The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-10-02
FAMILY QUARREL
ENDS IN WIFE
KILLING HUSBAND
MRS. VIM. HATTON SENDS .32
CALIBRE BULLET THROUGH
MANS HEAD MONDAY.

Mrs. Carrie Hatton, aged AT years,
is lodged in the Mcntcalm county Jail
at Stanton. Mich, on a charge of mur-
der, following the shooting and kill
ing of VIM. Hatton, her husband,
early Monday morning at their farm
home two miles north of this city,
which followed a reopening of a quar-
rel by Hatton which began several
days previous and which was caused,
so it is alleged by Hatton's being in
semi-intoxicated condition for some
time back.
Charles Scott, who was employed
by the Hattons as hired man, had
arisen and went out to the barn to do
the chores. Mr.. and Mrs. Hatton had
also arisen and Mrs. Hatton had pre-
pared breakfast, which Hatton was
evidently beginning to eat, when he
was shot. Mrs. Hatton claims that
her husband started in to quarrel and
that he struck her and knocked her
down, saying as he did so that he
would get the axe and fix her and she
claims that she procured revolver
to frighten him with and that it went
off. the bullet entering his right tenn
pie and going straight through his
head, emerged from his left temple.
ANtitntf koCOIL, WHO was dI IHt DdTIi,
nor any of the neighbors heard the
shot. Two children, Elsie, aged IL
years and Billy, aged 6, were sleeping
in the house and were aroused by the
shot. Elsie ran to the home of
Smith Nichols, about 40 rods away
and summoned help saying that her pa
blood by his head and her ma was on
IN.
from the barn, found them this way.
John Raymond, neighbor. ran to
the home of Floyd Bush and called
Deputy Sheriff Murray, DR.. Dutt and
Justice Lapham, who were soon on the
scene but owing to the fact that the
murder was committed in Montcalm
county, they notified the sheriff's of
fee at Stanton and Sheriff Ford and
Coroner John Reynolds came down
about noon and took charge of the
body, which they sent to Greenville.
They also arrested Mrs. Hatton on a
charge of murder and took her and
the two children, Elsie and Billy, to
Stanton.
The Hattons came here from STAN
ton about three years ago and for
some time had been living on the old
Murray. farm owned by Nick Gotting.
Scott, the hired man, came also from
Stanton and just what his relations
with the family have been are conjec-
tural. Neighbors seem to have a
rather good regard FOR Mrs. Hatton
and regard Hatton as a bad man.
Some of the neighbors think that the
trouble in the family was caused by
Scott's presence there and this seems
TO be borne out by the statements Of
Stanton people who knew the couple
for many years back.
Hatton, previous to May ]. when
the state went "dry" went to Grand
Rapids and brought back supply of
whisky and he had been drinking
rather heavily of this for a time and
was about half intoxicated all the
time for some time back.
Mrs. Hatton claims that she shot to
frighten and the shooting was acci-
dental and in self-defense. On the
other hand the bullet was from the
side, indicating that Hatton was not
advancing toward, nor going from
Mrs. Hatton. Only two overturned
chairs appeared as evidence of a
struggle which would lead one to be-
lieve that there was not much of a
struggle. Some people who have
known the woman for q long time
claim that she has staged gun play
before and credited her with being
good shot.
Mrs. Hatton was, prior to her mar
riage to Hatton. Carrie Ward, a vau-
deville actress, travelling with tent
shows, etc. Her mother. Mrs. Han
nah Ward, resides at Ionis.
Coroner Reynolds, of Trufant, i'm
pannelled jury composed of Smith
Nichols, James Antcliff, George Hag-
adorn, Vern LaDow and August (Bel-
cher) Bakeman, who rendered YER
dict that Hatton came to his death as
a result of bullet from a revolver
in the hands of his wife, Carrie Hat
ton. who shot in self defense.
Hatton's body laid where it fell,
from about 6 o'clock, the time of the
shooting until after two in the after
noon.
Mrs. Hatton's trial will be held at
Stanton, the crime having been COM
mitted in Montcalm county.
Mrs. Bee Leach and Mrs. Floyd
Hartwell of Stanton are daughters of
the couple.