Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-09
S. H. (Stub) Eaton Kills His
Wife in the Presence Of
Visitors at His Home
KNIFE AFFRAY SENDS
COUPLE TO HOSPITAL
Charles Brewer and Meta
Hyatt Severely Stabbed
by M. G. Conklin


two were dangerously stabbed. and
m accident In which small boy re-
ceived bullet In his leg, were among
the tragic events that marked Sunday
in Ottumwa. The wife slayer Is in
Jail. as Is also the man who used the
knife. while. the victims of the latter
are lying in the hospital. Six others
who celebrated the day Of rest by too
freely imbibing made up the total Of
the seven arrests made between Sat
urday night and this morning
The most sensational of the crimes
OF the day was that Of the murder Of
Mrs. s. H. (Stub) Eaton, who was
wantonly shot down by her husband
at her home, 421 West Main street, in
the afternoon shortly after o'clock.
Officer George Ryttenburg arrested
Eaton within a short time after the
shooting.
The crime was committed In the
presence Of two friends OF the slayer,
who are known as Pearl Anderson and
Hugh Healy, both of whom fled the
house when the Shooting began.
Story Of the Crime.
A short time before the crime.
Eaton is said to have been met by
Anderson and Healy at the corner OF
Washington and Main streets, and
asked II he could tell them where they
might get some beer. The police state
that he told them that he had a lew
bottles at his home and invited tho
men there. He stated, however, when
seen IN the county jail this morning
that he told them he could get the.
beer Tor them and took them to his
home Here; at his request, they
waited for him to get the beer.
He did not 60 into the details OF the
shooting when seen and was very
nervous, but the story as reported by
witnesses to the police is to the effect
that upon returning with the beer he
Immediately started the shooting.
Upon entering the house he is said
to have addressed his wife with an
oath and said, Il guess you don't like
me any more" and then to have
drawn his gun and started firing at
her. One of the bullets struck her in
the left breast near the shoulder and
two other shots struck her In the
right arm.
AT this juncture the two visitors
fled from the room and Mrs. Eaton
ran toward the rear of the house and
outside AS she rounded the dwelling
coming toward the front of the build
ing, she fell, and Eaton, who pursued
her with the smoking weapon, is said
to have turned her over on the
ground and said, $50 you're not dead
yet?' and placing the gun at her left
temple fired the fourth shot, which
0~S1 e. xryito a en- q q
now empty pistol against his own
head and fled the premises. The
neighbors and others gathered by the
sound of the firing, summoned the
ambulance and police.
Ryttenburg Makes Arrest.
Responding to the call for the am
bulance, Officer George Ryttenburs
was driving rapidly west on Second
street when a boy on the sidewalk
shouted to him, There he goes"
pointing meanwhile at Eaton, who
was coming east toward Marion
street. Ryttenburg Immediately
Jumped from the ambulance and CIV
Ing the horses to the boy to hold, en-
tered a passing buggy in which Bud
Morgan, of west of the city, was driv
ing and ordering Mr.. Morgan to give
pursuit the two men in the rig gave
chase to the fleeing slayer, who was
captured by Ryttenburg on Marion
street below Second.
Eaton was disheveled In appearance,
q portion of his shirt protruding over
his hip pocket and when ordered to
halt by the officer made a move toward
his hip pocket.
Drop that gun or Ill shoot you,"
commanded Officer Rytten6urg and
Eaton let the pistol fall to the ground
and stopped to await arrest. Chief
Gallagher who was on the same guest
as the ambulance driver, came down
Main street toward Marion about this
tine and Eaton was turned over toj
HIM
Ryttenburg returned to the ambu.
lance and Chief Gallagher with the
prisoner entered the Morgan buggy
and the three drove to the county jail
where Eaton was placed in one Of the
cells.
Not Communicative.
Eaton was extremely nervous this
morning and appeared quite shattered
when seen by reporter. He was
guarded in his talk and not very com,
Asked II he had been drinking, he
said, II had barrel Of the stuff in
me-"
In answer to the query if he realized
what he was doing, he said that he did
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