The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-08-06
Young Woman
Admits Hacking
Mother to Death
Young Woman and Sweetheart
Ordered Held for Jury for
First Degree Murder

~~~~~~ -
Chief of Police Cornelius ONeill,
calmly confessed today she hacked
her mother to death with Ratchet
while her young sweetheart cried
''Hit her again."
A late supper which delayed their
tennis game was blamed by the pair,
Chief O'Neill said, for the quarrel
between mother and daughter which
preceded the Staying in the kitchen,
of the MacKnight home last night.
O'Neill said the girls apparently un-.
governable temper had been the
cause of repeated verbal clashes be-
tween the two.
After signing statements describ-
ing the crime in detail, Chief O'Neill
said, the girl changed from tennis
clothes to a pink summary dress for
the arraignment at which she and
her companion, Donald Wightman,
Is, radio religious hour singer, were
ordered held for the grand jury on
first degree murder charges.
Girl, UncOncerned
Her unconcerned manner contrast
ed sharply with the extreme ner-
vousness of young Wightman as they
stood before Recorder Raymond J.
Cuddy. His hands were twitching as
he chung to a railing but the girl was
smiling affectionately at him during
ths brief session.
O'Neill said Wightman was the
first to break" after the pair were
arrested in Jersey City following a
ride to Somerville, during which
they stopped once to buy beer and
sandwiches and once to hug and kiss
each other. The girl confessed only
after being shown Wightman's sign
ed statement, O'Neill said.
GLADYS, have told the police the
truth, and want you to do that al
So" O'Nein quoted Wightman as
saying.
$50 what?" was her reply, the
chief said.
Later, O'Neill said, she told of the
killing, and events before and after
: it.
O'Neill said the girls story was
that her mother and been sharpen
ing bread knife, and had brandish-
ed it during the heated argument A
Ratchet which had been used to tack
a carpet lay nearby.
Struck Mother on Head
Wightman, woh had been in an
other room, rushed into the kitchen
and pinioned Mrs. MacKnight's
arms when he saw the knife in her
hand, they were quoted as saying.
The girl then picked up the Ratchet
and struck her mother on the head,
O'Neill said, then Wightman releas-
ed his hold and Mrs. MacKnight
slumped to the floor, moaning and
writhing.
"Hit her again." Wightman said,
and the girl bent over her mother
and hacked her to death, the confess
sions asserted.
After the Staying, the confession
said, the two showed the mothers
body under table, where it would
not be visible from the outside,
washed the blood from their hands,
and started out in car owned by the
girls father, Edgar MacKnight,
cable company official. Wightman's
father, Joseph, is steward at the
Robbins Reef Yacht club.
MacKnight found the body when
he returned from work
The pair then rode to Somerville,
the confession continued, but turned
around and drove to Jersey City,
where they were arrested.
Before leaving Bayonne, the state
ment said, the couple went to the
home of Miss Doris French, 10, a
friend of the girl. Gladys told Miss
French her mother was dead, and
Miss French and her parents adj
vised the couple to summon a ply
sicion. Miss Frenc htold police. today
that Gladys had told her Mrs. Mac
Knight was i'll, not dead
Once during the early morning
questioning, O'Neill said, the girl
smiled and said:
''You can have physician exam
inc my mind if you want to. am
sane"
The girl is an attractive blonde of
medium height. She is mannish and