The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-17
WILLIAM H. JARVIS TRIES TO KILL
HER, THEN SHOOTS HIM
SELF.
SAID SHE WAS TIRED OF HIM.
PIONEER RESIDENT COMMITS SUI
eide UNDER PECULIAR CIR
CUMSTANCES.
FIERCE HAND TO HAND FIGHT
With sOn5 Who Defends His
Mother, Followed by q Terrible
Tragedy.

S-NS~~-s 49, ''AAeSI 10 pCA1CNCO " nave
been an attempt to murder his wife and
then take his own life, William H. Jar
Wis, market gardener living two miles
beyond the city limits on Edgerton
street, yesterday morning accomplished
half of his purpose by blowing out his
brains The shooting took place shortly
after lO o'clock, and Notwithstanding
the fact that a 32-caMber bullet passed
clear through Jarvis head, carrying
with it portions of the cerebral tissues,
he lived in an unconscious condition un-
til $50 o'clock last evening. Domestic
dlff1cult1es extending over a period of
years are assigned as a reason for the
tragedy. Coroner Nelson investigated
the circumstances of the suicide and de-
clded no further inquiry necessary. In
some quarters Jarvis was thought, of
late, to have been suffering from a
slight mental alteration.
1t is not known that Jarvis planned
the death Of his wife previous to yes
terday, but that he would have killed
her before taking, his own life, but for
the intervention Of his eldest son,
Harry, young man about twenty-five
years of age, is the firm belief of his
ia mily. 1t also seems that driven into
frenzy of rage at the sons efforts to
save the life of his mother, the desper-
ate father also endeavored to kill his
boy. Both Mrs Jarvis and her son es-
capped without injury, though only after
a desperate struggle with the maddened
husband and father.
For some time, 1t is said by members
of his family, Jarvis had evidenced an
unfounded jealousy Of his wife, the in
spiration Of his passion being none
other than his son-in-law, W. E. Pat
rick, a school teacher living at Mime
haha Falls, who is married to his eld-
est daughter. Until recently Jarvis
only complained of his wife's attention
to the son-in-law. on the ground that
he was neglected in the matter of home
consideration in favor of his daughter
husband. At times he would ctide his
wife with lack of concern for his well
rare and comfort, but little was thought
of the matter, as it was considered by
the family that Jarvis naturally petu-
liant and excitable nature was simply
venting itself without cause. Mrs. Jar
Wis had always treated her son-in-law
as one Of her own children, and, think
ing her husbands conduct but wIim,
made no effort to placate him by chang
ing her course toward the young man.
About a. week ago the matter was un-
der discussion in the JARVIS family and
led to- a. bitter quarrel between husband
and wife. Angry words passed, and, ac-
eord1ng to Mrs. Jarvis, her husband ap-
plied vile epithets tC her. in the pres
ence of the children. This affair caused
Mrs Jarvis great pain, and her hus-
band afterward begged her forgiveness
No violence was ever threatened by
Jarvis, however, and his rash act yes
terday was wholly unexpected. though
he had been more than usually morose
| and irascible for several days.
The tragedy in the household was
precipitated yesterday when Mrs. Jar
| Wis returned from Minnehaha Falls,
where her son-in-law is building a new
home. The building of the house was
unknown to Jarvis, and it was the in
tentton Of his daughter to keep the Sc
cret from him until next Sunday. when
1t would have been completed, and he
was to have been taken to visit the
place as surprise. Saturday Mrs.
Jarvis went to- the new home Of her
| daughter to assist in the final arrange
turning on an early train yesterday
| morning, she found her husband and
eldest son at home, the younger boy
having gone upon a bicycle trip short
ly after breakfast. She greeted her son.
but did not speak to her husband,
which caused him to ask if she had
nothing to say to him. Mrs. Jarvis re-
piled that she thought he would not
care to hear anything from person
such as he had characterized her to be
by the epithets Of a week ago and
passed into another ROOM Here she
was joined by her son, who was al
most Immediately followed by Jarvis.
He addressed his wife kindly and plac-
ed his arm about her waist, Asking
her If she had partaken. Of breakfast,
Jarvis turned. to his son and told him
to prepare cup, of coffee for his
mother. -.
When the young man left the room
Jarvis drew his wife closer to him
with endearing terms though she no.
ticed that he embraced her with but
one arm. Becoming suspicious Mrs.
Jarvis sought the whereabouts OF the
other arm, and was confronted with a
shining pistol which her husband drew
from his hip pocket. She uttered a cry
for help and began a struggle for pos
session of the weapon. Harry Jarvis
heard his mothers screams and rush
ed to her assistance. Graphing with his
father, the young :sman attempted to
liberate his mother. when Jarvis
threatened to shoot him If he did not
desist. The young man had managed
to turn the barrel Of the revolver from
his mother, however, and fought val
iantly for her life and perhaps his own.
The struggle lasted but short time
when Mrs. Jarvis succeeded in getting
away and fled from the room. This
11rv, Tt,
clared his sons life should be the pen
atty for his wife's. escape. Father and
son fought desperately for possession
OF the pistol, but finding he could not
secure the weapon though having been
able to keep it from being discharged,
young Jarvis finally needed the en-
treaties of his mother. who from the
doorway begged him to make his
escape and watching an opportune mo-
ment he slipped from his fathers grasp
and rushed from the, room. A moment
later came the report Of the pistol and
the sound CT a body falling to the floor.
Mrs Jarvis and her son returned to the
room to find the husband and father
in pool Of blood upon the floor, with
the weapon with which he had tried
to end their lives clutched in his right
hand. Jarvis had placed the revolver
at point about an inch above and
half an inch baSk of the right ear and
pulled the trigger. iThe bullet passed
through his head almost in straight
course and emerged from the left side,
leaving two CHASTITY sholes from which
blood and tissues flowed. Jarvis was
not dead when Coroner Nelson visited
the scene of the suicide, but it was
apparent that death was a question
of but short time. The fact that he
survived for nearly eight hours is at
tributed to the fact that the bullet
probably missed the most vital part Of