Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-22
TRAGEDY AT
A CHURCH
IFoRsAKEN HUSBAND SHOOTS HIS
WIFE AND THEN COMMITS
SUICIDE.
MARRIAGE WASUNHAPPY
Lewis Horn Of Sedan Wounds His
Wife and Escapes From Posse, Only
to Take His Own Life Few Hours
Later.--Woman Will Live.

Centerville, Dec. 21.-(Special.)-
After shooting and seriously wounding
his wife, Lewis Horn, aged 80 years,
shot and killed himself last night near
Sedan, little town southeast of Cen
terville, and his lifeless remains werel
found early this morning by posse
which had been In search of him since
he fled from the little church at Sedan
last night, after attempting to murder
the woman he had promised to protect
when, a happy bride and groom, they
were welded four years ago.
Horn was employed by well known |
farmer, Sherman Morrow, living near
Sedan, and made his home on MIR.
Morrow's farm. Four years ago he
was married to the woman whose life
he last night attempted to end, and for
three years they lived together. At
the end of that time, however, they
separated, and gossips said that their
estrangement was brought about by
the woman's conduct. Since that
time Horn has, it is said, made several
attempts to induce his former wife to
live with him again, but was each
time met with refusal.
Shooting At a Church.
Last night Mrs. Horn went to church
at Sedan with young man, whose
name cannot be learned, and as she
and her escort came out of the door,
Horn stepped up to the woman's side
and said few words in low tone.
She answered him, and the reply was
evidently unsatisfactory for the man
Immediately whipped out revolver
and fired four shots before anyone
could interfere. Two of the bullets
took effect, one making an ugly wound
lin Mrs. Horns shoulder and the other
burying itself in her arms The sstrick-
en- woman fell to the ground and her.
husband. evidently thinking he had
killed her, escaped into the darkness.
Woman Will Live.
Mrs. Horn was taken in carriage
to the home of her father, Bruce Bur-
gum at Dean, three miles southeast of
Sedan, and physicians were at once
called to dress her injuries. Although
| she had lost considerable blood and
was very weak the wounds need not
prove fatal. and today Mrs. Horn is
thought to be out of danger.
Posse is Organized.
A posse was organized at once from
among the farmers of the neighbor-
| hood and all night long these deter
mined men searched the country for
Horn, but it was not until early this
morning that he was found and then
he was beyond the reach of human
revenge. He had shot himself with
the same revolver which emptied its
bullets into the body of his former
/ wife. His body when found was cold
and gave indication that he had kill
/ ed himself soon after escaping from
| the crowd at the church.
Tried For Reconciliation.
Those who know the history Of the
| trouble between Horn and his wife
4 think that he tried to induce her to
i again return and live with him last
4 night and that this was the PROPOSE
tion he made to her at the church be-
4 fore the shooting. Mrs. Horn has not
recovered from the shock and the eff
4 feet of her wounds sufficiently to make
a statement as yet, however. and un-
! til she does no one will know just
what provoked Horn to attempt muir
der and then commit suicide.