The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-14
Attempted Suicide or Murder?

A most revolving and sickening double
crime was added to Owosso's list this morn
ing, the victims being Mr.. and Mrs. George
Russell who live at 3OS North Saginaw
street.
The first that was known of the double
tragedy was about six O'Clock when FL. ID.
Hanes, who runs the blacksmith shop at 203
West Main street, passed along Mason street
on the way to his shop. AS he crossed
Saginaw street he saw Mrs. Russell stag
gering towards him, bleeding profusely from
wound caused by large butcher knife
which was still sticking in her throat and
grooming horribly.
He rushed up to her, asking her how it
had happened and where she lived, but the
woman was unable to reply. Mr.. Hanes
then tried to arouse the people in the house
at the corner and then rushed back to the
old lady. When he reached her this time
he pulled the knife from the wound and
helped her to the veranda of her house,
where she sat for some minutes in chair,
still bleeding terribly. BY this time enough
of the neighbors had been aroused so that
help was sent for. No one, however, had
reached the scene until Mr.. Hanes had got
ten her onto the veranda. The knife was
thrust into the left cheek and extended
down into the woman's neck and throat to
nearly Its full length.
Mr.. Hanes stepped inside and saw blood
all about the room. Later, with Chas. Bald
win, he went in again, and hearing groan-
ing up stairs, they went up finding blood all
of the way. Up stairs they found Mr.. Rus
sell lying with his head out of the bedroom
door and his throat horribly cut. Thinking
they would do nothing for him until the ar
rival of physician, they turned away from
the sickening sight and went down stairs.
In the kitchen large jack knife was
found which had been used in part of the
fray and which was covered with blood.
DIR. Scott was soon present aud he pro-
ceeded to dress the wounds. There seems
to be some chance for the ultimate recovery
of both in spite of the terrible slashing,
though Mrs. Russell's condition appears to
be somewhat the worse, and she may not be
able to stand the shock.
Excitement of course ran high. The
hardly distinguishable murmurings of Mr..
Russell would carry the idea that there had
been bold attempt at double murder and
his mutteriDgs about big man whom he
saw 60 up stairs, make some think 1t was q
case of murder. Mrs. Russell herself would
say almost nothing at all about the ARRAY
except to say that she did not know who
did it."
1t is currently reported, however, thai
the couple have lived together on anything
but peaceful and happy terms, that quar-
rels and fights have been almost the com
mon pastime of the couple, and the belief /:
quite general that this time was only eli
max of the many almost similar scenes ant
that the old people have only each other t.
blame, and whether one was more to blame
than the other cannot at present be told.
1t seems impossible that any man coulC
have gotten into the house and committed
such crime and then escaped without be
ing seen, and consequently the most of tn,
theories. and they are at best but mel,
+; theories, are as to whether both or only one
and IL but one. which one did the cutting
! Unless some strange and unexpected evi
dence turns up the affair will be thought b!
/. most people to be simply most sickenin,
and horrible termination of family row.