The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-11-20
PORTER KILLS
WOMAN AFTER
JEALOUS RAGE
Garage Man Commits
Suicide Following
Fatal Shooting

NJ Clemens, Mhh.-The hnal
chapter OF z romance which had
been woven together with the gos-
samer threads OF interraeial love
wa written here Tuesday when
the two characters. s,illed in death.
rode ont o. this internationally
knnwu watering place each going
10 al. last resting place
T,.e hodS of william Halfway.
VIII disd last Thursday from self
inflicted wounds after firing seven
snci, whicn ,iecirined and rocked
the ~ .ldcnts 81 this town was TAX
en- to Calvs ston Texas where 1t
viii be hurled along side those OF
his anc, stors The body Of Miss
Lillian " Willie white. victim of
Railways seven bullets, was TAX
IN 70 Dundee. III 70 be buried in
the home OF her nativity
Their Side Untold
Their voices hushed In death, the
two principals in the tragedy which
brought pain and sorrow in its
wake 10 faithful wife. and de-
pendent parents, are unable 10 re-
late the trouble leading up 10 the
shatterinr of their romance Meth
er can they tell Of the incidents sur
rounding its inceUtion.
Although bitterly denied by re-
latives of the Miss Willig tina, there
had been romance between the
Two. tho grapevine telegraph sys-
TEN had spread the news abroad
that love had lowered beneath the
weight OF disapproval.
pathway, who was emplpyed as
"A Porter AZ the Stewart Sales and
Service company. shot Miss Willig,
25 bookkeeper at the firm, seven
times last Thursday noon as Miss
While was driving ont Of the
garage Halfway. who rad been
hiding behind a car. walked over
and sna,chcd the door Of ner car
open and emptied his revolver. He
fhcn put in another cartridge and
fred again She died Saturday
morning
He fled from the building. going
70 the bank OF the Clinton River
where he turned the gun on him
self he was AZ years Of age.
Planned Murder
That Halfway had planned the
murder and suicide was eudenc-
ed by the testimony OF hardware
store owner and an insurance
broker. Halfway had made two
trips 10 the hardware store Thurs
day morning 10 purchase cartrid-
ses He visited the office Of the
insurance broker 10 inquire about
a suicide clause In his insurance
policy
After checking his insurance.
and purchasing the cartridges.
returned 70 the garage
and went TO his locker on the
ground floor.
Mrs. Emma Halfway. who Is en-
ployed IN Detroit. drove into the
garag, just rs police were remov-
Inc Miss Willig from the automo-
bile.
Robert j Stewart. owner OF the
sales company, said that Hath
way. who had been employed there
for seven years. was efficient.
courteous and honest. He carried
the keys 10 the entire building and
was highly considered by all.
A note found In the purse OF Miss
Willig read as follows:
William Halfway has been
propositioning me and when re-
fused TO go out with him he threat
ened 10 kill me. have told one
other person OF this and ne knows
who told. Now he threatens 20
make II a double affair.
"He says that l dare not refuse
10 go out with him because OF the
groundless talk that went around
several years ago. I believe his
threats are bluff 20 force me into
going out with him.
Hc-ever. II case se should hifl
me I wish 70 leave this explans-
lion. and I would rather DE than
10 out with him.
IAN my possessions are 10 so 20
my parents.