Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-30
5HOCKINg DOUBLE TRAGEDY,

Awronged Husband Kills the Invader %
the Partner OF the Guilty Liason-EWe
Families Plunged i'm Mourning.
COLUMBIA. ILL.,. May n.
A terrible tragedy occurred at the resi-
dence of Monroe Gray, ten miles southeast
of this place, yesterday morning, which
has plunged two families into deep
mourning. An erring wife and an un-
principled husband have been hurried to
untimely graves.
Monroe Gray, with his wife and two
children, girl of ten and boy of twelve
lived on q farm which he rented from
VIM. Ditch, wealty farmer who
lived on the eastern outskirts of the
village. Until 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 SO to farming again and ~ he
had little or no money he applied to Ditch,
who advanced him funds and let him 60
on the farm where the tragedy occurred.
Thursday Gray drove to Ditch's house
and asked him to go with him to his
(Gray's) farm to see about repairing
dixie q few miles to the east. Ditch ac-
companied Gray back to his home aud re-
NAMED there all night. IL was arranged
thatyesterday morning they should SO over
to the house of contractor named Axley,
a few miles east of Gray's, to engage him
10 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 bat q 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-
tions with the wives of other men, but
never suspected that his home circle
would be invaded.
He stealthily entered the room, crossed
1t to the east side, pushed open the door
OF his ife's.bedroom and there witnessed
sight that aroused all his manhood to
the highest pitch. lie closed the door of
the bedroom and crossed to the west side
OF the sitting-room to q stand, in the
drawer OF which were two large navy re-
yolvers. As he grasped the weapons the
door OF the bedroom opened, aud Ditch
appeared. The latter Immediately grasped
chair with which to defend himself, and
as he did so Mrs. Gray also came out anG
begged her husband not to shoot.
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. lie fired and the ball
from the large 44-calibre weapon passed
through her abdomen and she fell by the
side of her paramount. 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 house of q neighbor, 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 wildhre and before noon
the little cottage was filled with farmers,
and in the yard outside stood little knots
OF people discussing in subdued tones
the details of the horrible drama that had
been enacted.
Mrs. Ditch, the wife of the murdered
man, was informed by messenger ofthc
death of her husband, and not being adj
yised of the particulars visited the house
OF Gray, where a most touching sceoe
was enacted. No one had told her of the
cause of the shooting; she had simply
been told that Gray had shot her hus-
band; but when she reached the house
the nature Oh the tragedy dawned upon
her aud she burst into violent ht Of
weeping. She embraced the body of her
husband and seemed To have forgotten
everything but that he had been ruthless
ly taken from her, and - have forgiven
him for his intidelity to her. Friends
took her away and soon after she accom-
panied the dead body of her husband back
To their now dcsolate home In the viii
lage.
The Coroner was not in the county and
his Deputy held an inquest, which was
rather an impromptu affair and developed
nothing beyond what has been given
above. He decided to require Gray
to give bond in 81, 900 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 act
and displays no grief over 1t. He acts as
IL he was convinced that he had dealt
justly with those VINO had SO deeply
wronged him. lie is willing TO take all
the legitimate consequences, and will
stay here until wanted.
Sheriff Wilson went down to Gray's
farm as soon as he was notified, but did
not offer to make an arrest, as he felt
confident tat Gray would not attempt TO
leave the country