Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-14
-ERL KING, OF DIES MONIES,
FIRES FOUR BULLETS INTO
GIRLS BODY.
INSANE JEALOUSY
BLAMED FOR TRAGEDY
Dies After Being Taken to Hospital
Tragedy Occurs Few Moments
After Receipt of Gun From Mail
Order House.

Des Moines, April l4.--lnsane with
jealousy, BerI King. - years old. sent
four bullets crashing into his l7-year-
old wife at the home of Harry Ellwen.
lO2 Fourth street at o'clock Friday
afternoon, then rushed into the celia:
and shot himself thru the head He
was removed 10 Mercy hospital, where
ne died a few hours later.
Shot thru The throat, the neck, the
heart and the abdomen, the woman
died instantly.
The Kings have been married for
Ave months and have been scpa
rated for two weeks, the husband Nv
ing at 9l2 Fourth street and the wife
staying at Mercy hospital, where She
was employed in the diet kitchen.
Letter Prompted Deed.
Police believe a letter from a for
mer sweetheart written to Mrs
Kings mother. Mrs. G. Z. Jessup OF
WInterset, which aCc!dentiy came into
the husbands possession and which
was found on his body. was the I'M
mediate cause of the murder Police
say it explained that Mrs King had
been writing 10 the man, but that he
refused 10 answer
Mrs. King stayed Thursday night
with her husband at his room, 81
Fourth street. According TO rooIners
III the house, they both appeared
happy, singing and playing the piano.
King said he was going 10 join the
army the next day. He made arrange
ments to meet his wife at EllweIrs 20
gay g2o&5g 10 ner.
Mrs King left her sister. Mrs.
Pearl De Bord who works with her al
the hospital about > O'Clock.
Laughing MIS-. De Bord said: KISS
AN once tor mr
Got Pistol by Mail.
King Was waiting Tor MS wife wneL
she arrived. Mrs, El!weu was ironing
n the kitchen. Shortly after her ar
rival, Mrs. King went IN the front bed
room to lie down, complaining that she
was tired.
The mailman knocked on the front
door. King answered. Then he walked
Oul into the kitchen. unwrapp.ng
new .! Ca!!oer revolver which he had
ordered from mail order house, he
expla aimed o. MIS-. Eilwen that ne had
bought il for friend
" here are you going 10 get your
ammunition p. she asked him.
I've got it" he replied. pulling some
bullets out OF MS pocket and loading
the gun. then sticking IL IN his nip
pocket
Warning Not Needed.
At his w.fss request King then
went across the street 10 d grocery
store 10 buy her some bananas While
he was gone Mrs. Eiwsu warned the
wife that he mad a loaded gun. She
sco1fed at the idea ne would harm
her
Mr. EllwelI saw the man walk into
the bedroom, The bananas in MS hand.
a few seconds LATER she heard short
scufIe and scream.
My God. Ny God, Beri, don't do
that"
The four shots rang out in rapid
succession.
Ms. Ellwe-l rushed into the room.
Mrs. King lay across the bed. dead.
her clothing on fire where her husband
had pressed the muzzle OF the gun into
aer body He stood over her, the re-
Tclve- against his own head.
ILLtA tA-S, n gFDaESO
The woman snatched at the gun
King shook hsr off and ran out Of the
room.
Fled 20 Cellar.
Officer Strait found MIN IN the cell
lar when police arrived, ten minutes
later. The last bullet in the revolver
had torn & hole in MS head just be
mind MS ear. Stiu breathing. ne was
taken 10 the Mercy hospital n the po-
Ice ambulance
Officer Cross found note IN the
wounded mans pocket:
Helen EI!weil-ODal told me Wed
nes3ay night that sae would never
come back and i've with ne. This ;s
the easiest and only way out Of il. For
can not I've w.thou, ner. Berl King"