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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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State Gazette
Green Bay, Wis.
Saturday, 18 July, 1874

         
         Chilton, July 8. A most brutal murder was committed
       at Gravesville, yesterday afternoon, by THOMAS LOFTIN.
       He killed his wife HONORAH LOFTIN. She was bent over
       the wash-tub washing, when he came up behind her and
       struck her a blow with a hammer on the back of the
       head. The handle came out of the hammer and he struck
       her with the handle and knocked her down, then he took
       the axe and struck her on the forehead. Either blow
       was enough to kill her, but he was not satisfied; he
       got a butcher knife and tried to cut her throat, but
       the knife was so dull that it would not cut, so he cut
       it with the axe and put her under the house and covered
       her up with rags. It was a most horrible looking corpse,
       being so fearfully mutilated about the head and throat.
         An inquest was held on the body. He was arrested and
       owned up everything; told how he did it and said she
       had threatened him. They had considerable trouble. He
       was arrested last week by her for assault and battery,
       and fined. He killed her, he said, so that she would
       not abuse his children any more.
       
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Wisconsin State Journal
Monday, 13 July, 1874

         Wife-Murderer Sentenced
         
         Fond du Lac, Wis., July 11.
         LOFTUS, who murdered his wife at Gravesville last
       Tuesday, pleaded guilty today, and was sentenced to
       the State Prison for life.
       
       Transcriber's Note: The surname is spelled differently in the
       two articles above. This is not a transcription error.
       
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