The record-union., 1897-03-22
NEARLY DIFFERENTIATED.
A JEALOUS MISSOURI FARMER
WADES IN GORE.
Kills Almost His Whole Family and
Then Blows Out His
Own Brains.

RICHMOND CMo.), March 21.-A
tragedy resulting in the death of five
members of one family is reported
from Orrick, a small village thirty-five
miles southwest of here. =. Rain
water, a farmer, shot and killed his
wife, his mother-in-law, Mrs. William
Artman; his brotherin-law, John Art
man, and his little stepdaughter, Ethel
Gentry. Then after so nearly extermi
mating a whole family the murderer
blew off the top of his own head, dying
instantly.
The tragedy occurred before mid
night last night at the home of William
Artman, ST., father-in-law of the nun
derer. The two families lived about
mile apart on the bank of the Missouri
River three miles south of Orrick.
Last week Mrs. Altman was taken
sick and sent for her daughter Ethel
Gentry, Mrs. Rainwater's daughter by
a former husband, went with her
mother. On Saturday evening Rain
water. who had been alone at home for
several days, went over to the Artman
house to spend the night. During the
evening he went to church with his
young brother-in-law, Johnnie Artman.
and upon their return appeared in good
humor.
At bedtime Ranwater proposed to
young Artman that they go out and
shoot some dogs that were barking
outside Altman conserving, they took
a shotgun and revolver and went out.
They had gone but fifty yards from the
house when Rainwater, who was walk
ing behind the boy, leveled his shotgun
and shot Artman in the back.
Leaving the boy for dead Rainwater
returned to the house where all the
other members of the family were by
this time in bed. In one big room Mr..
and Mrs Artman, Mrs. Rainwater and
her daughter, Fanny Gentry, and a
ten-year- daughter of the Artmans
We're in bed. Entering the room and
! leveling his gun at the aged Mrs. Art
man the murderer shouted, Damn
you, I've got you all now" Mrs. Art
man threw up her hands as he fired.
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
wifes head off with the other charge in
the shotgun. Then drawing a revolver
the murderer fired two bullets into the
body of Fanny Gentry one passing
through her lungs and the other enter
/ ing the brain. She, too died instantly.
For some unknown reason Rainwater
spared the aged Mr.. Artman and the
younger Altman.
He then deliberately reloaded both
| barrels of the gun and went out into
| the door yard. There he encountered
Johnnie Artman, whom he had left for
dead The boy crawled almost to the
door. Rainwater shot him with another
| charge of buckshot which tore away
| part of the boys head. The murderer
! completed his most horrible crime by
leaning up against a fence and with
the charge of buckshot remaining in
the gun blowing off the top of his head
The tragedy was not known until this
morning when the aged Mr.. Altman
and his little daughter, who We're al
most beside themselves with grief and
fright, called in some neighbors who
Were passing by.
| Rainwater had been considered teal
Gus of his wife and had frequently
quarreled with her, but there had been
nothing in his conduct to warn the
family Of his murderous intentions.