Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-23

With charge of shot in his abdomen,
discharged from a gun in the hands
of his wife, John Kreebs, miner,
died here this morning shortly after 6
O'Clock. Mrs. Kreebs is prostrated
with grief over the occurrence. A hur-{
ried examination of the case fails to
disclose any cause for the shooting,
and it is believed here that it was ac-
cidental
Shot in His Yard
Attracted by the report q a gun to
the vicinity of the Kreebs nome early
| this morning some of the people of
this place found John Kreebs lying in
his own yard fatally wounded by
charge of snot which had struck him
in the lower part of the body.
| The intimation that Mrs. Kreebs'
mind was affected is given no credence
here and there seems to be more
general impression that the affair was
taltogether an accident.
| 1t is learned here this morning that
Mrs. Kreebs, while coming out of the
house with a shotgun in her hands,
was suddenly startled by the report
of the gun, and an instant later saw
her husband, who was in the yard
near by, fall to the ground. Assis-
tance arrived almost Immediately. but
I the wound caused by the shot was of
such nature that medical assistance
was of no avail. and the unfortunate
man passed away few minutes later.
Had No Trouble.
AS far as is known here there has
been no trouble between Mr. and Mrs.
Kreebs that would have caused such
an attack. Just how the gun came to
4 be discharged is not known and it is
! stated by Mrs. Kreebs that she was
not aware that the gun was loaded.
i A coroners jury will probably be
called and a thorough investigation of
the case made.
Joan Kreebs,the victim of the shoot
ing, was a man about 40 years of age.
He has worked as a miner for many
years and has been employed in the
mines here for considerable time
The deceased is survived by his wife
and two children, about 10 and 16
years of age. He was well known in
. this vicinity and his sudden death has
come as a great shock to his friends
and acquaintances. Arrangements for
the funeral have not yet been made
Further Details.
Jerome, Oct 23-( Especial. )-Furth-
er details in regard to the Kreebs'
killing here this morning reveals the
fact that the couple had frequently
quarreled. They did not live happily
together and had not for some time.
A Fatal Bath.
According to the story of neighbor
j. NJ. Dooley, this morning Mr. Kreebs
arose early and wanted his wife to get
up and get breakfast in order that he
might so to work She refused The
couple quarreled about it for some
time and finally Mr.. Kreebs went to
the well, drew a bucket of water and
threw on his wife while she was yss
i in bed. This aroused her anger and
the quarreling was continued with re-
newed ferocity. Finally both went
out doors, just what for does not APP
pear Mrs Kreebs went into the
house and as she went said: 'Ill fix
you" In moment she appeared in
the door with shot gun She pointed
: it at her husband and pulled the trig-
Il ger. He fell to the ground with a
: charge Of shot in his abdomen. He
: expired in about twenty minutes.
Admit That She Did 1t.
: Mrs. Kreebs admits that she pointed
: the gun at her husband and that she
| pulled the trigger. She denies, how
e ever, that she had any intention OF
t killing him and says she did not know
4 the gun was loaded. This view of the
case is generally accepted here. She
is woman who has had a good repu.
tation as has her husband, who is said
to have been an Industrious miner.
The coroner's Jury's Verdict.
/ The coroner impaneled jury and
+ heard the evidence. 1t was substan-.
g TALLY as given above. The jury re,
:. turned verdict finding that Mrs
: Kreebs is a criminal in the eyes oil
! the law and that she killed her hus
+ band"
{ No effort will be made to take her to
Y centeryille and place her In Jail i'm
til tomorrow.