounds on your wife's head were mol
hccounted for by you"
II The young farmer showed back his
Tray of food.
81 struck her." he blurted out
hit her twice had had a drink o
wine and didn't know what was
doing"
Il He resumed pacing his cell.
nv "Send for the states attorney ant
sheriff :, he said. 81 want to tell then
the truth. ! can't stand it any longer
Sheriff Mack annd States Attorne,
flood hurried to the county jail II
them, they say. the young farmer re
heated the admission that he strucf
his wife.
vainly the two officials endeavoret
to get him to say that after beatin.
his wife into insensibility he place
her on a bed saturated her. clothln'
with gasoline and touched a mattel
10 it,
Il don't remember. | don't remen
Der" was his stereotyped reply.
n The confession of Cushing, accord
ing to States Attorney Flood reveal
1.-The most sordid crime in the histor,
of Grundy county.
q Mrs Cushing died Saturday follow
aing fire which destroyed her HON
on a farm ten miles southeast OF Mei
iris. James McDermott who was lal
ing tile on an adjoining farm, carrie
Her unconscious form from the burr
ing house. Her husband, he testified
APPARENTLY was making no efforts
4 save his wife.
Mrs. Cushing was hurried to tn
N hospital in Morris. She returned
consciousness for just moment an
cried, This win Kill me-" She die
Y within an hour after reaching the no
pital
n The coroner's autopsy revealed Sc