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r ee aS iss eee ae tH, is eae x ig is oa ay re So iP i s it ai oy a 5 la we A Z ry A a = oy Bay = te ios oh = Ee’ Paes deer . The Toma 25¢ useds The first murder trial in Delphi in over 15 years moved along at a quick pace with Jury Selection and initial testimony on Monday, despite a request Friday by Prosecutor Jeff Smith to have the trial delayed. Robert W. Whittlesey, 62, is charged with murder ing his wife, Mary Ellen Whittlesey, 60, who was found dead November 1, 1985, in the couple’s apart ment at the Camden-Jackson Senior Citizen apart ment complex in Camden. The charge says he struck his wife, causing a ‘‘blunt force injury’’ that resulted in her death. He also has been charged with battery. Jury selection began Monday at 9:30, and by 12:20 p.m., 13 jurors (including 1 alternate) had been chosen, 6 women and 7 men. The trial began at 1:30 p.m. The defendant is being represented by court appointed attorneys, Louis N. Mullin of Delphi and E. Kent Moore of Lafayette. In the opening statement by defense attorney Moore, the jury was told that Mr. Whittlesey had got ten married to his wife on September 3, 1941, and that he had been employed by a Refinery for 20 years before retiring in 1980 because of his health. The cou ple had two children, and after his retirement lived on social security, and part-time work which Mrs. Whit tlesey did outside of the home. Mr. Moore also asked the jurors not to make their minds up about the case until they heard the testimony of Mr. Whittlesey, because there are two sides to the story. Mr. Moore continued that both Mr. Mrs. Whittlesey abused alcohol, and that they were fine when they didn’t use alcohol, but that they were different people when they did. The attorney also said that Mr. Whittlesey is pro jected to have only 1 2 more years to live, because of heart and liver problems related to his drinking. According to Mr. Moore, the few days before the death, both were letting alcohol dominate their lives, and Mr. Whittlesey could not recall what he did the morning of November 1, 1985, but that he was in three different places between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, and the fight started when his wife said something and he took offense and threw a liquor bottle at her, striking her on the forehead, which he didn’t think was too severe Mr. Moore continued that Mr. Whittlesey then followed her to the bathroom and realized that she was dead, at which time he called the police and wa arrested. Dr. John Olse of Lebanon, who performed th autopsy on Mrs. Whittlesey, then testified that the autopsy showed blunt force trauma from the beating, and that she had vomited, swallowing the vomit and that she died from asphyxiation. Dr. Olse also said that there were other injuries, including two broken ribs. A sheriff’s department dispatcher then testified con cerning the call, which showed that the first call from Mr. Whittlesey was at 2:11, with the ambulance being dispatched at 2:12. The tape of the conversation was played for the jury. See MURDER, Page 3 Volume 1 Number 37 —— March 12, 1986 -By Elizabeth Griffey
Newspaper Details
Delphi Journal
Delphi, Indiana, US
Wed, Mar 12, 1986
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Lara D.
USA 22 Jun 2026
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