Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-05-22
''s;HolCKINa DOuBLE TKAliEDY.

SHOCKING DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
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coLui1nIA. liz. May II.
A terrible tragedy occurred It the resi-
dencegof Monroe Gray, ten miles southeast
Of this place, yesterday morning, which
has plunged two families into deep
mourning. An erring wife and an mn
principled husband have been hurried to
untimely graves. gsx S.,
Monroe Gray, with his wife and two
children, girl Of tenand q boy Of twelve
lived On farm which he rented from
VIM Ditch, 3 weaIty farmer who
lived on the eastern foutskirts of the
village Until q few months ago Gray
lived in this town. His eyes
had been diseased and he had used up
nearly all of his money in having them
treated in East st. Louis. He finally de-
clded to go to farming again and as he
had little or no money he applied to Ditch,
who advanced him funds and let him go
on the farm where the tragedy occurred.
Thursday Gray drove to Ditch's house
and asked him to go with him 60 his
(Gray's) farm to see about repairing .
dixie few miles to the east. Ditch ac-
companied Gray back to his home and re-
NAMED there all night. It was arranged
that yesterday morning they should go over
to the house of q contractor named Axiey,
few miles east of Gray's, to engage him
to do some work.
About eight O'Clock Gray went out to
his barn to hitch up his team and left
Ditch sitting with Mrs. Gray in the sit
ting-room of the small three-room house.
Gray had been in the barn but short
time, when, in reaching up to take down
some harness, some timothy seed fell in
one of his eyes. He placed his hand over
the optic and started back to. the house
to have his wife get the seed out. As he
opened the sitting room door he saw that
the room was empty, and instantly his
suspicious were aroused. He had heard
that Ditch had been in questionable rela-
tons with the wives Of other men, but
never suspected that his home circle
would be invaded.
He stealthiIy entered the room, crossed
1t to the east side, pushed open the door
Of his wifes bedroom and there witnessed
sight that aroused all his manhood to
the highest pitch. He closed the door of
the bedroom and crossed 10 the west side
Of the sitting room to stand, In the
drawer Of which were two large navy re-
volvers. As he grasped the weapons the
~ fko had md
appeared. The latter im1edIately grasped
q chair with which to defend hInseif, and
as he did SO Mrs. Gray also came out anCs
begged her husband not to shoot. 4as
Gray, however, took deliberate aim
with one of the weapons and fired two
shots, both of which took effect in the
body of Ditch. As the latter fell to the
floor Mrs. Gray again appealed to her
husband to spare her life, but he refused
to listen to her. He fred and the ball
from the large 44-calibre weapon passed
through her abdomen and she fell by the
side of her parainour.A The first bullet
fired at Ditch entered his right side just
below the nipple, and the second passed
through his abdomen.
Gray left his wife and Ditch lying on
the floor dying, and started with his two
children to the house4of o. neghbor, to
whom he told the details Of the tragedy.
When he returned an hour later, both VIC
Tins were lying dead in almost the same
position In which Gray had left them.
Then the news of the affair spread over
the country like wiidfire and before noon
the little cottage was filed with farmers,
and in the yard outside stood little knots
of people discussing in subdued tones
the details OF the horrible drama tfIathad
been enacted.
Mrs. Ditch. the wife OF the murdered
man, was informed by q messengerof che
death of her husband, and not being ad-
evised OF the particulars visited the house
of Gray. where q most touching scene
was enacted. No one had ttold her Of the
cause Of the shooting; sto had simply
been told that Gray hkd shot her hus-S
baud; but when she Fepashed the house
the nature OF the srxgedy d4uned upon
her and she burst into Violent it of
swceping. She embraced the body Of her
husband and seemed to have forgotten
every thing but that heehad been ruthless.
~ taken from her, and TO have forgiven
him for his infidellty to her. Friends
took her away and soon after she accom-
panied the dead body of her husband back
20 their now desolate home IN tile VII
iage.
The Coroner was not in the county and
HIS Deputy uetd ia lHQu0St, w uiCu WAS
rather an impromptu affair and developed
nothing beyond what has been given
above. He decided to REQUIRE Gray
to give. bond in $1,000 for his appear
ance before the Grand Jury, but this
did not seem to be necessary as
Gray showed no inclination to
make his escape. He seems to
feel fully the nature of his 6-act
and displays no grief over it. He acts as
If he was convinced that he had dealt
Justly with those who had SO deeply
wronged him. He is willing to take all
the legitimate consequences, and will
stay here until wanted. 90
! sheriff Wilson went down to Gray'ss
farm as soon rs he was notified, but did
not offer to make an arrest, Is he felt
confident That Gray would not attempt TO
leave the country. @ e@
He was Wanted.
RooDHoUsE, ILL.,, MayT.
Sheriff W. M. Morrow received q
telegram yesterday morning from
Deputy Sheriff Phillips OF Louis