Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-08-15
he KILLED HIS WIFE.
The Murderer Then Took His Own
Life Because he Feared
Insanity
Acolher Horrible Crime Added 10
OratiOI'S List
FEARED INSANITY He SAID IL
LETTER.

, one Of The worst murders and suicide.
known in this section occurred last sat
, urday night at the home OF =. II. SoweI
In the eastern part Of Ithaca. Early
sunday morning when a neighber. A. :
Loomls, stepped out of his back door he
found large board lying against the
door and under it pocketbook contain.
ing little money, deed and some
notes belonging to ). f. Sower. He at
once started for Mr. Sewers home.
which Is Just across the road. and in
passing by the barn stopped in and there
saw Mr.. Sower hanging from rafter in
the roof of the barn. He at once rushed
forward to cut him down, but found
him cold in death.
Prosecuting Attorney Kirby and
Sheriff Parrish were at once notified
and after viewing the remains cut them
down. They wentinto the house and "a
they stepped in the kitchen there Law an
AK on the floor covered with blood and
hair, while in the bedroom on the bed
III her night clothes lay his wife. Jennie
Sower, with cash seven inches long
from her ear 10 the middle of her fore
head, where the aX did the work. There
was not the least sign Of a struggle and
she lay as If she had never recovered
from her sleep 90 know what struck her
On the table was found the following
note left by Mr.. Sower:
DEAR ELLIs-This could not be any
other way. knew weeks ago that II
must be insanity or suicide for me and |
decided that insanity would be worse
Tor all of US than suicide. But / could |
not possibly bring myself to feel that il |
would be otherwise than cowardly 10 |
leave mamma to the awful suffering and |
death that either insanity or suicide |
would mean to her, so | decided il would |
be best FOR all and especially for her 10 |
take her with me. What can | say TO
you that will in any way help Won TO
bear this awful blow? Nothing Nor
am i able to advise you as to your future
course excepting TO say consult Mr..
Grace and Charlie Webster and Ben.
And if possible do not let this crush YOU
This depression has been something
most awful and am utterly powerless
to control myself, but am tossed like a
babe by the billOws Of unutterable de.
spondency. am getting very weak aud
cannot possibly conceal my condition
longer from mamma. In fact, | think
she suspects II now | can't write more.
No one Is q b'ame for this MY wife
has been an atfectlonate parent and self
sacrificing woman and my son most ,
dutlful boy. / could not explain so | .
could be understood what has led 10
this, but Nannie's death FASTENED it,and
u ! should write page upon page,
would not be understood Good bye. ,
my dearest boy. and poor Mile and
sweet baby and brothers and sisters.
iood-bye. / have no fear whatever for
he future, az have done the very hest
could with the light and strength | 3
lave had through life No Just God {
would punish me for what / could not
lelp. Good bye all. "
Mr.. Sower was 5S years OF age and
vas member Of the Forty ninth Ohio
regiment, member of the G.. A. r.,
nd for years ran store at Newark,
where re was prominent in social as
veil as political circles. lie had lately
moved to Ithaca. His wife was 80 years
( age and they leave an only son.
heir only daughter, Mamie, was killed
few years ago by the accidental dis
barge of gun, and it is thought that
Onstant brooding over this fact had
nsettled Mr.. Sewers mind. The fun.
raj Of husband and wife were both ~
eld at the same time Wednesday and !.
le bodies were laid side by side in the =,
rady cemetery in North Star township. :,