*Published August 20, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
RHOTEN FUNERAL AT SPRINGPORT
Henry County Man Committed Suicide After Killing Wife Near Connersville.
TO BURY WIFE AT LAUREL
Connersville News Gives Detailed Account Of Double Tragedy Saturday Morning - Domestic Trouble.
----------
The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, of near Springport, who committed suicide after killings his wife, Mrs. Josie Wilson Rhoten, on a road between Connersville and Laurel, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, will be held at the Springport church, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be made at the Mt. Summit cemetery.
The remains of Mrs. Rhoten were taken to Laurel, the home of her parents and relatives, and funeral services and burial will take place there.
----------
The following is the story of the double tragedy as told by the Connersville News of Saturday evening:
A double tragedy which will make the bend in the Laurel road below the Tobias Smith bridge, three and a half miles below the city, a ghastly spot as long as recollection lasts, occurred there at 10 o'clock this morning. As a result of it, Lawrence W. Rhoten, aged fifty-four, of Prairie township, Henry county, and his wife, Josie Wilson Rhoten, are dead. The bodies lay in the chapel of the Charles Myers undertaking establishment from midday onward. This afternoon it was not yet surly decided as to where they would be taken, nor as to what manner of funeral arrangements would be made.
The husband shot his wife in the back of the head with a 32 caliber revolver. He fired three times at her. One shot went wild. She threw out her right hand and probably seized the barrel of the revolver. The hand was blasted by the powder, and the bullet tore through the top of the auto in which she sat. The second bullet probably struck her in the back of the head, near the place where the third one was also struck. Rhoten fired the fourth shot into his own forehead.
Married Only Short Time.
Rhoten and his wife were married only a few weeks ago. Each of them had been married before. The woman lives in Laurel. She was a sister of Mrs. Andy Fey, and was known to everyone in the village. Some of her relatives are said to have opposed her marriage to Rhoten, but they were married, notwithstanding. He was a resident of a farm, not very far from Newcastle. They went there to live. A short time ago some trouble arose between them, and the wife came back to Laurel. A divorce action had been filed by the wife in Newcastle. She alleged that her husband's three sons - sons of his first marriage - abused her in the severest manner, and that their father permitted it.
Two days ago Rhoten came in his touring car through Connersville, went to Laurel and visited his wife. What all occurred is not to be known. But the appearances were in a fair way to patch up or bridge over their differences. At any rate, this morning they came up to Connersville in the automobile. They were there only a short time. It is believed Rhoten bought a two-ounce bottle of carbolic acid somewhere in the city. At any rate, he had a bottle when his body was found. It was full and had not been unwrapped.
Heard Four Shots
Mrs. Tobias Smith, whose home is not far distant from the bridge, beyond which the killing occurred, was out on the lawn at the time. Though it was a good ways off, she saw the automobile emerge from the bridge, pull to the side of the road, which angles westward, past a jungle of small brush, and finally stop. Then she saw Rhoten get out of the car. She saw him gesticulate, and heard distinctly the report of four shots. Whether or not he actually grappled with his wife, Mrs. Smith is not sure, but plainly there was a desperate brief encounter. One shot flew wild, the other two struck the back of the woman's head, and the third snuffed out the murderer's own life. He sank down, beside the rear wheel of his car, and was lying there, not quite dead, a few moments later when Emery Pike came along from the south, in his automobile and halted before the ghastly combination.
The wife's body lay or hung out over the auto door on the right side. The man was breathing, that was all. The coroner was summoned. The alarm was given and in a manner of minutes several people were on the scene. The man died at the roadside, where he was lifted by Mr. Pike.
The woman was a few years younger than her husband. He is reputed to have been a very well-to-do farmer. His home was east of Springport, and it was there that he and his wife lived, during the brief time that they did live together.
These particulars sum up practically all that is known of this terrifying crime, one of the blackest and most brutal to occur in Fayette county for many years. There were rumors, early today, that Mr. and Mrs. Rhoten had gone to this spot in execution of a suicide pact, and that both died willingly. However, there seems no indication that the woman wanted to die. On the contrary, it appears that she fought as she could, to save herself from the inhuman determination of her husband.
*Published August 21, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
SPRINGPORT, Ind., Aug. 21 - The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, who killed his wife and himself Saturday morning on the road near Connersville, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Springport church. Interment was made at Mt. Summit.
RHOTEN FUNERAL AT SPRINGPORT
Henry County Man Committed Suicide After Killing Wife Near Connersville.
TO BURY WIFE AT LAUREL
Connersville News Gives Detailed Account Of Double Tragedy Saturday Morning - Domestic Trouble.
----------
The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, of near Springport, who committed suicide after killings his wife, Mrs. Josie Wilson Rhoten, on a road between Connersville and Laurel, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, will be held at the Springport church, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be made at the Mt. Summit cemetery.
The remains of Mrs. Rhoten were taken to Laurel, the home of her parents and relatives, and funeral services and burial will take place there.
----------
The following is the story of the double tragedy as told by the Connersville News of Saturday evening:
A double tragedy which will make the bend in the Laurel road below the Tobias Smith bridge, three and a half miles below the city, a ghastly spot as long as recollection lasts, occurred there at 10 o'clock this morning. As a result of it, Lawrence W. Rhoten, aged fifty-four, of Prairie township, Henry county, and his wife, Josie Wilson Rhoten, are dead. The bodies lay in the chapel of the Charles Myers undertaking establishment from midday onward. This afternoon it was not yet surly decided as to where they would be taken, nor as to what manner of funeral arrangements would be made.
The husband shot his wife in the back of the head with a 32 caliber revolver. He fired three times at her. One shot went wild. She threw out her right hand and probably seized the barrel of the revolver. The hand was blasted by the powder, and the bullet tore through the top of the auto in which she sat. The second bullet probably struck her in the back of the head, near the place where the third one was also struck. Rhoten fired the fourth shot into his own forehead.
Married Only Short Time.
Rhoten and his wife were married only a few weeks ago. Each of them had been married before. The woman lives in Laurel. She was a sister of Mrs. Andy Fey, and was known to everyone in the village. Some of her relatives are said to have opposed her marriage to Rhoten, but they were married, notwithstanding. He was a resident of a farm, not very far from Newcastle. They went there to live. A short time ago some trouble arose between them, and the wife came back to Laurel. A divorce action had been filed by the wife in Newcastle. She alleged that her husband's three sons - sons of his first marriage - abused her in the severest manner, and that their father permitted it.
Two days ago Rhoten came in his touring car through Connersville, went to Laurel and visited his wife. What all occurred is not to be known. But the appearances were in a fair way to patch up or bridge over their differences. At any rate, this morning they came up to Connersville in the automobile. They were there only a short time. It is believed Rhoten bought a two-ounce bottle of carbolic acid somewhere in the city. At any rate, he had a bottle when his body was found. It was full and had not been unwrapped.
Heard Four Shots
Mrs. Tobias Smith, whose home is not far distant from the bridge, beyond which the killing occurred, was out on the lawn at the time. Though it was a good ways off, she saw the automobile emerge from the bridge, pull to the side of the road, which angles westward, past a jungle of small brush, and finally stop. Then she saw Rhoten get out of the car. She saw him gesticulate, and heard distinctly the report of four shots. Whether or not he actually grappled with his wife, Mrs. Smith is not sure, but plainly there was a desperate brief encounter. One shot flew wild, the other two struck the back of the woman's head, and the third snuffed out the murderer's own life. He sank down, beside the rear wheel of his car, and was lying there, not quite dead, a few moments later when Emery Pike came along from the south, in his automobile and halted before the ghastly combination.
The wife's body lay or hung out over the auto door on the right side. The man was breathing, that was all. The coroner was summoned. The alarm was given and in a manner of minutes several people were on the scene. The man died at the roadside, where he was lifted by Mr. Pike.
The woman was a few years younger than her husband. He is reputed to have been a very well-to-do farmer. His home was east of Springport, and it was there that he and his wife lived, during the brief time that they did live together.
These particulars sum up practically all that is known of this terrifying crime, one of the blackest and most brutal to occur in Fayette county for many years. There were rumors, early today, that Mr. and Mrs. Rhoten had gone to this spot in execution of a suicide pact, and that both died willingly. However, there seems no indication that the woman wanted to die. On the contrary, it appears that she fought as she could, to save herself from the inhuman determination of her husband.
*Published August 21, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
SPRINGPORT, Ind., Aug. 21 - The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, who killed his wife and himself Saturday morning on the road near Connersville, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Springport church. Interment was made at Mt. Summit.
*Published August 20, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
RHOTEN FUNERAL AT SPRINGPORT
Henry County Man Committed Suicide After Killing Wife Near Connersville.
TO BURY WIFE AT LAUREL
Connersville News Gives Detailed Account Of Double Tragedy Saturday Morning - Domestic Trouble.
----------
The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, of near Springport, who committed suicide after killings his wife, Mrs. Josie Wilson Rhoten, on a road between Connersville and Laurel, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, will be held at the Springport church, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be made at the Mt. Summit cemetery.
The remains of Mrs. Rhoten were taken to Laurel, the home of her parents and relatives, and funeral services and burial will take place there.
----------
The following is the story of the double tragedy as told by the Connersville News of Saturday evening:
A double tragedy which will make the bend in the Laurel road below the Tobias Smith bridge, three and a half miles below the city, a ghastly spot as long as recollection lasts, occurred there at 10 o'clock this morning. As a result of it, Lawrence W. Rhoten, aged fifty-four, of Prairie township, Henry county, and his wife, Josie Wilson Rhoten, are dead. The bodies lay in the chapel of the Charles Myers undertaking establishment from midday onward. This afternoon it was not yet surly decided as to where they would be taken, nor as to what manner of funeral arrangements would be made.
The husband shot his wife in the back of the head with a 32 caliber revolver. He fired three times at her. One shot went wild. She threw out her right hand and probably seized the barrel of the revolver. The hand was blasted by the powder, and the bullet tore through the top of the auto in which she sat. The second bullet probably struck her in the back of the head, near the place where the third one was also struck. Rhoten fired the fourth shot into his own forehead.
Married Only Short Time.
Rhoten and his wife were married only a few weeks ago. Each of them had been married before. The woman lives in Laurel. She was a sister of Mrs. Andy Fey, and was known to everyone in the village. Some of her relatives are said to have opposed her marriage to Rhoten, but they were married, notwithstanding. He was a resident of a farm, not very far from Newcastle. They went there to live. A short time ago some trouble arose between them, and the wife came back to Laurel. A divorce action had been filed by the wife in Newcastle. She alleged that her husband's three sons - sons of his first marriage - abused her in the severest manner, and that their father permitted it.
Two days ago Rhoten came in his touring car through Connersville, went to Laurel and visited his wife. What all occurred is not to be known. But the appearances were in a fair way to patch up or bridge over their differences. At any rate, this morning they came up to Connersville in the automobile. They were there only a short time. It is believed Rhoten bought a two-ounce bottle of carbolic acid somewhere in the city. At any rate, he had a bottle when his body was found. It was full and had not been unwrapped.
Heard Four Shots
Mrs. Tobias Smith, whose home is not far distant from the bridge, beyond which the killing occurred, was out on the lawn at the time. Though it was a good ways off, she saw the automobile emerge from the bridge, pull to the side of the road, which angles westward, past a jungle of small brush, and finally stop. Then she saw Rhoten get out of the car. She saw him gesticulate, and heard distinctly the report of four shots. Whether or not he actually grappled with his wife, Mrs. Smith is not sure, but plainly there was a desperate brief encounter. One shot flew wild, the other two struck the back of the woman's head, and the third snuffed out the murderer's own life. He sank down, beside the rear wheel of his car, and was lying there, not quite dead, a few moments later when Emery Pike came along from the south, in his automobile and halted before the ghastly combination.
The wife's body lay or hung out over the auto door on the right side. The man was breathing, that was all. The coroner was summoned. The alarm was given and in a manner of minutes several people were on the scene. The man died at the roadside, where he was lifted by Mr. Pike.
The woman was a few years younger than her husband. He is reputed to have been a very well-to-do farmer. His home was east of Springport, and it was there that he and his wife lived, during the brief time that they did live together.
These particulars sum up practically all that is known of this terrifying crime, one of the blackest and most brutal to occur in Fayette county for many years. There were rumors, early today, that Mr. and Mrs. Rhoten had gone to this spot in execution of a suicide pact, and that both died willingly. However, there seems no indication that the woman wanted to die. On the contrary, it appears that she fought as she could, to save herself from the inhuman determination of her husband.
*Published August 21, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
SPRINGPORT, Ind., Aug. 21 - The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, who killed his wife and himself Saturday morning on the road near Connersville, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Springport church. Interment was made at Mt. Summit.
RHOTEN FUNERAL AT SPRINGPORT
Henry County Man Committed Suicide After Killing Wife Near Connersville.
TO BURY WIFE AT LAUREL
Connersville News Gives Detailed Account Of Double Tragedy Saturday Morning - Domestic Trouble.
----------
The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, of near Springport, who committed suicide after killings his wife, Mrs. Josie Wilson Rhoten, on a road between Connersville and Laurel, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, will be held at the Springport church, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be made at the Mt. Summit cemetery.
The remains of Mrs. Rhoten were taken to Laurel, the home of her parents and relatives, and funeral services and burial will take place there.
----------
The following is the story of the double tragedy as told by the Connersville News of Saturday evening:
A double tragedy which will make the bend in the Laurel road below the Tobias Smith bridge, three and a half miles below the city, a ghastly spot as long as recollection lasts, occurred there at 10 o'clock this morning. As a result of it, Lawrence W. Rhoten, aged fifty-four, of Prairie township, Henry county, and his wife, Josie Wilson Rhoten, are dead. The bodies lay in the chapel of the Charles Myers undertaking establishment from midday onward. This afternoon it was not yet surly decided as to where they would be taken, nor as to what manner of funeral arrangements would be made.
The husband shot his wife in the back of the head with a 32 caliber revolver. He fired three times at her. One shot went wild. She threw out her right hand and probably seized the barrel of the revolver. The hand was blasted by the powder, and the bullet tore through the top of the auto in which she sat. The second bullet probably struck her in the back of the head, near the place where the third one was also struck. Rhoten fired the fourth shot into his own forehead.
Married Only Short Time.
Rhoten and his wife were married only a few weeks ago. Each of them had been married before. The woman lives in Laurel. She was a sister of Mrs. Andy Fey, and was known to everyone in the village. Some of her relatives are said to have opposed her marriage to Rhoten, but they were married, notwithstanding. He was a resident of a farm, not very far from Newcastle. They went there to live. A short time ago some trouble arose between them, and the wife came back to Laurel. A divorce action had been filed by the wife in Newcastle. She alleged that her husband's three sons - sons of his first marriage - abused her in the severest manner, and that their father permitted it.
Two days ago Rhoten came in his touring car through Connersville, went to Laurel and visited his wife. What all occurred is not to be known. But the appearances were in a fair way to patch up or bridge over their differences. At any rate, this morning they came up to Connersville in the automobile. They were there only a short time. It is believed Rhoten bought a two-ounce bottle of carbolic acid somewhere in the city. At any rate, he had a bottle when his body was found. It was full and had not been unwrapped.
Heard Four Shots
Mrs. Tobias Smith, whose home is not far distant from the bridge, beyond which the killing occurred, was out on the lawn at the time. Though it was a good ways off, she saw the automobile emerge from the bridge, pull to the side of the road, which angles westward, past a jungle of small brush, and finally stop. Then she saw Rhoten get out of the car. She saw him gesticulate, and heard distinctly the report of four shots. Whether or not he actually grappled with his wife, Mrs. Smith is not sure, but plainly there was a desperate brief encounter. One shot flew wild, the other two struck the back of the woman's head, and the third snuffed out the murderer's own life. He sank down, beside the rear wheel of his car, and was lying there, not quite dead, a few moments later when Emery Pike came along from the south, in his automobile and halted before the ghastly combination.
The wife's body lay or hung out over the auto door on the right side. The man was breathing, that was all. The coroner was summoned. The alarm was given and in a manner of minutes several people were on the scene. The man died at the roadside, where he was lifted by Mr. Pike.
The woman was a few years younger than her husband. He is reputed to have been a very well-to-do farmer. His home was east of Springport, and it was there that he and his wife lived, during the brief time that they did live together.
These particulars sum up practically all that is known of this terrifying crime, one of the blackest and most brutal to occur in Fayette county for many years. There were rumors, early today, that Mr. and Mrs. Rhoten had gone to this spot in execution of a suicide pact, and that both died willingly. However, there seems no indication that the woman wanted to die. On the contrary, it appears that she fought as she could, to save herself from the inhuman determination of her husband.
*Published August 21, 1917 - New Castle Daily Courier, New Castle, IN
SPRINGPORT, Ind., Aug. 21 - The funeral of Lawrence Rhoten, who killed his wife and himself Saturday morning on the road near Connersville, was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Springport church. Interment was made at Mt. Summit.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
