Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-31
SEE FATHER KILL
MOTHER AND SELF
DIES MONIES CHILDREN WIT
NEssEs TO TERRIBLE DOUBLE
TRAGEDY
Enraged Over Allegation Of Wife in
Divorce Bill and Because She Would
Not Live With Him John Gregg
Kills Her.

Des Moines, July 2s,-Driven frantic
and consumed with anger by the read,
Ing OF the petition of divorce filed by
his wife, John B. Gregg, we'll known
East Side Des Moipes man, went to
the home OF Mrs. Gregg, S31 East Fifth
street, where he murdered her in the
presence Of their children, and then
committed suicide. The crime was
committed yesterday afternoon a few
minutes after l o'clock. One shot
from a 32-calibre bulldog type revol-
yer ended Mrs. Gregg's life. A second
shot instantly killed the murderer.
Domestic Trouble,
Domestic trouble was the cause of
the murder and suicide. Gregg mar.
ried the woman he killed yesterday in
the fall of the year 1898 For a few
years they lived happily together.
Quarrels soon became frequent until
finally Mrs. Gregg decided that she
could not live with her husband long
er. She filed an original notice of d.
vorce just few days ago, asking for
the custody of her children, Teresa and
Fern, and $500 alimony. Fearing that
she would be injured by her husband.
or her children taken away from her,
she secured an order Of court, restrain.
Ing him from entering her home.
Visits the Court House.
Gregg went to the court house yes.
terday afternoon short time before 1
o'clock.
Il want to read the charges my wife
has brought against me in her petit.
tion," he told one Of the men in the
county clerks office.
Tho papers were given him.
She said l showed her cruel and in,
human treatment" he announced to
nobody In particular.
She says that beat her"
Gregg's anger was rising the farther
The read in the paper.
"She says that threatened to kill
her." he continued. THAT l often got
Intoxicated and that I locked her out
OF the house on July Z. What damna
BILE lies"
20, cut 1t out" said one of the
clerks. 1--WE all know what is in ths
petition without your reading it to us. ;
"All right" replied Gregg as he pull
ed his hat farther down on his head
and TUNED and left the Office.
Goes to Home.
What are you doing here?" asked
Mrs. Gregg, as her husband appeared al
the home later did you not know
that the courts ordered you to stay
away?"
Eyes, but wanted to see you," he
replied. why don't you forgive me?'
ut Is best for us to live apart" she
replied. 1--WE can not get along to
gether."
Gregg stood in the kitchen for mo
ment, surveying his wife and two
daughters. Mrs. Gregg, who was
cooking her dinner, kept along at hel
work. She was afraid to say anything
to her husband or to order him ava,
from the house. She was shaking fol
fear that he would assault her ant
furtively watched him over her shout
der.
She walked over to the stove ant
started to cut slice off the loaf
How do you like Ferns shoes?" HI
suddenly asked, having purchased
them aobut an hour before he visited
the court house.
'Why, they are very NICE" said Mrs
Gregg. "They seem to. please her"
Then, without a seconds hesitation
Gregg drew the revolver from hi
pocket and showed it against his wife
head just above the right ear
She was cutting on the loaf of breat
and did not see the danger she was in
A report rang out and Mrs. Greg|
sank to the flooor dead. The bulle
had gone through her brain killing he
instantly.
The two little girls stood horrifie'
by the spectacle, hardly realizing wha
had happened.
The father looked at them an instan
and then pressing the muzle of tn
weapon against his right temple pulle
the trigger a second time.
Falls to Floor.
He fell to the floor, blood spurtin
from the wound in his head. The bu
let had passed through the skull an
was imbedded in the scalp on the or
posite side of his head.
KILLED BY TRAIN