The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-03-26
HUSBAND KILLS Wife:
BOOZE ALL TO BLAME.

he said: "Well, you'll kiss me good
night, won't you?" and started for
her. She drew back and told him he
had no right to touch her. When he
persisted in approaching her, it is said
that she slapped him. He drew the
revolver and pressing it close to her
body, fired. Mrs. McPeek was stand
ing at the foot Of the bed fully dress
ed. She fell to the floor and attempt
ed to pull herself onto the bed, but
was unable to do so.
McPeek wanted to kiss the little
girl goodbye, telling her that she
would never see him again, but the
child would have nothing to do with
him. "You have shot mamma, and I
don't like you any more" the child
sobbed.
Three Of the young men rooming at
the house, w. S. Reinhardt, A. H.
Shultz and Grover Filar, were the
first to rush into the room, hearing
the shot Mrs. Shaw was soon on the
scene and Mrs. McPeek was lifted to
the bed. A doctor arrived within a
few moments, but there was no
chance of saving her life.
"Who did this ?" Mrs. Shaw in
uuired. "Mac, nv husband" was the
Called the Priest.
Mrs. McPeek called for Father
Raith and he arrived in time to min
ister the last rites of the church. She
asked Mrs. Shaw to burn bundle Of
letters in her dresser drawer.
Sergeant Dwire, moment before
she died, asked her if McPeek had
shot her and she replied, Eyes" This
was her last word. The question and
answer were given in the presence
of DR.. Ringo, Mrs. Shaw and Grover
Filar, so there is the strongest kind
Of case against McPeek.
The. little girl was heart broken
over the affair, but for q day after
wards did not know that her mother
was dead. She believed her in the
hospital and was preparing to send
her flowers. Little Crystal is sweet,
bright little child and has won every
body with whom she has come in con-
tact.
The Inquest.
Coroner Orson Doe held the in
quest Tuesday afternoon at Van
Fleets undertaking rooms where the
remains were taken. The jury con-
sisted of w. w. Tyler, Frank J. Ly-
man and Barney Theurer. The YER
dict follows: eve, the jury, find that
Bertha McPeek came to her death
from a bullet wound caused by bull
let fred from a revolver with feloni-
Gus intent, held in the hand of one
Joseph Martin McPeek"
The main witness at the inquest
was little Crystal, who told the story
over and over again in a clear, child
ish voice, and not once did she con-
tradict herself.
McPeek Arraigned.
The murderer was arraigned before
Judge Lynch late Tuesday afternoon.
A hearing will be held before Judge
Lynch Saturday afternoon and in the
meantime McPeek is in the county
Jail. He has engaged the services Of
Atty. Chas. D. Kelso. There is abso-
lutely no question concerning his
guilt. He planned the murder delib-
|erately. He told Mrs. Gus Schlein but
a few days ago that he would soon
take his last journey and that his
wife would go along. He bought the
revolver from Leonard Price two
weeks ago, for 81, but paid but dol
lar on it.
McPeek has two brothers in Can
ada and one at Watertown, s. D. His
mother lives at the Soldiers Home at
Lisbon, N. D.. Mrs. McPeek's mother
and brother reside at Erie, Cass Co.,
N. D., and sister, Mrs. Wagner, lives
at Fessenden. A sister also lives in
Montana. Her relatives were noti-
fed Of the tragedy.
The remains were inferred in this
city today, the funeral being held this
morning.
McPeek's Defense.
The Independent looks for Nc
Peek's attorney to try to work the in
sanity dodge for the defense This is
about the only way that McPeek's
neck could be saved. "A representa-
tive Of the Independent called at the
county Jail Tuesday morning and was
shown to the prisoners cell. When
we. suggested that he had gotten him