The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-05-19
SHOOTS WIFE IN THE MOUTH
RAwLIKs COUNTY EAREKR THEE BLEW
HIs Own HEAD OFF.
HOrrifying Deed the Result Of Little
Domestic Quarrel L the Only tx
pIanatiOn-story OF the Or
phaned Children.

Charles Henicker, a prosperous Raw
Inns county farmer, who lived ten
miles southwest of Atwood, killed his
wife Sunday evening by shooting her IN
the mouth with a shotgun. Henicker
then committed suicide with the weapon
with which he had murdered his COM
paniOu. The tragedy grew out of 2 re-
quest by Mrs. Henicker for a team to go
to a neighbOrhoOd picnic on Tuesday
of this week The wife was sitting on
her husbands lap when she asked him.
He refused her, thrusting her away with
force as he denied her the pleasure she
sought.
After this incident there was quiet for
a little. The dispute was renewed, when
the passion Of the husband broke out
with awful destruction. Henicker would
perhaps have dealt out the same rash
measure to his two children had they
not ran to tell the neighbOrs of their
fathers great anger, and that he might
kill their mother.
In an extra, the Atwood Citizen, in
reporting the corOner's inquest, gives
the story Of Henicker's two children as
follows:
carl, the 9-year-old son, and Grace,
the 13-year-old daughter, testified that
the evening before their mother had
asked their father for the use of the
team Tuesday that she might attend
fishing party and picnic which was to
be held at McDougal's pond. Their
father stated that she could not take the
team and that she could not go. One
word led to another and finally Mrs.
Henicker stated that she would take the
team and go anyway. He said he
would see about It. Mrs. Henicker then
commenced to get the beds ready to re-
tire when he commenced the quarrel
again and appeared to be very angry.
At this time he started for the cup
board, where the gun was kept and
Mrs. Henicker, realizing his intention,
whispered to the children to run over to
Mr.. J. 3. Mickey's, which IS some so
rods away, and get him to come over at
once. The children ran to Mr.. Mickey's
and told him to come quick, as their
father was killing their mother. Mr..
Mickey and wife started to 60 over to
the place, but when part way decided
that II was probably a family quarrel
and they did not want to get mixed up
in It. Mr.. Mickey Immediately went up
to George MaSOn'S and asked Mr.. Mason
what he thought they ought to do. As
they could see the HeniCker home from
Mason's and the door was open and the
lights shining brightly they came to the
conclusion that everything was all
right. Mr.. Mickey went back and told
the children that they could see the
light and that they had better go home.
However, the children stated they were
afraid TO go as their father would kill
them, which, no doubt, was the inten-
ton of the father, as he had four loaded
shells, one of which he used to kill his
wife, one to kill himself, and the other
two were found IN his pocket.
''Mr. and Mrs. Mickey insisted that
the children go back and they finally
started. However, they did not 60
right up to the house, but slipped be-
hind the buildings that they might not
be seen, when they saw their father
lying at the kitchen door with the gun
at his feet. They Immediately ran back
to Mr.. A1ickey's and told him that their
father was either dead OF endeavoring
to make them believe he was, so that