The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-03-22
IN A JEALOUS RACE
Farmer Rainwlter Attempts TO Ami
hllat, a Whole Family.
HE MURDERS FOUR PERSONS
His wife and Other Relatives- He
Completes His Horrible Crime
by Deliberately Blowing
of Top Of His Head.

Richmond, Mo,, March 2l.-A tragedy
rcsuitug IN the death of FIVE members
NJ one family Is reported from Orrick.
small village i5 miles southwest ~
here, H. ltaiuWatrr, a farmer shot aud
killed his Wife. his moth.r-tn-iaw.
Mrs. William Artman; his hrothcr-in-
law, James Thurman. ard his little step
daughter Ethel Gentry Then. after 80
nearly extcrminating the whole fam
lly, the murderer blew of the top pf his
own head. dying Instantly. The trag-
edy occurred AT the home Of William
Artman, father-in- law OF the murderer.
i've miles distant from the town ~ Or
rick Mrs. Ralnwster had recently left
her husband and with Ethel Gentry, a
daughter by former husband, had
sought shelter at the home of her pa
rents RalnWater II reported 20 have
been insanely Jealous Of his wife. and IL
Is believed visited the Artman home
with the express purpose of killing the
whole family. Sheriff Green has left
here for the scene OF the tragedy.
The tragedy occurred before midnighs
last night at the home OF William Art
u,sn. senior. fathcr-m-laN IF the MUIR
drrcr The two families lived quarter
of a mile apart on the bank of the Mis-
sGuri river three miles south of Orrick.
and sent for her daughter to come and
stay with her. Ethel Gentry, Mrs.
Rainwatcr's daughter by a former hus-
hand. went with her mother. ON Sat
uiday evening Rainwater, who hal
htn alone at home for several days.
went over tu the Artman house 10
snd the night. During the evening
he went To church with his younger
IN other in law, Johnnie Artman, AMI
-. "A ia al
humor, At bedtime kainWater pro-
4, scd TO Ar,man that they go out and
shoot some dogs that were barking out
side Artman cons, nting, they took a
shotgun and a revolver and went un..
They had gone hut 50 yards from the
house when l,ainwatcr. who was walk
mg behind the hoy. levelcd his shotgun
and stu Artman In the back Leaving
the boy for dead. Rainwatcr returned
10 the house. where all the other merl-
h,ts were by this time In bed, In one
I, On Mr.. and Mrs. Artman. Mrs. Rain
water and her daughter, Fanny Gcn,-
~, and lO-year-old boy we're In bed.
/ Entering the -Inpm- and lcyelung his
t gun at the aged Mrs. Artmnn. the mur-
I 4, rcr shouted, Damn you: I've got
4 you all now"
| Mrs Artman threw up her hands as
/ h. fired The charge carried uff all NJ
her fingers and tore away one side OF
/ her hrad She was Instantly killed.
/ Turning around. he literally blew HIS
/ Wilr's head OF with the other charge
/ In the shotgun. Then drawing the re-
/ volvor the murderer nted two bullets
| into the body ~ Fanny Gentry, one
passing through her lungs and the
! nihcr entering the brain. She. too. died
| Instantly.
I For some unknown reason, Rainwut"r
/ starrd the aged Mir Artman and this
| young Artman girl. The murderer then
| de lihcrat,ly reloaded both lerrels ot
tie shotgun and went out into the door
| yard There he encountered Johnnie
| Artman. whom he had left for dead.
| Tn, boy had crawlcd almost IL the
door. Rainwater killed him with an
other charge which tore away part of
the boys head. The murderer COM
| l,ted his most horrible crime by Lean
! ng up against = fence and. with tho
charge Of buckshot remaining In tho
gun, blowing on the top ~ his head.
| The tragedy was tot known until this
| norning. when the aged Artman and
mis- little daughter, who were almost
| b. ,tdc themselves with grief an
| fright. called In some reighbors Nhn
were paRing by, itainwater had bee 4
e., usidercd jealous ~ his wife and hal
! frequently quarrclcd with her bat
there had been nothing in his condu"t
to warn the family of his murderous ln-
| tpIliprs.