for the archives;
Eva Elsie Pilkins is the daughter of Minnie Vesta Carrico,
(Elbert Carrico’s sister and daughter of Emanuel J. Carrico)
and Frederick Jones Pilkins, Jones Pilkins you may remember was the one
torn apart by the train on the railroad tracks in Battle Creek in 1907.
THE LINCOLN SUNDAY STAR; MAY 3, 1931; Page A-5
SAYS INNOCENT MURDER CHARGE
Man Accused of Killing Wife Arraigned at Valentine
Body of Slain Woman Sent to Battle Creek for Burial
VALENTINE, Neb., May 2--(U.P.)--William R. Whetstone, 40,
charged with first degree murder in connection with the fatal
shooting of his wife, entered a plea of not guilty in County
court here this afternoon. He was bound over to district court.
Trial was set for next week in district court here. Whetstone
is being held in the county jail here without bond. He will be
represented by John M. Tucker, Valentine attorney.
Whetstone's wife, Elsie E., about 30 years old, was shot while
she sat in front of the home where she was living here
Wednesday night. Death was almost instantaneous, one of the
revolver slugs piercing her lung and the second, entering her
liver.
Whetstone admitted to officers that he had fired at the woman
three times following the arrest of the man at the home of a
relative. The couple had been quarreling, officers said. The
couple had been quarreling near here when the wife refused to
talk, after going to the car, Whetstone allegedly shot her. A
divorce suit was pending in court here for the couple.
Mrs. Whetstone's body was shipped yesterday to her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nelson of Battle Creek, Neb.
Whetstone's trial here next week wil be the second for the
coming term of District court. Lee Davis, 23 of Cody, charged
with murder in connection with the death of Herbert Farmer, 45,
Cody laborer, will be placed on trial Tuesday.
Davis allegedly struck farmer over the head with a spade when
the two were trying to extricate their car from the sand, where
it had stalled, and fell to arguing. School children were the only
witnesses to the fight, officers said.
THE REPUBLICAN; VALENTINE, NEB; DEC 4, 1931
OBITUARY
William Raymond Whetstone
William Raymond Whetstone was born at Chadron, Nebraska,
on November 27, 1898, and departed this life at Lincoln,
Nebraska, on November 28, 1931, at the age of 33 years and
1 day.
When he was 2 years old he came with his parents to Cherry
County, where he spent the greater part of his life. He was
united in marriage to Miss Eva Elsie Pilkins. To this union was
born one son, William Junior.
He leaves to mourn his going, his father and mother, Mr. and
Mrs. A. E. Whetstone; his son, William; and six sisters: Mrs.
Boyd Brown, Mrs. Darrel Bishop, Mrs. L. W. Hutchinson, and
Mrs. W. C. Grady, all of Valentine; Miss Cecil Whetstone of
Chadron, Nebraska; and Mrs. L. W. Martin of Rapid City, S. D.;
besides a host of relatives and friends.
The funeral took place at the home of his parents in Valentine,
on Tuesday December 1st, at 2:00 p.m. Rev. A. F. Cumbow,
assisted by Rev. B. D. Hanscom, pastor of the M. E. Church, had
charge of the services. Many attended the services. The music
and floral offerings were expressions of profound sympathy and
comfort. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery.
"Dear William, thou hast left us,
And thy loss we deeply feel,
But we shall meet thee again,
Where no farewell tears are shed."
The Helena Independent, November, 29, 1931; Front page
PICTURE OF GRAVE OF WIFE LEADS TO DEATH
Lincoln, Nebr., Nov 28,---(AP)--"A friend" recently sent William H.
Whetstone, 38, a picture of his wife's grave. Today Whetstone,
serving a life sentence for killing her, died at the Nebraska
penitentiary from wounds self-inflicted Nov. 17. Their home was at
Valentine, Neb. Mrs. Whetstone was shot last April, following a
quarrel with her husband.
VALENTINE REPUBLICAN; NOVEMBER 25, 1932; Front Page
Dies from Diptheria
Billy, the six-year old son of the late W. R. Whetstone and wife,
died Tuesday evening at the home of his grandparents in this city,
as the result of an attack of diptheria. Private burial was held the
next afternoon in Mt. Hope Cemetery. In a little more than a year,
an entire family of father, mother and son has been wiped out.
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