The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-12-30
KILLED WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF
DOUBLE TRAGEDY NEAR eIvIN
THIS MORNING.
Mr.. AND MRS.. 7. MARTYR DEAD
Parties Lived at MarshalItoWn and
Wife Was Visiting at Home Of
Her Parents-Tragedy Due
To Domestic Trouble.

To Domestic Trouble.
/ T. ]. Martyr, aged about 2S years,
a resident of Marshalltown. shot and
instantly killed his wife at the home
=, of the parents, Mr.. and Mrs. T. j.
Bescoe, about two and half miles
southwest of Givin, about nine o'clock
this morning.
! Seeing that he had fatally wounded
the girl, firing three shots at her
body, he turned the .38-calibre revolv.
err against himself and put bullet
straight through his own heart, dy-
ing instantly.
/ Domestic Trouble is Cause.
| Domestic trouble is said to be the
cause of the affair IL Is said that
the couple were married about six
years ago and have two small chill.
dren, said to be with a relative at
Marshalltown. They have lived to
gether unhappily and the girl had re
turned to her parents several times
She came to Oskaloosa some time ago
and has consulted attorneys concern
ing divorce.
| "ui has uccH dUOuL oShdlOOSd
several days trying to get an inter
view with his wife, but could not To-
cate her. He spent Tuesday night !
at the local police offices talking to
the men at headquarters, going in and
out the greater part of the night. He
talked of his trouble to the officers
and showed them a piece he wanted
to have published. The officers ad
, vised against this and told him to To-
cate his wife and have talk with
he".
/ In Quest Of Wife.
He telephoned to places in town
where he thought his wife might be
! or to enquire Of her whereabouts
without success.
! He asked for a piece of paper OF
I the police upon which to write some
names. This he placed in his peck
ct as he. LEFT the Office about seven
o'clock this morning.
| He wrote:
/ Notify for r. ]. Martyr
DIR. l.. Bay, Eddyyille, Iowa.
/ Mr.. H. c. Munsell, Oskaloosa pc
lice force.
| Mr.. John P. Wilson, Oskaloosa po.
lice force.
! Mr. c. r. Tyler, MarshalItown, Ia,
No. 22l South Bird avenue.
Mr.. John Coulter Oskaloosa.
Mrs. Mary Coulter, Oskaloosa."
Went to Givin by Train.
Martyr evidently went to Givin via
the Rock Island and walked to the
home of ]. E. Bescoe, two miles dis.
tant. -.. 90
Mr.. Bescoe and his boys had left
the house for distant field to bring
up some feed and his wife and daugh.
ter were alone at the house.
Martyr appears to have had the
matter well planned He removed
Mackinaw coat and under coat, hang
ing them near the gate, went around
to the side entrance of the home and
knocked. When Mrs. Bescoe an,
swered he asked for his wife.
Trasdy in Parents Home.
Mrs. Bescoe said the girl was up.
stairs. He replied, Very WELL
will go up and see her" Mrs, Bes-
coe was apprehensive and replied
that she would call the girl down
stairs. She did not care to leave
them alone together. Mrs. Martyr
came into the room in response to
her mother s summons and crossing
!, over to table near where the man
was standing sat down in chair fac
ing him. Mrs. Bescoe asked him tc
be seated himself.
mo" returned Martyr, I'm settle
this matter standing up" With the
, words still upon his lips ne pulled
, gun from some concealment in his
clothes, placed the gun within a few
inches of his wife's breast and fired
She fell with the first shot but before
the body could fall he had another
bullet through her breast.
Turned Gun On Himself.
A third bullet, possibly intended
, for Mrs. Bescoe, went wild and lodged
, in the wall. Mrs. Bescoe screamed
aad sprang forward to catch the girl
as she started to fall and then turned
! and hurried from the room as Bescoe
! turned tie fourth cartridge against
This own breast. His aim was true
and the big calibre bullet went
through his heart and he fell dead
beside the body of his, wife.
! Coroner Eugene Cheesman was
/. summoned and cared for the bodies .
: hat of the man was brought to Os.
! kaloosa while the girl was left with
! the parents al ne home near Giyin.
Martyr Acted soueerly.
Martyr is said by police oncers tc
have been hunting for his wife about
s town several weeks and had asked
/ their advice sey eral times. He ha.
d also talked to NJ e st. l.. railwa.
detectives and had attempted to SO
licit their aid in locating the miss
ng girl
re He told officers this morning h
ly bought re knew where she was an
Y :, !eyed he would go after her. III
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