Indiana Evening Gazette, front page
"LATROBE, Nov. 3. Harry Wilt, 53-year-old Spanish-American War veteran and father of seven children, died today in Latrobe Hospital without revealing the motive that caused him to fatally shoot Mrs. Catherine Graff, 38, twice widowed mother of two children, before committing suicide.
"State police expressed the belief that despondency over the prospect of leaving the woman he loved might have prompted Wilt's act and investigation was being conducted from this starting point.
"Wilt, father of seven children, it was learned, had been keeping company with the widow for some time. His pension recently was cut from $60 to $15 monthly and he intended to go to Sewickley next week to live with a daughter. Wilt was estranged from his own wife.
"The shooting occurred in the dining room of Mrs. Graff's home, 8 First avenue. Wilt roomed only about a block away. According to reports he left his family, which maintains a residence on Depot street, more than two years ago.
"There were no witnesses to the tragedy, consequently the events which led up to the shooting are unknown. Mr. and Mrs. Luther Smith and Earl and William Roof, neighbors, attracted by the two shots entered the home within five minutes. They found Mrs. Graff sitting in a rocking chair, her head resting against the back. Nearby on the floor lay Wilt, a 38-calibre revolver at his side. An ambulance was called and the unconscious man rushed to the hospital. Mrs. Graff's body was undisturbed in the chair to await the arrival of the coroner, Dr. H. A. McMurray who came to Latrobe accompanied by his deputy, Jacob Sell.
"Dr. McMurray and Dr. G. F. Nealon of Latrobe, conducted a postmortem on Mrs. Graff's body before it was removed to the Stader undertaking parlors. Dr. McMurray said the bullet had entered the back of the woman's head near the top and took a course downward toward the mouth. The bullet was recovered. The self-inflicted bullet entered the right side of Wilt's head above the ear and came out on top.
"There was no indication that a quarrel had preceded the shooting, but declared evidence indicated that Wilt had been drinking.
"According to the story told to Dr. McMurray, Wilt had been keeping company with Mrs. Graff. Her son, Francis Siegfried, aged 17, reported that his mother had received two anonymous letters warning her to stay away from Wilt. The surviving daughter is Mary Graff, aged 12. The children were at school when the shooting took place.
"Privates Fontaine and McKee of Troop A, State Police, were on the job early and took photographs of the scene. When Wilt was taken to the hospital, it was believed that he might have a chance to recover. Now that he is dead, however, the case is closed, so far as the state police are concerned."
Hanover Evening Sun
Monessen Daily Independent, front page
New Castle News
Altoona Mirror
Bradford Era, front page
Somerset Daily Herald, front page
Titusville Herald
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