Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-14
MAN KILLS WIFE
AND DSH0O7SSEl
Melvin Johnson Murder.
Spouse and Wounds
Mother=in7LaW
DOMESTIC TROUBLE
is BELIEVED CAUSE
Said to HaveBeen Insanely
jealous; Similar Crime
Attempted in Spring

~sA
- - / ~.s, s,;r
Two are dead and one seriouslt
wounded as the result of the shootina
anray that took place in the east end
Sunday afternoon. Domestic trouble
Is believed to be responsible for the
tragedy Mrs. Melvin johnson and
ner husband who did the shooting are
dead, Mrs. Mary A. Seely is shot in
the abdomen and her condition ID
grave.
The tragedy took place at the home
or MRS. Mary Seely who runs board
ing house at 1910 East Main street and
the hour was about 4:45 in the after
noon. Just how it started and what
passed between the murderer and the
women Will not be known until Mrs.
Seely is sum GENTLY recovered to tell
the story for she was the only one who
Witnessed the scene, although there
We're three boarders In another part OF
the house when the tragedy occurred.
one or these was asleep, another was
writing letter, and the third was IN
his room reclining on the bed, when
Mrs. Johnson in her desperation to es.
cape her infuriated husband, sought
refuge in the room of the latter and
was there when the fatal shot was
fired.
The Second Attempt.
The tragic affair OF Sunday IN the
second attempt by Johnson to kill his
Vile. Some three months ago he
sought her at the home OF her mother,
Mrs. Seely and was driven away be-
fors he succeeded hi doing. any harm.
The police were called and failed
to nfd hims but In their search To-
Gated q fisherman on the river bank
near the old Milwaukee round house
who told them OF receiving visit from
Johnson who displayed a gun and
talked of shooting himself but was
prevented from doing SO by the man.
Johnson Is said to have left immedi.
ately for st. Louis. His domestic rela.
tions were unpleasant and he seemed
possessed of an insane jealousy. The
act OF Sunday bore evidence OF insan-
ity and a homicidal mania for he
,emptied his pistol, using the last cart.
ridge on himself before he subslded.
The best information obtainable, the
story of the neighbors and those about
the place who rendered their assist,
ance to the stricken ones after the
tragedy, is to the effect that Johnson
returned from st. Louis Friday and
apparently seemed we'll disposed to-
ward his family At least one Of the
boarders stated that he took HIS meals
at the Seely home after coming back
to Ottumwa.
Boarders Hear Shots.
The first intimation Of trouble came
to the boarders when they heard shots
late Sunday afternoon. The two won.
en-, Mrs Johnson and her mother, Mrs.
Seely were in the kitchen that Is lo-
Gated in the basement Johnson is
said to have entered there and the
quarrel that ended so tragically fol-
lowed shortly afterwards. He ap-
parently chased his wife about the
house with the gun for she ran into
the room Of Carl Gustavison, one OF
the boarders and sought refuge, but
her infuriated husband with gun In
hand followed at her heels Here he
fired three shots, all of which are
thought to have taken effect. Guetavi.
son was paralyzed by the suddeness Of
the affair and powerfess to be Of any
assistance. The woman fleeing from
the room again sought the lower part
Of the house and upon reaching the
outside she fell in heap on the rear
door step Johnson having followed
bis stricken wife outside, fired q shot
into his own breast piercing vital
spot and throwing up his hands with
an exclamation, "Oh," fell forward on
his face dead near where his wife lay.
Boarders and neighbors Immediately
lent their assistance to the stricken
woman, whose breasts were pene.
trated with bullets, one piercing lung.
A doctor was called and the two won.
en- fastened to hospitals, Mrs. johnson
going to the Ottumwa hospital where
she died within fifteen minutes after
her arrival or about 5:45 p. M, and
Mrs. Seely to st. Joseph's hospital
where she was operated upon this
morning
The body OF Johnson was taken to
the Moroney undertaking rooms where
it will remain pending the holding Of
the inquest, which will not be held to-
day. The coroner Is gathering evil
dence and will decide the time OF In
quest later.
Boarder Locks Door.
Cruz Lozano boarder at the Seely
house, was writing letter at the time
Of the trouble and upon hearing shot,
Immediately locked the door OF his
room which he later opened to permit
Mrs. Johnson to be laid upon his bed
while awaiting the arrival of the ambu-
lance I>ozano when seen did not
Continued Page S.)