The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-02-06

Joseph DesMariss QuarreIied With His Wife
but aid not KIN Her.

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Considerable excitement was occa-
stoned Monday morning by report of
wife murder from Amasa. Joseph Des-
Marias and hia wife quarrelled Friday
night and tho woman left the house.
staying with neighbors Friday and Sat
urday night. About noon Sunday she
went 10 the Amnsa House, whore she
died about 1890 that night. The
woman was not severely injured in the
iracas with her husband and was not
apparently seriously i'll as result of the
quarrel. Death was undoubtedly caused
by heart failure, precipitated, perhaps,
by worry over the trouble with her
husband.
The case is decidedly complicated
one, as regards the family trouble and II
is impossible TO get n straight story.
reporter OF THE DIAMOND DRILL In
terviewed DesMarias Wednesday and he
told some very dark stories as to his
dead wife's character and temper. He
claimed that Hhs started the quarrel
Friday night and attacked him with n
butcher knife He snys he did not strike
her, merely put his hand on her forehead
and pushed her back. lie says he then
told her lac would have her arrested and
she ran out OF the house tearing her hair
and screaming. He claimed he did not
know where she stopped Friday and
Saturday nights and stated that they
had often quarrolled before. That she
had very disagreeable temper and used
TO beat him occasionally. Mrs. Des-
Marias was n large woman and Mr..
DesMarias il a small, nervous man,
who, judging from his appearance, might
always be depended upon TO tell story
favorable TO himself.
Undersheriff Tromblay was summoned
TO Amasa Sunday to arrest DesMarias
and was there when Mrs. DesMarias
died. lie was speaking TO the deceased
about an hour before she died aud says
she did not appear III at that time, ex-
cept that her head ached. She told him
she wanted divorce from her husband.
and he replied that she would have to
come TO Crystal Falls to get it. Mr..
Tromblay says that while he was in the
Amasa house, DesMarias entered and
asked his wife TO 70 home with him and
she refused.
At the coroner's inquest held Tuesday,
William Burge, justice Of the peace OF
Amasa, testified that DesMarias came
20 him Sunday, 10 an Intoxicated condi-
tion and asked FOR warrant to have
his vile arrested, which he refused to
issue. He says the man then asked for
permit" to kill his wife and some
man whom he claimed she was intimate
with. lie said "give me permit and 1
will kill both OF them"
Mrs. Edward day, who runs the
Amasa House, says that Mrs. Des-
Marias cnme to the house Sunday.
That she did not appear sick, ex-
copt that she complained OF headache
and said Joe hit her.
DR.. William McBurney, OF Amasa.
examined tie deosassd and says that
there were no marks or other evidence
tending 10 show that the woman had
died from the effects OF any injury. The
doctor gives ss his undoubted belief
that the woman died from heart failure,
probably superinduced by fear and
worry.
DesMarias was arrested and tried in
justice court Wednesday. Ho plead
guilty of assault and battery and was
fined twenty dollars, including costs.
which lac paid.
The neghbors oi the couple at Amasa,
however, discrcdit DesMarias' story OF
his wiie's uniaithiuness, though il is
believed 10y mauy that her temper was
not OF the most amiable kind, and an
Amasa gentleman informed the reporter
that he had once seen the husband hunt
ing for the sheriff TO protect him from
his wife.
IL would appear, however, that Dee-
Marias might have been prosecuted Tor
something more than simple assault and
battery, inasmuch as the attack OF
heart failure that caused death was
brought on by fear and worry, and 1t ~
known that he had threatened To kill
her and sought permission OF a justice
90 kill her and the man whom be
claimed was her paramour.
Mrs. DesMarias was about forty-two
years old and was married TO Joseph
DesMarias nt Florence on April Ia.
1883. She was buried mt Amasa Tues
day afternoon.
The coroner's jury empanneIed on this
case was composed OF the following
gentlemen: Chns. NJ Dusenbery, Geo.
T.. Voos, j X Hooper, Daniel Banner
man, Robt Wilson, Richard Wehse.
Coroner, Casper Aberle. After hearing
the evidence the jury rendered verdict
of death from heart failure.