Davis, Sheldon, Escalente, "The Wickesham Family in America," Heritage Books,Inc. 2001
WICKERSHAM
SAD TRAGEDY.
William Whitenack Takes the Life of James Wickersham, his Double Brother-in-law, at Their Home near Cornishville.
Sunday afternoon, between five and six o'clock, Mr. James Wickersham, a highly respected citizen and christian gentleman was killed by his double brother-in-law, Mr. William Whitenack. The tragedy took place at their joint
home, the old home place of Mr. Wickersham's mother, Mrs. Serena Wickersham, on her farm about three miles east or north-east of Cornishville, and where the two families had been living together, apparently on good terms, for nearly a year.
It seems from the testimony of some of the neighbors, that the unfortunate affair was the outcome of a quarrel of only a few days, though most of the residents of the neighborhood had never heard of any trouble existing between the men. It is said that a short time ago the two men had talked of going in partnership and buying a well drilling out-fit from Mr. James Huffman, but that
Wickersham and another brother-in-law, Mr. Pete Noel, had jointly bought the outfit, only a few days ago. This, it is claimed, angered Whitenack who accused Wickersham of acting unfairly in not giving him a chance.
Very little light was thrown upon the matter, the next day, at the inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, as the two women-the one, the sister of the murderer and wife of the slain; the other, the wife of the murderer and sister of the slain-were the only eye witnesses, except their little children, who range in age from three to ten or twelve years. Only one witness was examined at length.
He was Mr. S. W. Jennings, a neighbor, who lives about 200 or 300 yards north-west of the scene of the killing. After he had been duly sworn by Coroner Gibbs, he testified in substance, as follows: "I heard three shots fired - one
shot, then two in rapid succession. A man could take twelve or fifteen steps between the time of the first shot and the two that followed. I next heard little boys hallooing. Then, Mrs. William Whitenack ran out into her back yard and called to me. I came over-came around through bottom, near the house, and found deceased lying near the barn, on his left side with his head in his wife's lap. He was unconscious and never spoke after I got there. His wife said, "Willie has shot him." I then sent some one after Dr. Carrier. We then brought the body to the house, and he remained unconscious till he died, about 1 ½ hours later. Yes, the body was that of James Wickersham. I had never heard of any trouble between the men."
No other testimony was taken, as most of the jurymen were neighbors, and as there was no doubt as to how the deceased had met his death, for the women had admitted that Whitenack did the shooting, though they were in no condition to testify before the coroner's jury. Accordingly,. The verdict was as follows:
"At an inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, of Mercer county, Ky., at the Wickersham, farm, near Cornishville, Ky., We, the jury summoned and sworn by him to inquire into the cause of the death of the deceased find the body before us to be that of James Wickersham, and that he came to his death from pistol shots from a pistol in the hands of Wm. Whitenack, on the evening of Sept. 3, 1899.
James A. Bottom, For'm'n,
J.E. Sims,
J.D. Adkinson,
Jno. B. Stagg,
S.W. Jenning
Isaac Peavler.
Upon examination of the body, it was found that two wounds had been received, either of which would have proven fatal. One ball had passed into the right groin, about three inches below the lower point of the hip bone, and had severed the large artery in that region. The other had entered the top of the head, near the center, and penetrating the brain, ranged downward, lodging at, or near the base of the right jaw. This shot, it is said, was fired after the man had fallen. The wounds appeared to have been made by a 38 caliber bullet.
The women at the house, it is said, upon hearing the first shot, ran to the front of the building in time to see the other two shots fired, and Mrs. Wickersham, screaming, ran to her husband's aid. Just as she reached his side, her brother, it is said, returned with the smoking weapon, and asked her if he was dead, and then, asking her forgiveness, walked away - no one knew where.
The scene at the stricken home, Monday morning, was a sad one. Many relatives of the bereaved families had come to offer words of sympathy and consolation. The aged father of the murderer stood by the corpse of his son-in-law, and the broken-hearted wife, as she clung to the beloved form, prayed for mercy upon her brother who had slain him. All through the morning, her sisters and sister-in-law wept by her side, while saddest of all was the appealing look of
the little three-year old daughter as she called upon her father to come back to her - back from the sleep that knows no waking.
Deceased was twenty-nine years old, last December, and known as a young man of many sterling qualities, and was also a christian, having been a member of the
Christian church for years, and having, only a few weeks ago, professed his faith at a protracted meeting. He was sober and industrious, and had been in charge of his mother's farm for some time. Besides his wife and little daughter, he leaves his mother, five sisters and two brothers, Messrs. John and William Wickersham, of Nevada. The burial took place at Berea, Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock.
Whitenack is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Abe Whitenack, estimable citizens of the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, and has one brother, Mr. Milton Whitenack, and three sisters. He is thirty-odd years old.Officers from here made a thorough search, Sunday night, but failed to capture
the fugitive. The following day, they were notified that Whitenack would come to town and surrender.
(Harrodsburg Sayings, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, Ky, Wed Sep 6, 1899)
Obituary contributed by: Yvonne, Find-a-Grave contributor (#46818183) 9-5-2010
WICKERSHAM
SAD TRAGEDY.
William Whitenack Takes the Life of James Wickersham, his Double Brother-in-law, at Their Home near Cornishville.
Sunday afternoon, between five and six o'clock, Mr. James Wickersham, a highly respected citizen and christian gentleman was killed by his double brother-in-law, Mr. William Whitenack. The tragedy took place at their joint
home, the old home place of Mr. Wickersham's mother, Mrs. Serena Wickersham, on her farm about three miles east or north-east of Cornishville, and where the two families had been living together, apparently on good terms, for nearly a year.
It seems from the testimony of some of the neighbors, that the unfortunate affair was the outcome of a quarrel of only a few days, though most of the residents of the neighborhood had never heard of any trouble existing between the men. It is said that a short time ago the two men had talked of going in partnership and buying a well drilling out-fit from Mr. James Huffman, but that
Wickersham and another brother-in-law, Mr. Pete Noel, had jointly bought the outfit, only a few days ago. This, it is claimed, angered Whitenack who accused Wickersham of acting unfairly in not giving him a chance.
Very little light was thrown upon the matter, the next day, at the inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, as the two women-the one, the sister of the murderer and wife of the slain; the other, the wife of the murderer and sister of the slain-were the only eye witnesses, except their little children, who range in age from three to ten or twelve years. Only one witness was examined at length.
He was Mr. S. W. Jennings, a neighbor, who lives about 200 or 300 yards north-west of the scene of the killing. After he had been duly sworn by Coroner Gibbs, he testified in substance, as follows: "I heard three shots fired - one
shot, then two in rapid succession. A man could take twelve or fifteen steps between the time of the first shot and the two that followed. I next heard little boys hallooing. Then, Mrs. William Whitenack ran out into her back yard and called to me. I came over-came around through bottom, near the house, and found deceased lying near the barn, on his left side with his head in his wife's lap. He was unconscious and never spoke after I got there. His wife said, "Willie has shot him." I then sent some one after Dr. Carrier. We then brought the body to the house, and he remained unconscious till he died, about 1 ½ hours later. Yes, the body was that of James Wickersham. I had never heard of any trouble between the men."
No other testimony was taken, as most of the jurymen were neighbors, and as there was no doubt as to how the deceased had met his death, for the women had admitted that Whitenack did the shooting, though they were in no condition to testify before the coroner's jury. Accordingly,. The verdict was as follows:
"At an inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, of Mercer county, Ky., at the Wickersham, farm, near Cornishville, Ky., We, the jury summoned and sworn by him to inquire into the cause of the death of the deceased find the body before us to be that of James Wickersham, and that he came to his death from pistol shots from a pistol in the hands of Wm. Whitenack, on the evening of Sept. 3, 1899.
James A. Bottom, For'm'n,
J.E. Sims,
J.D. Adkinson,
Jno. B. Stagg,
S.W. Jenning
Isaac Peavler.
Upon examination of the body, it was found that two wounds had been received, either of which would have proven fatal. One ball had passed into the right groin, about three inches below the lower point of the hip bone, and had severed the large artery in that region. The other had entered the top of the head, near the center, and penetrating the brain, ranged downward, lodging at, or near the base of the right jaw. This shot, it is said, was fired after the man had fallen. The wounds appeared to have been made by a 38 caliber bullet.
The women at the house, it is said, upon hearing the first shot, ran to the front of the building in time to see the other two shots fired, and Mrs. Wickersham, screaming, ran to her husband's aid. Just as she reached his side, her brother, it is said, returned with the smoking weapon, and asked her if he was dead, and then, asking her forgiveness, walked away - no one knew where.
The scene at the stricken home, Monday morning, was a sad one. Many relatives of the bereaved families had come to offer words of sympathy and consolation. The aged father of the murderer stood by the corpse of his son-in-law, and the broken-hearted wife, as she clung to the beloved form, prayed for mercy upon her brother who had slain him. All through the morning, her sisters and sister-in-law wept by her side, while saddest of all was the appealing look of
the little three-year old daughter as she called upon her father to come back to her - back from the sleep that knows no waking.
Deceased was twenty-nine years old, last December, and known as a young man of many sterling qualities, and was also a christian, having been a member of the
Christian church for years, and having, only a few weeks ago, professed his faith at a protracted meeting. He was sober and industrious, and had been in charge of his mother's farm for some time. Besides his wife and little daughter, he leaves his mother, five sisters and two brothers, Messrs. John and William Wickersham, of Nevada. The burial took place at Berea, Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock.
Whitenack is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Abe Whitenack, estimable citizens of the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, and has one brother, Mr. Milton Whitenack, and three sisters. He is thirty-odd years old.Officers from here made a thorough search, Sunday night, but failed to capture
the fugitive. The following day, they were notified that Whitenack would come to town and surrender.
(Harrodsburg Sayings, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, Ky, Wed Sep 6, 1899)
Obituary contributed by: Yvonne, Find-a-Grave contributor (#46818183) 9-5-2010
Davis, Sheldon, Escalente, "The Wickesham Family in America," Heritage Books,Inc. 2001
WICKERSHAM
SAD TRAGEDY.
William Whitenack Takes the Life of James Wickersham, his Double Brother-in-law, at Their Home near Cornishville.
Sunday afternoon, between five and six o'clock, Mr. James Wickersham, a highly respected citizen and christian gentleman was killed by his double brother-in-law, Mr. William Whitenack. The tragedy took place at their joint
home, the old home place of Mr. Wickersham's mother, Mrs. Serena Wickersham, on her farm about three miles east or north-east of Cornishville, and where the two families had been living together, apparently on good terms, for nearly a year.
It seems from the testimony of some of the neighbors, that the unfortunate affair was the outcome of a quarrel of only a few days, though most of the residents of the neighborhood had never heard of any trouble existing between the men. It is said that a short time ago the two men had talked of going in partnership and buying a well drilling out-fit from Mr. James Huffman, but that
Wickersham and another brother-in-law, Mr. Pete Noel, had jointly bought the outfit, only a few days ago. This, it is claimed, angered Whitenack who accused Wickersham of acting unfairly in not giving him a chance.
Very little light was thrown upon the matter, the next day, at the inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, as the two women-the one, the sister of the murderer and wife of the slain; the other, the wife of the murderer and sister of the slain-were the only eye witnesses, except their little children, who range in age from three to ten or twelve years. Only one witness was examined at length.
He was Mr. S. W. Jennings, a neighbor, who lives about 200 or 300 yards north-west of the scene of the killing. After he had been duly sworn by Coroner Gibbs, he testified in substance, as follows: "I heard three shots fired - one
shot, then two in rapid succession. A man could take twelve or fifteen steps between the time of the first shot and the two that followed. I next heard little boys hallooing. Then, Mrs. William Whitenack ran out into her back yard and called to me. I came over-came around through bottom, near the house, and found deceased lying near the barn, on his left side with his head in his wife's lap. He was unconscious and never spoke after I got there. His wife said, "Willie has shot him." I then sent some one after Dr. Carrier. We then brought the body to the house, and he remained unconscious till he died, about 1 ½ hours later. Yes, the body was that of James Wickersham. I had never heard of any trouble between the men."
No other testimony was taken, as most of the jurymen were neighbors, and as there was no doubt as to how the deceased had met his death, for the women had admitted that Whitenack did the shooting, though they were in no condition to testify before the coroner's jury. Accordingly,. The verdict was as follows:
"At an inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, of Mercer county, Ky., at the Wickersham, farm, near Cornishville, Ky., We, the jury summoned and sworn by him to inquire into the cause of the death of the deceased find the body before us to be that of James Wickersham, and that he came to his death from pistol shots from a pistol in the hands of Wm. Whitenack, on the evening of Sept. 3, 1899.
James A. Bottom, For'm'n,
J.E. Sims,
J.D. Adkinson,
Jno. B. Stagg,
S.W. Jenning
Isaac Peavler.
Upon examination of the body, it was found that two wounds had been received, either of which would have proven fatal. One ball had passed into the right groin, about three inches below the lower point of the hip bone, and had severed the large artery in that region. The other had entered the top of the head, near the center, and penetrating the brain, ranged downward, lodging at, or near the base of the right jaw. This shot, it is said, was fired after the man had fallen. The wounds appeared to have been made by a 38 caliber bullet.
The women at the house, it is said, upon hearing the first shot, ran to the front of the building in time to see the other two shots fired, and Mrs. Wickersham, screaming, ran to her husband's aid. Just as she reached his side, her brother, it is said, returned with the smoking weapon, and asked her if he was dead, and then, asking her forgiveness, walked away - no one knew where.
The scene at the stricken home, Monday morning, was a sad one. Many relatives of the bereaved families had come to offer words of sympathy and consolation. The aged father of the murderer stood by the corpse of his son-in-law, and the broken-hearted wife, as she clung to the beloved form, prayed for mercy upon her brother who had slain him. All through the morning, her sisters and sister-in-law wept by her side, while saddest of all was the appealing look of
the little three-year old daughter as she called upon her father to come back to her - back from the sleep that knows no waking.
Deceased was twenty-nine years old, last December, and known as a young man of many sterling qualities, and was also a christian, having been a member of the
Christian church for years, and having, only a few weeks ago, professed his faith at a protracted meeting. He was sober and industrious, and had been in charge of his mother's farm for some time. Besides his wife and little daughter, he leaves his mother, five sisters and two brothers, Messrs. John and William Wickersham, of Nevada. The burial took place at Berea, Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock.
Whitenack is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Abe Whitenack, estimable citizens of the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, and has one brother, Mr. Milton Whitenack, and three sisters. He is thirty-odd years old.Officers from here made a thorough search, Sunday night, but failed to capture
the fugitive. The following day, they were notified that Whitenack would come to town and surrender.
(Harrodsburg Sayings, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, Ky, Wed Sep 6, 1899)
Obituary contributed by: Yvonne, Find-a-Grave contributor (#46818183) 9-5-2010
WICKERSHAM
SAD TRAGEDY.
William Whitenack Takes the Life of James Wickersham, his Double Brother-in-law, at Their Home near Cornishville.
Sunday afternoon, between five and six o'clock, Mr. James Wickersham, a highly respected citizen and christian gentleman was killed by his double brother-in-law, Mr. William Whitenack. The tragedy took place at their joint
home, the old home place of Mr. Wickersham's mother, Mrs. Serena Wickersham, on her farm about three miles east or north-east of Cornishville, and where the two families had been living together, apparently on good terms, for nearly a year.
It seems from the testimony of some of the neighbors, that the unfortunate affair was the outcome of a quarrel of only a few days, though most of the residents of the neighborhood had never heard of any trouble existing between the men. It is said that a short time ago the two men had talked of going in partnership and buying a well drilling out-fit from Mr. James Huffman, but that
Wickersham and another brother-in-law, Mr. Pete Noel, had jointly bought the outfit, only a few days ago. This, it is claimed, angered Whitenack who accused Wickersham of acting unfairly in not giving him a chance.
Very little light was thrown upon the matter, the next day, at the inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, as the two women-the one, the sister of the murderer and wife of the slain; the other, the wife of the murderer and sister of the slain-were the only eye witnesses, except their little children, who range in age from three to ten or twelve years. Only one witness was examined at length.
He was Mr. S. W. Jennings, a neighbor, who lives about 200 or 300 yards north-west of the scene of the killing. After he had been duly sworn by Coroner Gibbs, he testified in substance, as follows: "I heard three shots fired - one
shot, then two in rapid succession. A man could take twelve or fifteen steps between the time of the first shot and the two that followed. I next heard little boys hallooing. Then, Mrs. William Whitenack ran out into her back yard and called to me. I came over-came around through bottom, near the house, and found deceased lying near the barn, on his left side with his head in his wife's lap. He was unconscious and never spoke after I got there. His wife said, "Willie has shot him." I then sent some one after Dr. Carrier. We then brought the body to the house, and he remained unconscious till he died, about 1 ½ hours later. Yes, the body was that of James Wickersham. I had never heard of any trouble between the men."
No other testimony was taken, as most of the jurymen were neighbors, and as there was no doubt as to how the deceased had met his death, for the women had admitted that Whitenack did the shooting, though they were in no condition to testify before the coroner's jury. Accordingly,. The verdict was as follows:
"At an inquest held by Coroner R. B. Gibbs, of Mercer county, Ky., at the Wickersham, farm, near Cornishville, Ky., We, the jury summoned and sworn by him to inquire into the cause of the death of the deceased find the body before us to be that of James Wickersham, and that he came to his death from pistol shots from a pistol in the hands of Wm. Whitenack, on the evening of Sept. 3, 1899.
James A. Bottom, For'm'n,
J.E. Sims,
J.D. Adkinson,
Jno. B. Stagg,
S.W. Jenning
Isaac Peavler.
Upon examination of the body, it was found that two wounds had been received, either of which would have proven fatal. One ball had passed into the right groin, about three inches below the lower point of the hip bone, and had severed the large artery in that region. The other had entered the top of the head, near the center, and penetrating the brain, ranged downward, lodging at, or near the base of the right jaw. This shot, it is said, was fired after the man had fallen. The wounds appeared to have been made by a 38 caliber bullet.
The women at the house, it is said, upon hearing the first shot, ran to the front of the building in time to see the other two shots fired, and Mrs. Wickersham, screaming, ran to her husband's aid. Just as she reached his side, her brother, it is said, returned with the smoking weapon, and asked her if he was dead, and then, asking her forgiveness, walked away - no one knew where.
The scene at the stricken home, Monday morning, was a sad one. Many relatives of the bereaved families had come to offer words of sympathy and consolation. The aged father of the murderer stood by the corpse of his son-in-law, and the broken-hearted wife, as she clung to the beloved form, prayed for mercy upon her brother who had slain him. All through the morning, her sisters and sister-in-law wept by her side, while saddest of all was the appealing look of
the little three-year old daughter as she called upon her father to come back to her - back from the sleep that knows no waking.
Deceased was twenty-nine years old, last December, and known as a young man of many sterling qualities, and was also a christian, having been a member of the
Christian church for years, and having, only a few weeks ago, professed his faith at a protracted meeting. He was sober and industrious, and had been in charge of his mother's farm for some time. Besides his wife and little daughter, he leaves his mother, five sisters and two brothers, Messrs. John and William Wickersham, of Nevada. The burial took place at Berea, Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock.
Whitenack is a son of Mr. And Mrs. Abe Whitenack, estimable citizens of the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, and has one brother, Mr. Milton Whitenack, and three sisters. He is thirty-odd years old.Officers from here made a thorough search, Sunday night, but failed to capture
the fugitive. The following day, they were notified that Whitenack would come to town and surrender.
(Harrodsburg Sayings, Harrodsburg, Mercer Co, Ky, Wed Sep 6, 1899)
Obituary contributed by: Yvonne, Find-a-Grave contributor (#46818183) 9-5-2010
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