The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-03-30
A MAD MANS CRIME.
Charles Scott Murderously Assaults his
Wife and her Mother, and then Kills
Himself


Wife and her Mother, and then Kills
Himself.
The people of Owosso and vicinity were
shocked and fairly amazed on Monday
morning of this week to learn that during
the preceding night one of the most terri
ble crimes in the history of the city had
been attempted and that the attempt had
been followed by the accomplishment of
another almost as terrible when the would
be murderer, who must have become quite
| insane from a brooding jealousy, finished
the awful deed of the night by taking his
own ruined aud wrecked life, Iuined appar-
emily by his own lack of self control 1t
was about half past twelve on Sunday
night that Charles Scott after gaining en-
trance to the ouse where his wife and her
mother were etaying, 1924 ComstOck street,
attacked them murderously with heavy
chisel and after inflictiDg what probably
seemed to him were fatal wounds, shot
himself in the temple with 32 calibre re-
volver, killing himself almost instantly.
The story seems to be one of unrestrained
jealously bac ked by a cruel disposition and
a terrible temper. For long time MI.
and Mrs. Scott had not lived In the peace
and happiness which married people should
enjoy, to say the least, and as long ago as
last December Scott became so abusive that
life with him seemed not only unen-
durable but positively dangerous. AT vari-
Gus times he had threatened to kill his wife,
and about Christmas time he became 50
violent that fearing he might in reality car
ry out his former threats, she sent him
away from the house telling him that she
could not live with him longer. AT that
time he Is alleged TO have told an aequan-
tance that he could not live without his
wife and that he would probably some day
kill her and himself too. He did not how
ever 20 away to live until about five weeks
ago when his violence became again com
pletely uncomfortable and she sent him away
and begun at the same time proceedings for
di vorce. From this time Scott lived at the
have been at various times to see his wiit
and to atte mpt to get her to consent to live
with him again. Last Thursday he called
d at the hou:e and renewed his pleas to bl
} taken back. leaving her some money it is
stated and Afterwards Going to see thu
y attorney employed by his wife to see il
: settlement might not be arranged, ant
: while i'm the attorneys Office talked quit,
It reasonably about the matter. On Sunda!
n evening he again went to the house to SCI
II his wife, and the two are said to have hat
Q quite a long talk, at which time Mrs. Scot
10 told her husband that If he kept his wore
}. and did better for two months more sh
J. would take him back and would live will
3; on Sunday.
}; About half past twelve O'Clock, Mrs
:, Letta Ferguson, Mrs. Scotts mother, wa
k awakened by a noise which later proved t
have been caused by Scott himself comin
through the outside cellar way and up int
u. the sitting room through the trap door. 4
., chair standing over this had made tn
y alarm. About the first that Mrs. Fergu
. son realized however was that the ciouchin
!. form was that of Scott himself and as sh
r. moved to prevent him from going to he
;. daughters room. Scott struck her with
!. heavy chisel which he had with him. Scot
=. then got into his wife's room and in tn
struggle which followed succeeded in in
flctng very severe but not fatal Injuries o
both his wife and her mother. Starting (
10 retreat to the kitchen, and firing his re
'c volver at his wife as he went he struck he
rs again aud then on entering the kitche
u stopped to place the revolver to his ow
'r temple and fired pitching forward as
l. did so and dying almost instantly.
70 Mr.. and Mrs. A. l.. Goddard who occup
u the west half of the same house wer
! aroused by the cries of murder ana MI
~ Goddard started for the rooms OF the Scott
y but all had taken place so quickly that SEQ
y had sho. himself before he reached the doc,
Other nei ghbors' were also arou ed an
u some of then ran down town for the officers
70 Dept. Sheriff Cady and officer Aderh
> were the first 10 arrive and at half past OF
Marshal II. u. Ross. who had been tei,
phoned for, aud Coroner q. w. Loriu