American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1909-11-06
TRAGIC MURDER
and SUICIDE
Il. N. Abbott Kills Wife, Then
Ends His Own Life.
Double Tragedy the Result Of Domes-
tic Trouble, Precipitated by Di-
vorce Proceedings, and Was
Not Unexpected.

Without word OF warning and with I
no chance to escape, Mary A. Abbott I
was shot and killed Sunday evening by
her husband, A. M. Abbott, who then
turned the gun upon himself and ended
his own life. The tragedy was enacted
upon the porch of the Cottage hotel, |
conducted for more than year by Mrs. /
Abbott. Three bullets from a wicked
looking six-shooter entered her body,
and one pierced her cheek. Abbott
ended his own Improbable career with
bullet through his heart, falling on
his face near where he fired the murder
Gus shots. Just prior to the shooting
Mrs. Abbott came down from the
second floor of the hotel, and turning
to her fifteen-year-old son, told him to
rent room No. 10 if any one desired a
room during her absence. She then
opened the door and stepped out upon
the porch. She could not have been
more than two or three steps before
four shots rang out in quick succession,
followed by fifth within ten seconds.
Mrs. Abbott staggered back into the
room and seated herself in chair. DR..
Moth who was in a room adjoining the
office, was on the scene instantly and
assisted in carrying her to an adjoining
room. Notwithstanding her awful
injuries, Mrs. Abbott had strength and
presence of mind enough to assist in
removing her clothing so that the
nature of her injuries could be learned.
After entering the room she talked a
little, saying, ''where is Sherley'' and
also said, "He shot me-" DR.. Moth
asked her if she wanted to see her son
and she replied, 'No." Those present
believed she wished to know if he had
also been killed. In ten minutes she
passed away from internal hemorrhage.
A crowd attracted by the shooting
was soon on the scene. Abbott was
found lying on his face, dead, with a
bullet hole through his heart. Death
had been instantaneous. His body was
carried into the waiting room where his
clothes were searched. The first article
produced was an almost empty pint
whiskey flask. Next came some papers,
$24. 90 in money, and one cartridge for
his gun. AS the gun only contained
five shells, it is reasonable to presume
that this one found in his pocket was
taken from his gun to assure to him
self cartridge with which to end his
own life. Acting Coroner Jones took
charge of the effects and turned the
body over to Undertaken Hager.
In the waiting room of the hotel, and
only few feet from the scene of the
tragedy, were w. H. Hackney, an old
4 soldier, Will Hess, H. L. and Marian
Share, of Rockland, and the son of MIR.
and Mrs. Abbott. From their account
it is evident Abbott was lying in wait
for his wife and began firing as soon as
she stepped out upon the porch. Wher
she came back into the hotel after the
shooting, she held revolver in hel
hand Her life had been threatened
many times by Abbott, and for severa
weeks she had carried revolver fol
self-protection. She had repeatedly, il
Is said, asked for protection from the
i Village and county officials, but NJ
q steps were taken to avert the TRACED!
' bhe feared other than to keep a watcl
con Abbott at times when he seemed il
j most dangerous mood. Only a weeI
Sprior to the murder and suicide Abbot
had threatened to kill Mrs. Abbott an
IS. H. Cottrell. Sheriff Stevens an
Deputy Sheriff Atwood probably pre-
zzsented a tragedy at that time. On
Evening since Abbott was discovere
$gaying on a shed commanding the er
variance of the hotel. He has had man,
opportunities to kill Mrs. Abbott but
s believed he hoped to get others wit
her, and bided his time. The liquor h
Drank Sunday, and the mood whic
Railways followed his excessive indu
j gence, is believed to have determine
him 20 take immediate action.
Domestic troubles are responsible'fC fC
the tragedy, and the excessive use
liquor by Abbott was the cause of ii
Domestic trouble. Several times Mr.
~ Abbott warned saloon men not to Sc
him liquor, and enforced that demar
at one time with a revolver with goo
Temporary results. The greed for go
however. outweighed the happiness al
even the life of the unfortunate woms
and liquor was sold to Abbot with il
punity. Recently Mrs. Abbott su,
for divorce and the trial was to ha'
come up at the next term of court