Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-13
Thus Police View Case of Mrs
Josephine Garrett.
SHE ATTEMPTED TO DO MURDER
Fired Twice at Mrs. Ella Garrett, the
Present Wife of Her Former Hus-.
band-Bound Over to Grand jury
Police Court News.

"A case WHICH is more suitable 1Or
the commissioners Of insanity than the
officials of the court to deal with is
that of Mrs. Josephine Garrett, who
was arrested yesterday afternoon
about 4:30 o'clock on the charge of
assault with intent to kill 1t is
charged that she fired two bullets
from .3S caliber revolver directly at
Ella Garrett, the present wife. of Ed
Garrett, who was formerly married to
the would be murdress. She does not
deny the charge, but is even more
than ever eager to. carry out her de-
signs and this morning in court could
not keep herself in control. saying
that she would yet get" the woman
she hates. She waived preliminary
examination in police court and was
bound over to the grand jury.
Family Difficulties.
The woman is apparently insane
from brooding over the mistreatment
which she says has been given her
two sons by the woman who married
her former husband and became the
stepmother of the two little fellows. 1t
is alleged by the husband and the pres
ent wife that Josephine has for two
years threatened to kill the present
Mrs. Garrett and yesterday she came
near making her threats good
Ed Garrett and Josephine Garrett
were married in Illinois about fourteen
years ago. and have two sons. After
living in Illinois a few years they re-
moved to Ottumwa, where they resided
for while about twelve years ago.
They then removed to Missouri and
lived there for some years. However,
as Garrett stated this morning to a
Courier reporter, life with the woman
became SO unbearable that he was
forced to get divorce. The custody
of the elder of the two boys was given
to the woman, but after few months
she sent for the husband, so he says,
asking him to take charge of the child,
and since that time he has had both
| boys with him.
| Ed. Garrett was married the second
time in Missouri and came to Ottumwa
| a little more than year ago. About
nine months ago his former wife made
her appearance in Ottumwa and it is
said that she made threats at that time
| to kill her successor as the wife of
Ed. Garrett, claiming that she was
mistreating the children. The defend
ant claims that since she has been in
Ottumwa the man has circulated re-
ports about her which have injured
her reputation and made it hard for
her to make a living.
The Second Shooting.
The climax came yesterday after
noon. Josephine visited the Garrett
home on West Mill street, and entered
the house. Mrs. Garrett and one of
the boys were there at the time The
visitor sent the child out on some er-
rand and then accosted his STEP
mother. Just what ensued is in doubt,
as the two women tell different stor-
| les. The defendant claims that she
and the other woman had some words
and that she became angry and shot
at the latter. Ella Garrett claims that
the shooting was without warning al
most and that she had said nothing
to warrant it. She claims that after
the child had left the house Josephine
said: Il have threatened to kill you
several times and now | am going to
do it." Drawing revolver she fired
twice, but neither bullet found its
/ target. Mrs. Garrett ran from the
house screaming and summoned help
The police We're notified and the wo.
man was arrested before she could
do any more violence Officer Myers,
who arrested her, stated this morning
that she tried to get out Of the patrol
wagon on the way to the Jail, and
asked and again to be released so she
could finish her work of murder.
| N,cad Nothtn1 for
This morning when Mrs. Garrett
was arraigned in police court she
showed little interest in the proceed
ings. She was asked whether she
wanted time for getting an attorney
and answered that she didn't eare.''