“WHY I MURDERED MY HUSBAND.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17936, 2 August 1920, Page 4

“WHY I MURDERED MY HUSBAND.”

A JEALOUS WIFE’S CONFESSION, f “Why I murdered my husband.” was the subject of one of the most remarkable confessions ever made id , a coroner’s Jury at an inquest held on [the body of Henry C. Fredericks, out ■of the richest manufacturers of the ‘town of Elgin, Illnols. Mrs Fredericks, a beautiful woIman, whom the doctor described as in the last stages of tuberculosis, [riddled her husband with bulleis, and ,'hen calmly telephoned to the police. [Without the slightest emotion she told the following story to the jury: “In the latter part of April, w-hen 1 was staying with my mother in Indiana. I intercepted a letter to my husband written by ancther woman. I had long suspected that his affeciiun for me was waning. I was determined not to give up. so I decided that the only way was to kill him. I bought an automatic pistol, and spent hours at target practice. He used to come home at noon and in the evenings, and always kissed me. I would ktes him and smile. He never suspected what was behind my smile. You may say I have killed him, but he has been killing me for weeks. The setting was ideal for killing him. There was nobody home but myself. He telephoned about II o’clock, saying. I'm coming home, dearie, for dinner.’ ‘AU right, sweetheart,' I answered. I had my revolver concealed in my blouse. When he entered the front door I had paced off the distance and knew just where to aim. As he entered I emptied my revolver—-7 shots. I do not think he realised what had happened. He dropped with an odd little laugh and never spoke again. lam giad I did it.”