The Butler weekly times., 1897-03-25
SECOND MEEKS HORROR.
Hideous Work of a MadIy JeaI-
GUS Ray County Farmer.
FROM WORSHIP TO MURDER

Thurman, His WIfe's Brother,
Then Murdered His Wife,
Her Mother, Mrs Art
man, and His Step
daughter.
Orrick, Mo, March 81 B. Rain,
water, a farmer living 5 miles south
east of this place, went to prayer
meeting Saturday night. Returning
home, he enticed his brother in law,
John Thurman, into the orchard and
shot HIM dead. He then went to
the house of his wife's parents, near
by, and with double. barreled shot
gun murdered his mother-in law,
Mrs. William Artman, as she lay
asleep in bed. The other barrel suf-
feed for his wife, who was occupy
ing another bed in the same room.
Throwing down his empty gun, he
drew a revolver and killed his 49,
year old step-daughter, Ethel Gen
try. He reloaded the gun, retired
eighty yards from the house, and,
placing the muzzle against his fore
head discharged both barrels at
once, blowing the top of his head off.
The only members of the house.
hold who were not murdered are
William Artman, Sr., and his II year
old daughter. Mary Artman.
Jealousy and a belief that his
mother in law was interfering with
his domestic affairs is believed to
have been the cause of Rainw ater q
terrible crime His married life was
not happy. He and his wife often
quarreled, and at such times it was
her habit to go to the home of her
parents, who lived on an adjoining
farm, taking her daughter by form
er marriage with her. Up to the
time of the tragedy Mrs. Rainwater
had not lived with her husband for
four months.
Rainwater was often bitter in his
denunciation Of his wife aud her
mother, telling the neighbors
that these women had conspired
together to wreck his life, but this
version of the trouble was not cred
tied, as it was generally believed
that he was to blame. He did not
enjoy particularly enviable reputa-
tior. The neighbors regarded him
as morose and disagreeable. The
family of his father in law, William
Artman, on the other hand, stood
high in the community, and its mem
bers were looked upon as quiet,
Christian people. All the sympathy
was with the wife, refined. delicate
woman. and her daughter, a sweet
little girl of 13 years.
ATTENDED A REVIVAL
About 7:30 o'clock Saturday night
Rainwater met his brother-in. law,
John Thurman, in the road near the
Artman farm and suggested that
they attend prayer meeting at Mis-
souri, Valley church, about one mile
away, where a series of revival meet
ings was being held. Thurman con
sented and they went to the church,
remaining until services were out.
1t was then nearly II o'clock. The
pair walked back to Rainwater's g
house, which is but few hundred
yards from the Artman premises, aud
entered. Rainwater bade Thurman
entertain himself while he, Rainwat,
er, went out to attend to his stock.
A few moments afterward Rain ater
returned and said: "There are lot
of dogs out hsre in the orchard rails
ing a OF rumpus. Let's 60
out and fix few of them. You take
my shotgun and I'll see what l can
do with this revolver"
JOHN THURMAN THE FIRST TO DIE.
Thurman did as he was bid. The
two followed u bride path to the
orchard, but what took place there
can only be corisctured. 1. is sup.
posed that Thurman, seeing no signs
of the dogs, started to return to the
house, whereupon Rainwater shot
him with his revolver twice ia the
back of the hesi and once in the