Murder and Suicide
Ed Fenton Murders His Wife then Commits Suicide
Tragedy Occurred in Kitchen of Alton Hotel Last Tuesday Afternoon
Edward H. Fenton, a resident of the Orofino country, who had been working in and around Pullman for a number of months, shot and killed his wife, Bessie M. Fenton, and then committed suicide, last Tuesday afternoon, the deed
occurring in the kitchen of the Alton hotel in this city.
Domestic trouble had marred the family life of the Fentons for some time past, the drink habit of the husband having been responsible for the
most of the differences.
The family came to this city last spring, when Fenton was employed for several weeks on the street work, later going in the harvest field, and recently being with the McClure's threshing outfit.
Two weeks ago Mrs. Fenton returned to Orofino, taking the three younger children with her, a fourth child, a boy of fourteen, working with his father in the country.
The differences in the Fenton family, however, had come to a point where the husband and wife had agreed on a division of the personal property, the four horses, harness and wagon which Fenton was working being given to Mrs. Fenton.
Monday the lady, in with Marshal Noble, of Orofino, came to Pullman to get the team to drive through to Orofino, Mrs. Fenton having on Saturday filed a suit for divorce in the courts of Nez Perce County.
While in this city Mrs. Fenton was stopping at the Alton hotel, and Fenton went there Tuesday morning to attempt a reconciliation that would leave him in possesion of the team. Failing in this he returned to the country, and Noble was getting the horses together to bring in with him. A few minutes before he was ready to start, however, Fenton mounted a saddle pony and came toward Pullman. On his arrival in town, Fenton went to a hardware store where he purchased a 82-cal. revolver and box of cartridges and then went to the Alton hotel, where he found his wife in the kitchen assisting in canning pears.
Fenton first tried to persuade his wife to come outside where he could talk to her, but on her refusal Fenton entered the kitchen, and walking up to Mrs. Fenton, placed one hand on her shoulder and said'"Mamma, I want just one more word with you." The wife replied "It's no use, Ed., it will be the same old thing over again."
Mrs. Larrick, proprietress of the hotel, who was in the kitchen, saw the revolver in Fenton's hand, and called out to Mrs. Fenton to run, that Fenton was going to kill her. Fenton at once commenced shooting, the first bullet apparently going through the glass door, the wife making a desperate struggle to turn the gun away.
Mrs. Larrick ran outside for assistance, but when men arrived on the scene Fenton and his wife were both lying on the floor, Mrs. Fenton shot in the head above the left ear, death being almost instantaneous, and Fenton shot in the right temple, the bullet resting under the scalp on the
left side of the head. Fenton lived about four hours, dying Tuesday evening, but never regained consciousness.
The gun with which the deed was done lay on the floor with four chambers empty, one shot having gone through the door, one through Mrs. Fenton's head, another through her arm just below the shoulder, while the fourth had been used by the murderer upon himself.
No new facts were developed at the inquest held Tuesday evening, except that a note was found in Fenton's pocket, written upon the back of a circular letter, reading as follows; "A word to the public about this premeditated deed. My wife and I have quarreled for two months and cannot
reach a peaceable conclusion at all. Hence the results. Good bye, children, and everyone else. E. H. Fenton." "P.S.—l have an insurance policy in the Orofino bank. Collect this for the children. My wife has a place in the east which she is about to sell. Also give the children the place on Whiskey creek meadows. Edward H. Fenton."
The two bodies were placed in caskets and taken to Lewiston, where they were interred in the Lewiston cemetery.
Fenton was 42 years of age, Mrs. Fenton being 33, and they were married in Missouri 15 years ago. They leave four children, all sons, the oldest fourteen and the youngest less than four years old. Mrs. Fenton would have become a mother again in a short time.
Fenton had a brother at Orofino, and Mrs. Fenton leaves a brother, Arthur Wilcox, at Colton.
Pullman herald. (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, September 08, 1906, Image 1 Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085488/1906-09-08/ed-1/seq-1/
Their Sons:
Howard Julius Fenton 1892 – 1918
Arthur C. Fenton 1894 – 1956
Ralph H. Fenton 1898 –
Richard Russell Fenton 1903 – 1958
His Parents:
Thomas W. Fenton 1832 – 1901
Amelia (Harriet) I. Martin 1848 – 1874
Ed Fenton Murders His Wife then Commits Suicide
Tragedy Occurred in Kitchen of Alton Hotel Last Tuesday Afternoon
Edward H. Fenton, a resident of the Orofino country, who had been working in and around Pullman for a number of months, shot and killed his wife, Bessie M. Fenton, and then committed suicide, last Tuesday afternoon, the deed
occurring in the kitchen of the Alton hotel in this city.
Domestic trouble had marred the family life of the Fentons for some time past, the drink habit of the husband having been responsible for the
most of the differences.
The family came to this city last spring, when Fenton was employed for several weeks on the street work, later going in the harvest field, and recently being with the McClure's threshing outfit.
Two weeks ago Mrs. Fenton returned to Orofino, taking the three younger children with her, a fourth child, a boy of fourteen, working with his father in the country.
The differences in the Fenton family, however, had come to a point where the husband and wife had agreed on a division of the personal property, the four horses, harness and wagon which Fenton was working being given to Mrs. Fenton.
Monday the lady, in with Marshal Noble, of Orofino, came to Pullman to get the team to drive through to Orofino, Mrs. Fenton having on Saturday filed a suit for divorce in the courts of Nez Perce County.
While in this city Mrs. Fenton was stopping at the Alton hotel, and Fenton went there Tuesday morning to attempt a reconciliation that would leave him in possesion of the team. Failing in this he returned to the country, and Noble was getting the horses together to bring in with him. A few minutes before he was ready to start, however, Fenton mounted a saddle pony and came toward Pullman. On his arrival in town, Fenton went to a hardware store where he purchased a 82-cal. revolver and box of cartridges and then went to the Alton hotel, where he found his wife in the kitchen assisting in canning pears.
Fenton first tried to persuade his wife to come outside where he could talk to her, but on her refusal Fenton entered the kitchen, and walking up to Mrs. Fenton, placed one hand on her shoulder and said'"Mamma, I want just one more word with you." The wife replied "It's no use, Ed., it will be the same old thing over again."
Mrs. Larrick, proprietress of the hotel, who was in the kitchen, saw the revolver in Fenton's hand, and called out to Mrs. Fenton to run, that Fenton was going to kill her. Fenton at once commenced shooting, the first bullet apparently going through the glass door, the wife making a desperate struggle to turn the gun away.
Mrs. Larrick ran outside for assistance, but when men arrived on the scene Fenton and his wife were both lying on the floor, Mrs. Fenton shot in the head above the left ear, death being almost instantaneous, and Fenton shot in the right temple, the bullet resting under the scalp on the
left side of the head. Fenton lived about four hours, dying Tuesday evening, but never regained consciousness.
The gun with which the deed was done lay on the floor with four chambers empty, one shot having gone through the door, one through Mrs. Fenton's head, another through her arm just below the shoulder, while the fourth had been used by the murderer upon himself.
No new facts were developed at the inquest held Tuesday evening, except that a note was found in Fenton's pocket, written upon the back of a circular letter, reading as follows; "A word to the public about this premeditated deed. My wife and I have quarreled for two months and cannot
reach a peaceable conclusion at all. Hence the results. Good bye, children, and everyone else. E. H. Fenton." "P.S.—l have an insurance policy in the Orofino bank. Collect this for the children. My wife has a place in the east which she is about to sell. Also give the children the place on Whiskey creek meadows. Edward H. Fenton."
The two bodies were placed in caskets and taken to Lewiston, where they were interred in the Lewiston cemetery.
Fenton was 42 years of age, Mrs. Fenton being 33, and they were married in Missouri 15 years ago. They leave four children, all sons, the oldest fourteen and the youngest less than four years old. Mrs. Fenton would have become a mother again in a short time.
Fenton had a brother at Orofino, and Mrs. Fenton leaves a brother, Arthur Wilcox, at Colton.
Pullman herald. (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, September 08, 1906, Image 1 Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085488/1906-09-08/ed-1/seq-1/
Their Sons:
Howard Julius Fenton 1892 – 1918
Arthur C. Fenton 1894 – 1956
Ralph H. Fenton 1898 –
Richard Russell Fenton 1903 – 1958
His Parents:
Thomas W. Fenton 1832 – 1901
Amelia (Harriet) I. Martin 1848 – 1874
Murder and Suicide
Ed Fenton Murders His Wife then Commits Suicide
Tragedy Occurred in Kitchen of Alton Hotel Last Tuesday Afternoon
Edward H. Fenton, a resident of the Orofino country, who had been working in and around Pullman for a number of months, shot and killed his wife, Bessie M. Fenton, and then committed suicide, last Tuesday afternoon, the deed
occurring in the kitchen of the Alton hotel in this city.
Domestic trouble had marred the family life of the Fentons for some time past, the drink habit of the husband having been responsible for the
most of the differences.
The family came to this city last spring, when Fenton was employed for several weeks on the street work, later going in the harvest field, and recently being with the McClure's threshing outfit.
Two weeks ago Mrs. Fenton returned to Orofino, taking the three younger children with her, a fourth child, a boy of fourteen, working with his father in the country.
The differences in the Fenton family, however, had come to a point where the husband and wife had agreed on a division of the personal property, the four horses, harness and wagon which Fenton was working being given to Mrs. Fenton.
Monday the lady, in with Marshal Noble, of Orofino, came to Pullman to get the team to drive through to Orofino, Mrs. Fenton having on Saturday filed a suit for divorce in the courts of Nez Perce County.
While in this city Mrs. Fenton was stopping at the Alton hotel, and Fenton went there Tuesday morning to attempt a reconciliation that would leave him in possesion of the team. Failing in this he returned to the country, and Noble was getting the horses together to bring in with him. A few minutes before he was ready to start, however, Fenton mounted a saddle pony and came toward Pullman. On his arrival in town, Fenton went to a hardware store where he purchased a 82-cal. revolver and box of cartridges and then went to the Alton hotel, where he found his wife in the kitchen assisting in canning pears.
Fenton first tried to persuade his wife to come outside where he could talk to her, but on her refusal Fenton entered the kitchen, and walking up to Mrs. Fenton, placed one hand on her shoulder and said'"Mamma, I want just one more word with you." The wife replied "It's no use, Ed., it will be the same old thing over again."
Mrs. Larrick, proprietress of the hotel, who was in the kitchen, saw the revolver in Fenton's hand, and called out to Mrs. Fenton to run, that Fenton was going to kill her. Fenton at once commenced shooting, the first bullet apparently going through the glass door, the wife making a desperate struggle to turn the gun away.
Mrs. Larrick ran outside for assistance, but when men arrived on the scene Fenton and his wife were both lying on the floor, Mrs. Fenton shot in the head above the left ear, death being almost instantaneous, and Fenton shot in the right temple, the bullet resting under the scalp on the
left side of the head. Fenton lived about four hours, dying Tuesday evening, but never regained consciousness.
The gun with which the deed was done lay on the floor with four chambers empty, one shot having gone through the door, one through Mrs. Fenton's head, another through her arm just below the shoulder, while the fourth had been used by the murderer upon himself.
No new facts were developed at the inquest held Tuesday evening, except that a note was found in Fenton's pocket, written upon the back of a circular letter, reading as follows; "A word to the public about this premeditated deed. My wife and I have quarreled for two months and cannot
reach a peaceable conclusion at all. Hence the results. Good bye, children, and everyone else. E. H. Fenton." "P.S.—l have an insurance policy in the Orofino bank. Collect this for the children. My wife has a place in the east which she is about to sell. Also give the children the place on Whiskey creek meadows. Edward H. Fenton."
The two bodies were placed in caskets and taken to Lewiston, where they were interred in the Lewiston cemetery.
Fenton was 42 years of age, Mrs. Fenton being 33, and they were married in Missouri 15 years ago. They leave four children, all sons, the oldest fourteen and the youngest less than four years old. Mrs. Fenton would have become a mother again in a short time.
Fenton had a brother at Orofino, and Mrs. Fenton leaves a brother, Arthur Wilcox, at Colton.
Pullman herald. (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, September 08, 1906, Image 1 Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085488/1906-09-08/ed-1/seq-1/
Their Sons:
Howard Julius Fenton 1892 – 1918
Arthur C. Fenton 1894 – 1956
Ralph H. Fenton 1898 –
Richard Russell Fenton 1903 – 1958
His Parents:
Thomas W. Fenton 1832 – 1901
Amelia (Harriet) I. Martin 1848 – 1874
Ed Fenton Murders His Wife then Commits Suicide
Tragedy Occurred in Kitchen of Alton Hotel Last Tuesday Afternoon
Edward H. Fenton, a resident of the Orofino country, who had been working in and around Pullman for a number of months, shot and killed his wife, Bessie M. Fenton, and then committed suicide, last Tuesday afternoon, the deed
occurring in the kitchen of the Alton hotel in this city.
Domestic trouble had marred the family life of the Fentons for some time past, the drink habit of the husband having been responsible for the
most of the differences.
The family came to this city last spring, when Fenton was employed for several weeks on the street work, later going in the harvest field, and recently being with the McClure's threshing outfit.
Two weeks ago Mrs. Fenton returned to Orofino, taking the three younger children with her, a fourth child, a boy of fourteen, working with his father in the country.
The differences in the Fenton family, however, had come to a point where the husband and wife had agreed on a division of the personal property, the four horses, harness and wagon which Fenton was working being given to Mrs. Fenton.
Monday the lady, in with Marshal Noble, of Orofino, came to Pullman to get the team to drive through to Orofino, Mrs. Fenton having on Saturday filed a suit for divorce in the courts of Nez Perce County.
While in this city Mrs. Fenton was stopping at the Alton hotel, and Fenton went there Tuesday morning to attempt a reconciliation that would leave him in possesion of the team. Failing in this he returned to the country, and Noble was getting the horses together to bring in with him. A few minutes before he was ready to start, however, Fenton mounted a saddle pony and came toward Pullman. On his arrival in town, Fenton went to a hardware store where he purchased a 82-cal. revolver and box of cartridges and then went to the Alton hotel, where he found his wife in the kitchen assisting in canning pears.
Fenton first tried to persuade his wife to come outside where he could talk to her, but on her refusal Fenton entered the kitchen, and walking up to Mrs. Fenton, placed one hand on her shoulder and said'"Mamma, I want just one more word with you." The wife replied "It's no use, Ed., it will be the same old thing over again."
Mrs. Larrick, proprietress of the hotel, who was in the kitchen, saw the revolver in Fenton's hand, and called out to Mrs. Fenton to run, that Fenton was going to kill her. Fenton at once commenced shooting, the first bullet apparently going through the glass door, the wife making a desperate struggle to turn the gun away.
Mrs. Larrick ran outside for assistance, but when men arrived on the scene Fenton and his wife were both lying on the floor, Mrs. Fenton shot in the head above the left ear, death being almost instantaneous, and Fenton shot in the right temple, the bullet resting under the scalp on the
left side of the head. Fenton lived about four hours, dying Tuesday evening, but never regained consciousness.
The gun with which the deed was done lay on the floor with four chambers empty, one shot having gone through the door, one through Mrs. Fenton's head, another through her arm just below the shoulder, while the fourth had been used by the murderer upon himself.
No new facts were developed at the inquest held Tuesday evening, except that a note was found in Fenton's pocket, written upon the back of a circular letter, reading as follows; "A word to the public about this premeditated deed. My wife and I have quarreled for two months and cannot
reach a peaceable conclusion at all. Hence the results. Good bye, children, and everyone else. E. H. Fenton." "P.S.—l have an insurance policy in the Orofino bank. Collect this for the children. My wife has a place in the east which she is about to sell. Also give the children the place on Whiskey creek meadows. Edward H. Fenton."
The two bodies were placed in caskets and taken to Lewiston, where they were interred in the Lewiston cemetery.
Fenton was 42 years of age, Mrs. Fenton being 33, and they were married in Missouri 15 years ago. They leave four children, all sons, the oldest fourteen and the youngest less than four years old. Mrs. Fenton would have become a mother again in a short time.
Fenton had a brother at Orofino, and Mrs. Fenton leaves a brother, Arthur Wilcox, at Colton.
Pullman herald. (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, September 08, 1906, Image 1 Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085488/1906-09-08/ed-1/seq-1/
Their Sons:
Howard Julius Fenton 1892 – 1918
Arthur C. Fenton 1894 – 1956
Ralph H. Fenton 1898 –
Richard Russell Fenton 1903 – 1958
His Parents:
Thomas W. Fenton 1832 – 1901
Amelia (Harriet) I. Martin 1848 – 1874
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