Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-04
IN IOWA PA1R|(|D[
Particulars Of the Killing Of Axom
Wood by his Son Near
Anamosa.
Declares He Shot to Save His
Mothers Life and His
Own.
Sympathy and Sentiment Of the
Community With the Mother
and Boy.

SPECIAL TO Ilmes-ltepubllcan.
Anamosa, Sept. 4.-Particulars have
been received of the tragedy in Green
field township, nine miles from this
city, briefly mentioned in these dis
patches Monday. The tragedy occurred
Sunday night. Emery Wood shot and
killed his father. Axiom Wood, being
prompted in the deed by the action of
his father, who held loaded revolver
in his hand and was chasing his wife
about their home. Death was Instan-
taneous, the father falling with the
cooked revolver pointed at his son.
No preliminary hearing has as yet
been held, but the lad, who is is years
of age, tells a straightforward story
and his assertions are corroborated by
the circumstances and appearances
about the home; also by the people and
neighbors living in the vicinity of the
spatricide.
The father for many years had been
subject to violent fits of temper, altho
he was not addicted to the use OF in
toxicants. Your correspondent called
at the Jail and the boy, altho in a very
gloomy state of mind, talked freely
about the trouble and gave out the fol-
lowing account of the same: An uncle
who had been absent for a number of
years was making visit a the Wood
home. This uncle and the elder Wood
had had some trouble about eighteen
years ago, but .upon his arrival he was
greeted Very cordially and all troubles
of the past seemed to have been for
gotten during the lapse of years. But
as the uncle was about to depart it
seemed as if the old feeling was kindled
anew in Woods breast and he inter-
Efered With his wife's bidding her rela-
tive good bye. She. knowing the un-
comfortable temper of her hus band and
his liability to commit acts of violence
on herself and the children should she
disobey his orders, acquiesced in his in
junction and turned 10 go into the
house. The husband seemed enraged
and grabbing club started in pursuit
of his wife. She ran into the house,
and fearing to remain therein. started
to go toward the garden. The husband
dropping the club as he entered the
house and soon came out, following his
Wife with a loaded revolver, declaring
that he would kill her.
The son, who had been hunting
squirrels, returned home just as the
father was coming out of the house.
The son carried double barreled shot
gun and came upon the scene just in
time to prevent the father from com
hitting an act of murder. A younger
sister who had witnessed the trouble al
the house. asked her older brother to
protect mamma and not let the father
harm her. Her9request seemed to the
lad to be Imperative. and he immedi-
ately commanded his father not to
shoot. This enraged the father more
than ever ana he now turned on his
son. saying: II will kill YOU, too. The
father now noticed that the boy had the.
gun and was in a position to defend
himself and commanded the boy TO lay
the gun on the ground. The boy
answered and told his father that he
Would comply with his request When he
was willing TO do likewise. The father
pulled back the hammer of the revolver
and the boy, shutting his eyes pulled
both triggers of the shotgun. and the
father fell dead With two charges of
shot in his left breast. The distance
between the mo was about twenty feet.
The boy Immediately went to Mar
telle, a small town near their home
and turned himself over to the authori-
ties. He is now in the county jail in
this city.
Young Wood states that thu father
had threatened him and his mother sev :
eral times before and about six years
ago drew a weapon on his wife. The
family consists of the mother and three
children, besides the boy who is now in
Jail.
{ The lad in question has borne an ex-.
celient reputation for industry. truth
sfulness and sobristy. sympathy is!
with the boy.