----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 12/06/1906

Willhite, Matt (? - 30 Nov 1906)

Last Friday morning a most shocking murder occurred at the home of Matt Willhite in the town of Hoard, Clark County, Wis., five miles northwest of the village of Curtiss, Clark County. The victim was Mr. Willhite and the slayer his father-in-law, P. G. Arnold. As near as can be ascertained the facts are as follows:

Friday morning Willhite, who was sleeping downstairs, called to the hired, girl, who was sleeping upstairs to get up and build a fire. Arnold, who was also sleeping upstairs, called to the girl to stay in bed and let Willhite start the fire himself. A bitter quarrel at once ensued between the two men and, with the remark that he would "show him who would build the fire", Willhite started up the stairway. Arnold seized a shotgun that was and and as his son-in-law came up the stairs discharged the weapon, sending a charge of buckshot through his heart and lungs, kiilling him instantly. Deputy sheriff Kaudy of Colby was notified and Arnold was soon put under arrest. The inquest was held Saturday. Arnold admitted the filling and from his statements it is believed that there had been bad blood between the two men for some time, as Arnold said he had been treated badly by Willhite. One thing that seemed to be a great grievance with him was the fact that he had loaned his son-in-law $100 some time previously and he had refused to pay it back. Mr. Willhite came to this part of the country four or five years ago and rented the Machlett farm in the town of Hoard. A year and a half ago he bought the 160 acres of land on which he was living at the time of his murder and built him a house and barn and made a small clearing. About this time his father-in-law joined him. Their former home was in Illinois. Willhite's farm was free from encumbrance. He owned considerable stock and carried several thousand dollars of life insurance. He leaves a wife and four children, the youngest a babe of less than a month old. His remains have been taken to Illinois for burial. (Abbotsford Clarion)