Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-06
j. p. cHRlSToFFERsoN OF AT
LANTlc, FIRES FOUR SHOTS
INTO WOMAN's HEAD.
TURNS GUN ON SELF BUT
INJURIES ARE NOT SERIOUS
Mrs. Christofferson Not Expected 10
Recover BUT Husbands Wounds Are
SIight-QuarreI Over Sale Of Proper.
ty Believed to Be Cause Of Crime
Other News.

Atlantic Nov 6.-J. F. Christoffer
son, of so4 Elm street, shot his wife
four times Friday evening with %
caliber revolver and with probably
! fatal effect. He then turned the gun
on himself and shot twice one shot
taking effect. Mr. Christofferson is not
seriously hurt. No news of the tragedy
was known in the city until almost
II o'clock Saturday morning when
Mrs John McGrath saw Christoffer
out in the yard and suspected some
thing was the matter \ report was
made to the office of Sheriff Berry and
his depty, Win Mckee went at once to
the scene With County Attorney c. B.
Clovis They found Mrs Christoffer-
son living in a serious condition with
six bullet holes in her head AS near
ly as can be figured she was shot four
times and two of the bullets came out
thru her head. The gun used was a
% caliber which Mr.. Christofferson
had owned for some time. The fact
that it was only a % caliber is the
only thing that will save the act from
being completed planned
Mr. Christ offerson was unable to
give any story Of the shooting. He
said that he had not done it. His
wife was in a semi conscious condition
for part of the time and was able to
talk some She told Deputy Mckee
that her husband had done it. The
county attorney did not think it pos
sible to secure an affidavit from Mrs.
Christotferson in her condition.
Efforts are being made by the Off
GERS TO find a motive for the crime
The couple are old and have lived to-
gether for many years and reared a
family. Their daughter was with them
Friday evening During the evening
i J. S. Brown. the real estate man, called
at the house and talked about selling
q piece of real estate He states that
it was apparent that there had beer
trouble in the family. The daughter
said to him: 1T is TOO bad 10 be put
! of home this way
! 1t seems from the reports made tc
Deputy Mckee that the daughter was
sent away from home Friday evening
after Brown left. After this Christoff
erson is supposed to have committed
the crime. 1t is reported that the
/ family had been aroused because O.
difference between the husband ant
wife concerning real estate deals. Mr.
Christoffrson had purchased a prop
erty a few days ago from Clyde NC
Neil and had also dickered for IN
sale of his own property at Sixth AM
Maple streets His wife is said t
have opposed both deals and to nav
refused to sign the deed when chris
jefferson wanted to make deed.
There seems to be no doubt tina
Mr. Christofferson was out of his nin'
when he committed the rash act. n
does not seem to believe that he did II
He hid the revolver under the edge o
the lounge. but it was easily founc
He didn't seem to know that 1t wa
his and did not seem TO realize tn
enormity Of his act His friends say Q
late he has been at times out or M
head hut that other times he has bee
apparently perfectly rational
Deputy Sheriff Mckee did not plac
Christofferson Immediately under ar
rest but secured the services of ma
70 watch him so that he could not es
came The son. James. who cares &c
the home farm ten miles north. is ais
; looking after his father and mothe
The daughter. Rosa has been living
home. The other daughter IS MT
Minnie Hansen. residing in Oregon
Roth Mr.. and Mrs. Christofferson al
10 years of age.