Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1899 — Death Recalls a Murder. [ARTICLE]

Death Recalls a Murder.

Mrs. Elma C. Whitehead died at her home at Shawnee Mound, near Lafayette Tuesday evening at the age of fourty-six years. Her death recalls a sensational case of ten years ago when she was jointly indicted with the Rev. Fred Pettit for the murder of his wife. Mrs. Whitehead was discharged, and Rev. Pettit died in prison in 1895 while serving out a life sentence, but the very day after the Supreme Court had granted him a new trial. Mts. Whitehead leaves a snug fortune which she had inherited from her father, David Meharry. A desire to get her wealth was supposed the principal cause why Pettit killed his wife.