The Washington times., 1924-01-15
WIFE Slayer To.
FACE FIRING
SQUAD
Former D. G. Man TO Die in
Utah for Staying and
Burning His Wife.


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan.
15.-The heart Of Omer Woods,
formerly Of Washington, D. G.,
will be the target here Friday Of
an executioner's squad Of rifle
men. Woods is going to his
death for one Of the most horri-
BILE crimes in the history Of this
State.
Woods, who came here in 1921
from the National Capital, where
he held a post in the Internal
Revenue Bureau, was convicted
Of burning his wife to death in
a bed saturated with benzine.
The State charged he murdered
his wife for $4,000, the extent
to which her life was insured.
Protests Innocence.
In his cell in the prison here,
Woods says little. To visitors, his
words are merely these:
II am innocent. There 10 moth.
ing / can say. Burglars killed my
wife, I had nothing to do with her
death"
When he sits Friday tightly
bound, with five rifles pointed at
his heart-a method of destruction
he chose in preference to hanging
familiar with his case be.
lieve he will confess, provided a
confession is not forthcoming be.
fore then.
Loses Years Fight.
For more than q year Woods has
avoided the penalty, but the State
supreme court has spoken and the
arch.criminal Of Salt Lake City
police records must die Friday.
When firemen rushed into the
suite occupied by Woods ct the
Pauline apartments, in this city, on
January 9. 1929. they found the
body of Mrs. MAretto Woods lyine
IN the flaming bed. She was bound
hand and foot. while q handker.
chief had been used az q gag.
The odor Of smoke attracted the
attention Of Mrs. H. s. Catrell. pro
prietor Of the apartment, to the
rooms occupied by the Woods fam.
'ly. As she opened the door lead.
ing to the hall. Woods toppled out
ana fell to the floor, apparently un
conscious or almost completely over.
come by smoke.
Blamed Attack On Robbers.
A strand Of electric light wire
which had been wound around
carried to another floor Of the apart.
s.RNu
on his head, and one eye was black.
ened.
Upon being revived, Woods told
Of q sudden attack by two robbers
who entered the suite ~ he and
his wife were seated ct Q table eat.
Ing lunch. After being ordered TO
hold up his hands, Woods contends,
he was struck on the head with q
club by one Of the men and rem.
dered unconscious.
He told the police he had q faint
recollection Of coming to In the bath
room, with his hands bound behind
him, and of staggering to the door
leading to the hall.
Had Wife Insured.
A police investigation brought out
sufficient contradictory facts TO war
rant Woods being held. Later a
roroner's jury returned q verdict of
murder, contending at the same time
that evidence Of guilt pointed to the
husband.
At the trial in July, 1892, It was
out that Woods had made
Inquiry at offices Of life and acct
al nnAnV - %
policies for his wife. One policy for
$40, ZOO was taken out on her life,
and on December 81. 1921, he took
cut a second policy, this time for
So 900, but carrying double indemnity
In case Of death by burning. No
premium was paid on the smaller
policy until January 8. 1879, three
days before his wife's tragic death.
Cash In Pockets.
Although Woods told the police
the two alleged robbers had taken
SIS from him, nearly 500 In cash
was found In his pockets. No
jewelry or other articles Of value
in the rooms had been disturbed.
Nobody in the apartment. not.
withstanding the fact that II was
shortly after the noon hour, had
seen two strange men enter or
leave the rooms occupied by the
Woods.
Evidence was introduced show
ing that Woods had purchased 4
quart Of benzine at q nearby drug
store q few days before the murder.
There was no evidence that Mrs.
Woods had made the slightest at.
tempt to free herself from her
bonds. or roll from the burning
bed. Physicians declared that she
had been killed, either by a blow
on the head or strangulation, be-
fore being placed on the bed and
the match applied. She was q fraiI
woman and said to have been sui.
ferin1 from tuberculosis. Two of
her front teeth had been knocked
out.
Hit Her With Bottle.
While this point was not brought
out at the final trial. the police be.
lieve Woods struck his wife with
q milk bottle while they were eat.
ing lunch. This bottle was foun1
on the table, and there was evi.
dence Of a struggle having taken
place In the room.
Woods displayed no emotion at
the time of his arrest nor during
any Of the proceedings leading up
to his conviction by q jury on
July 4, 1922. The same may be
said of q daughter, Tee Lee Woods.
so far as the tragic death Of her
mother lie concerned. She was
absent from home attending the
University Of Utah at the time Of
the crime. She has remained firm.
ly convinced Of the innocence OF
her father, but was unmoved by
the verdict Of guilt.
Following the conviction and
aentAnca Of death In the loxx,ai.