Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-03
SHOOTS AT GROOM.
JOHN w. ROBERTS OF DUDLEY,
NARROWLY ESCAPES DUR.
ING MARRIAGE RITES.
While Minister at kenosha, Wis, Mon
day Was Performing Marriage cere-
mony Brother of Bride Fires Two
Shots at Groom.
wl7rFEi

j. w. Roberts. until three months
ago a resident of Dudley, Is miles
west of Ottumwa, narrowly escaped
death while the minister was pro-
nouncing the words that joined him
and Miss Nellie Marshall of kenosha,
Wis, Monday evening. The brother OF
the bride shot twice at the intended
groom, the second bullet narrowly
grazing his head. Mr.. Roberts is the
son Of John A. Roberts, prominent
farmer residing a short distance from
Dudley. The father, when seen this
morning by the Couriers Dudley rep
resentative knew nothing of the mar.
row escape of his son. The following
from Chicago gives the details:
Chicago, Sept. 2.-(Special)-W
bride and groom standing hand in hand
before him, the clergyman pronounc-
cd the admonition; "Those whom God
hath joined let no man put asunder."
The words were echoed in defiance
by a revolver shot. and the groom
jumped back as if hit. AS he did so
another shot was fired and the bullet
grazing his head was imbedded in the
wall
In the half open doorway of the resi-.
was Earl Marshall, the 20-year-old
brother of Miss Nellie Marshall, the
bride. In his hand was smoking re.
volver, and as he fiourished it meanc.
ingly the thirty members of the bridal
party screamed and fed wildly from
the room, some of them seeking safety
in the back yard
Young Marshall surveyed the con.
fusion for a moment then put the re.
yolver in his pocket and walked away
81 said sister should never marry
that man and | meant to keep my
word" those nearest to him heard him
heard him eXclaim.
Two Bullets Go Wild.
AS soon as the men in the party
had recovered their composure it was
found that the shots fired by the
youth had gone wild. j. W. Roberts
of Dudley Qa.) the groom, had .es-
escaped injury, and aside from the
scare no harm had been done.
A hurried search of the neighbor-
hood was made as an assurance
against another attack and then the
man, the Rev. w. w. Stevens, pro-
uOuuCSu IuS lSV WOTuS Ol
the ceremony. AS he finished the
bride, weak and trembling, half threw
herself, half fell into her husbands
arms.
The festivities that had been plan.
ned to follow the wedding were elm.
mated from the program and the
guests departed for their homes.
But in the ears of each rang the
words: ''Till death do US part while
pictured in memory was the wild eyed
boy who had tried to keep his word
even in defiance of the edict: Let no
man put asunder.'
Threat by Youth.
Ever since Miss Marshall's engage
ment to Mr.. Roberts was announced,
Earl Marshall has displayed an aver.
sion to his sisters choice, and as the
day Of the ceremony drew near this
aversion is said to have taken on
a form Of unreasoning hatred.
Nellie never shall marry that
man. mean what l say; mark my
words"
The wedding took place Monday
night, and young Marshall has not
been seen in Kenosha since. The
shooting was not reported to the police
and it is not thought that those direct
ly concerned will seek to have the
young man arrested.