The new North-west., 1897-03-26
THE FAMILY SHOT DOWN
1NSANELY JEALOUS HUSBAND SLEW
HIS WIFE AND RELATIVES,
"hen -Four Victims Had Been Dis
posed of, He Blew His own
Drains Out.

Richmond, Mo-, March 2-A tragedy
resulting in the death OF five members Of
one family is reported from Orrick. a
small village 35 miles southwest of here
Is. Ra1nwater. farmer. shot and killed
MS wife; his mother-in-law Mrs. William
Artman: his brother-in-law, James Thur
man, and his little stepdaughter. Fanny
Gentry. Then, after SO nearly extermi-
mating the whole family, the murderer
blew off the top of his own head, dying
Instantly
Inc tragedy occurred at the home of
William Artman, father-in-law Of the
murderer, five miles distant from the
town OF Orrick. Mrs. Rainwater had re-
Gently left her husband, and, with Fanny
Gentry, daughter by former hus-
hand, had sought shelter at the home of
fler parents. Rainwater is reported 20
nave been iilsanely jealous of his wife,
ana 1t Is believed he visited the Artman
meme with the express purpose of killing
the whole family.
Sheriff Green has left here for the scene
of the tragedy.
The tragedy occurred before midnight
last night at the home of William Art
man, ST., father-in-iaw of the murderer.
lne two families lived quarter Of u
mile apart, on the bank of the Missouri
river, three miles south of Orrick.
A RemOrseless Fiend.
Last week Mrs. Artman was taken sick
and sent for he1 daughter to come and
stay with her. Fanny Gentry, Mrs. Rain
waters daughter by former husband,
went with her mother. On Saturday ev-
enjng Rainwater, who has been alone at
nome for several days, went over to the
Altman house to spend the night. Dur
ing the evening he went to church with
his younger brother-in-law, Johnnie Art
man, and upon their return he appeared
in good humor. Al bedtime Rainwater
proposed to Artman that they go out and
Shcot some dogs that were barking out
side Artman consenting, they took a
shotgun and revolver and went out.
They had gone but so yards from the
house when Rainwater, who was walk
ing behind the boy, leveled his shotgun
and shot Artman in the back Leaving
the 10y for dead, Rainwater returned to
the house, where all the other members
wc1o by this time in bed. In one room
Mr.. and Mrs. Artman, Mrs. Rainwater
and her daughter, Fanny Gentry, and a
l0-year-old daughter of the Artmans were
in ed.
Entering the room and leveling his gun
at the aged Mrs. Artman, the murderer
shouted, Damn you! I have got YOU ali
now
Mrs. Artman threw up her hands as he
tired. The charge carried off all of her
fingers and tore away one side of her
face. She was instantly killed.
Turning around he literally blew his
"'it = lledd Oll Will lIe OlHSI CniTSo III
the shotgun. Then, drawing Il revolver.
the murderer fired two bullets into the
body of Fanny Gentry. one passing
throush her lungs and the other entering
the BRAIN She, too, died instantly.
For some unknown reason Rainwater
spared the aged Mr.. Artman and the
young Art!nan girl. The murderer then
deliberately loaded both barrels of the
shotgun and went out into the dooryard.
There he encountered Johnnie Artman,
whom he had left for dead. The boy had
crawled almost to the door. Rainwater
killed him with another charge, which
tore away part of the boys head.
The murderer completed his most hor-
rible crime by leaning UP against a fence,
and, with the charge of buckshot remain
ing in the gun, blowing off the top of his
head.
The tragedy was not known until this
morning, when the aged Artman and mis-
little daughter who were almost beside
themselves with grief and fright called
in some neighbors who We're passing by.
Rainwater had been considered jealous
of his wife and had frequently quareled
with her, but there had been nothing in
his conduct to warn the family of his
murderous intentions.