Newport weekly independent., 1901-08-23
BLOOD CURDLING MURDER.
John Bailey, Laborer, Takes Life of Wife in Cold Blood, Then Seeks
 to End His Own Existence.

DSy OAo StobOtj CL0 1lOSl CufulluS, cold blooded murder ever committed in the annals of this county, was that of Mrs. Mary Bailey by a brute hus- band, occurring at the Exchange Ho- tel at the corner of Third and Hazel streets in this city about 9:15 o'clock Sunday morning.
 The awful deed was perpetrated on the rear porch of the hotel and was witnessed by but few people, yet the scene wrought by it's occurrence was a one which made strong men grow faint too look upon. Between the hours of nine and ten on Sunday morning many people are gathered on the streets vending their way to and from the postoffice and the var ious church houses, and sudden dis turbance of the quietude of this day by the firing of seven pistol shots in rapid succession, an occurrence most unusual, was suggestive of grave crimes possibly being committed Hence it was that in less time that it would take one to tell it hundreds of people were gathered at the scene of the murder eager to avenge the das- tardly crime, and only through the precarious condition of the murderer from self-inflicted wounds is he now left to nurse his wounds in jail instead of paying the penalty of this deed.
 CAUSE OF THE DEED.
 John Bailey, the wife murderer, is a young man 2S years of age, and is a brother-in law to the wife of P. F. Teter, proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, having married Miss Mary Miller, sister of Mrs. Teter, at Ar genta little over six years ago. They lived together about five years and four months, making their home at Argenta and Little Rock, during that time their married life being one con tinuous unpleasant experience, due in large measure to jealous dispo- ys. ton and subsequent mistreatment from the husband. In February, 1900, they came to Newport, Bailey secur- ing employment with the Kelley Lum- Der Company where he remained about fourteen months,. during this time he and wife making their home with P. F. Teter at the Exchange Hotel.
 In February, 1901, while attending a dance at the home of Pete Anderson, the trouble arose which lead to their final estrangment and subsequent sep aration. In drunken stupor and fit of jealous rage he slapped his wife for dancing with another man. Then fol- lowed several days of mistreatment on his part with petty quarrels, which ended with the wife taking her de- parture for Little Rock, where she has since resided with the family of Geo. Johnson.
 Bailey continued his residence at the Exchange Hotel and the past four months has been employed by P. F. Teter & Son at the ways, near Elm pies mill. Last Monday he heard (so he says) that his wife was sick at Lit tie Rock a..d announced his intention to go to that city and see her, which he did on Wednesday. While there the woman informed him that she expected soon to return to Newport to live with her sister and would in stitu~e proceedings for divorce. To this he made no objection, telling her hox "a tOMrs. Ida Caldwell, friend of the
 woman, he stated his intention of kill
 mgher if divorce proceedings were
 instituted.
 Mrs. Bailey arrived in this city on
 1ssaEsu.aJ and on Saturday in com pany with E. A. Hart, a boarder at the Exchange, went before Justice J. J. Martin to made application for di- vorce, who told her to return Monday when he would have same made out for her. That night Bailey evinced considerable nervousness and made ' numerous threats, and according to
 E A. Hart, who roOmed with him.
 slept but little, rising frequently and
 5oing out for walk in the yard.
 s1onir in the evening the same rest Ylessness was noted in his actions by Frank Wooten while engaged in a game of billiards with him at w. R. ! O'Neaps, but thinking it was from the effect of "blind- d-tiger" whiskey no significance was attached to it by them