Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-07-08
DOUBLE MURDER
Rock Citers Kills His
Wife and then Shoots
Himself at Northwood,
Iowa.

A telegram from North wood, Iowa,
dated July 6 states that Rock Citers,
who lived on a leased farm d few miles
from that place, in a Gt Of rage, agra
waited by drink, hot his wife twice with
a shotgun loaded with buckshot, then
pounded her to a Jelly with the butt OF
his gun. After killing her he lay down
beside her and shot himself in the Jug
ular vein with a revolver. The first
charge OF buckshot struck Mrs. Citers in
the hand aud wrist as she was fleeing,
then she turned toward her husband
and pleaded Tor mercy, but he waited
until she was near and fired the second
charge into her breast, missing the
heart and not killing her. He must
have exerted demoniacal strength i'll
beating her with the gun, for the stock
was broken in pieces, and the double
barrel was considerably bent by the
blows on the head. His w death was
instant, as the ball passed through the
iugular vein and went through the
brain obliqely upward and lodged up
against the skull, eight inches from the
entrance. The tragedy was witnessed
by several OF their children, who stood
a few rods away afraid to come near.
The mother and lathe. had.had frequent
quarrels and fights, and had led a brutal
and profane lie. They leave nine child
rem, ranging from five to twenty-five
years OF age. The older children seemed
SO hardened that they were not much
affected by the tragedy. They resented
the interference OF che coroner, sheriff
and physicians, saying that they had no
business to take affairs in their own
hands as they did. The older boys OBJ
jected to the coroner taking away the
gun and revolver, which are to be placed
in the state criminal museum. The
many people who went to the scene OF
the crime say the sight was horrible.
Out in the muddy cornfield, both lay
half buried in the ooze, besmeared with
clotted blood. The expression on the
mans face was one of drunken, staring
idiocy, showing the act was done in a
state OF temporary insanity. The wife's
face was expressive OF fright and terror.
Altho' the murderer was drunk at the
time of the crime, yet it is thought the
deed was premeditated, for early in the
day, when sober, he had asked his eldest
boy TO calculate the price OF a load OF
oats to be sold that day, and told the
boy to be careful OF the bill, SO that if
ANYTHING happened that day TO him, Mr..
Citers, the son should have the money .
Rock Citers. who committed this ter
rible crime, formerly resided about five
miles east OF Webster in Racine town
ship, and was probably one of the best
known farmers in this section. He was
u good worker and fairly well TODD,
but was a man OF ungovernable temper
and frequently administered violent
beatings upon his wife. In fact, a ter
rible mauling that he gave her which
nearly had a serious ending and for
which he was placed under bonds, was
the main factor in causing his removal
from this county. Mrs. Citers was a
hard working woman, intelligent and
well thought OF by her n%eighbors. She
was famous as a midwife aud her SER
vices were in frequent demand. Neigh
bors well acquainted with the family
declare that Citers was more or less
insane and express no surprise at the
tragedy any more than at the fact that
he did not kill some OF the children.