The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-23
TRAGEDY AT
REFORM SCHOOL.


Icontinued from First Page.1
Lowe was Jealous of his wife and was
trying to kin her and commit suicide
The tragedy took place in Loves room
in cottage b west of the main build
ing of the reform school about S.50.
Lowe was employed as head of a fam
ilv' a term applied to one who had
charge of a certain number of inmates.
Mrs. Lowe was matron, a position
which she has held about three Years.
LOWE GIVES HIS VERSION
A State Journal reporter interviewed
J. C. Lowe Sunday afternoon while ne
was locked ID in cell at the county
ian Lowe was perfectly rational. and
showed no results Of the tragedy except
his bandaged head. He was willing to
talk and gave his version of the story
in a few words and without showing
much agitation.
He said: Myself and my wife and
Mr. Lundgren and wife ali came in to
town last night in a surrey 1 took my
revolver along. It is strictly against the
rules of the school for an enDloye to
carry firearms, and kept the gun lock
ed in trunk in my bedroom, but took
il out for this occasion l carried it to
town and back. and when I got to the
room, neglected to replace II IN the
trunk and left It in my coat pocket.
forgot all about it until this Sunday
morning about $40. when / discovered
it in my pocket. I was down in front
of the building with some of the boys at
the time, and my wife was there too
She carried the key to the trunk where
I kept the revolver, and asked her 10
90 uD stairs with me so could put t
away. When we got in the room took
the revolver from my pocket and Opened
it. It did not work right and while
was fooling with it there was an explo-
sion. Things turned black, and [ did
not know anything more until recover
ed from the shock and saw my wife
lying on the floor"
When asked about his attempt to
swallow carbolic acid at the hospital
while his wound was being dressed, he
said: Yes, did. They would not give
me any hopes for her recovery. and I
did not want to live unless she did.
She is all the world to me. I don't care
what they do with me, just so she lives.
I swear it was an accident SIZE will
tell you so herself. What would I want
to kill her for? We lived happily to
gether and never had any trouble. They
needn't lock me up here like a murder
err He asked for the latest reports
from the hospital as to his Wife's condi-
ton and then called to two young ne
groes, Millard Thomas and Archie
RODGERS who were locked in an adj
joining cell. These boys are held for a
recent burglary, and have both been in
the Reform school and were in charge
of Lowe while there. Chief" he said,
addressing Thomas by nickname.
wife2 Did YOU ever know US to have
any trouble9"
Both the negroes answered that they
had known of no trouble. While speak
ing they showed an air of Difference 10
the man who had been their master.
and spoke in a constrained way which
left the impression that they would say
more if not in his presence.
In answer to questions Lowe further
stated that he was 81 years Of age, had
been employed at the Reform school
about three years, and came from Pres
colt, Linn county, where he was at one
time county superintendent Of public in
struction. His father C. Lowe, lives al
Prescott and is in town today.
Lowe said he had been mar
ried seven years. and had no children
He closed the interview by saying. I
guess 1 am fool for talking to you,
as 1t may hurt my case, but 1 don't
care what they do with me. just so she
lives. That is all care about any
Wav.
While he talked he blubbered like a
DIR. MUM DESCRIBES WOUNDS.
DR.. L. H. Mum, who was called to the
reform school to attend Mrs. Lowe, and
later performed an operation at the
hospital, says. When [ arrived at the
reform school I found Mrs Lowe suf-
fering severely from shock, and Vornit-
ing blood. I found two wounds in her
hight side about three inches apart,
had her removed to the hospital, where
an operation was performed, Drs.
Powell, Raster, Buckmaster and Hoge-
boom assisting.
I'VE found that both bullets had
ranged across and slightly forward The
wounds were just below the ribs on the
axillary line. We opened the abdomen,
washed out the blood, and repaired the
injuries to it's contents, but owing to
the nature of the injuries and the range
of the bullets the chances are against
her recovery. 1 have been informed
that Lowe has a hereditary tendency
toward insanity. His maternal grand
father was insane. Lowe himself is a
hypochondriac. He has called on me
many tines in the past two years with
line of purely hypoehondriacal symp-
toms. Mrs. Lowe maintains that the
shooting was an accident"
Mrs. Lowe is suffering great agony
this morning, despite the efforts Of the
nurses to give her relief. Mrs Lowe has
signed written statement generating
her husband from all blame The state
ment is signed Laura Lowe, his wife -
There is something pathetic in the last
two words, and they fully explain why
she is shielding the man who shot her