The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-09-03
Earl Marshall Fires Two Shots Into
a Wedding Party Because He
Opposed His Sisters Marriage.
BULLETS FAILED TO HIT MARK
Rev. W W. Stevens in Line of Leaden
Missiles Has Narrow Escape-Marshall
Flees from the City,

Oue OF the most tragic events ever
known in Kenosha occurred just after
half past eight O'Clock Monday night
at the home of R. 81. Marshall, at go
Pomeroy street, when a son, Earl
Marshall, fred two shots into we'd
ding party in a supposed intent upon
the life of J. w. Roberts, of Dudley,
Iowa, who had just been married to his
sister. In the confusion Marshall "a a
from the house and escaped, and it is
supposed that he has managed to es-
cape from the city. Luckily the shots
went wild aud no one was killed.
The shooting, and the events lead
ing up to it, formed one of the most
romantic stories ever connected with
wedding in Kenosha.
Miss Nellie Marshall was the bride
and about thirty intimate friends and
relatives of the family had gathered to
witness the nuptial ceremony. The
guests had gathered in the parlor of
the house for the ceremony, but the
face of young Marshall was missing.
He had been asked to attend the cere-
mony, but on account of his opposition
to the wedding he had declined the in
vitation and had not been seen about
the house during the evening.
The wedding party had gathered in
the front room and the Rev. w. w.
Stevens was performing the cere mony.
During the continuance of the cere-
mOnY the screen door at the front of
the house was opened several times,
but the people intent on the words of
the minister, did not notice anyone en-
ter the room. Just as the last words Of
the benediction fell from the lips of
the minister, two shots were fired in
apid succession. One of the bullets
| whizzed past the head of the BRIDE
groom, narrowly missing the minister
and imbedded itself in the wall behind
the clergyman. The other seems to
have gone wild. As the man seemed
| to turn to fire another shot his father,
who was standing near the door, risk
| ing his life, jumped in front of the re-
| volver and knocked it from the hand
| of Marshall. AT this Marshall fed
from the house and managed to escape.
In moment the guests we're thrown
into panic and they fed from the
scenes of the wedding ceremony. The
bride seemed to be philosophical and
turned to her husband for support and
the two left the room together. AS
soon as it was discovered that no one
was injured the wedding gaieties we're
continued.
After he had fred the shots, Mar
shall dropped the revolver and started
to run round the house. It is evident
that he wanted to know the damage
that he had done. as after the shooting
he came to the kitchen door of the
house and asked if anyone had been
in iured. He was told that the bullets
had gone wild, and at once ran away.
It is supposed that the boy was men
tally unbalanced when he fred the
shots. For some, time he had been
violently opposed to the marriage of
his sister and Mr.. Roberts and had re-
peatedly asked his sister TO forego the
marriage. The mother told him that the
marriage was to go on, and at this he
seemed to be enraged and declined to
attend the ceremony.
The case has not been reported to
the police and i is not probable that
the members Of the family will ask for
the arrest of the boy. He is about
twenty years of age.
The revolver with which the shots
were fred was 22-caliber one, and it
is claimed that it would have been i'm
possible for any of the members of the
party to have been killed by the shots.