The Daily Times

WIFE CONFESSES KILLING HUSBAND

Snow Hill, Sept. 3. The mystery surrounding the death of W. L. Whitley, prominent Walstonburg farmer, who was killed at a tobacco barn on his farm on the night of August 6, was cleared up this afternoon when Greene County authorities held Mrs. Sarah Whitley, wife of the deceased, Thomas Hayes, a neighbor, and Wright Rouse, one-armed negro, on charges of murder following their confession that they conspired to kill Mr. Whitley. All three were lodged in the Greene county jail without bail.

According to their statement Mrs. Whitley and Hayes, with whom the woman is said to have been infatuated, induced the negro to commit the crime in consideration of $500, which has never been paid by them. All are being held without bail. A statement implicating herself and Hayes and Rouse was made by Mrs. Whitley to the authorities after a twelve-hour session of the coroner's jury which has been investigating the case during the past several weeks.

No threats of violence against the prisoners have been reported so far. Mrs. Whitley, who is 37 years old, apparently does not realize the seriousness of the charge against her, it was said.

In both investigations before the coroner's jury Mrs. Whitley had shown a strong bearing. However, after her friends and the crowd had left, she wavered and under sharp questioning by Deputies E. H. Suggs, E. E. Potter and C. E. Jones, later assisted by Sheriff J. E. Herring, she broke down and confessed, telling that her husband was killed by Wright Rouse, a one armed negro freak doctor and fortune teller, in consideration of $500, which has not been paid, however. She also said that Wright Rouse was induced to commit the crime by herself and a neighbor, Tom Hayes, with whom she is said to have been infatuated and with whom she was indicted, but acquitted on a statutory charge in the Greene county court about a year ago. Hayes was said to have taken the negro to the place where Mr. Whitley was killed on the night of August 6.