Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-13
JOHN hoSkiNS, OF PRESCOTT
KILLS WIFE AND TWO
sTEPcHlLoREN.
eRuTAllY STAYS THEM
WITH HEAVY CLUB
Also Attempts to XIII His Own Oaush.
tor and to Commit Suieids-0omestic
Troubles Cuir,inats in Terrible Trag-
edy on Union County Farm-vietin,s
Buried Sunday.

Crcston. Jan. l3.-Crushing their
skulls with club, John Hoskins. a
farmer residing two mics north Of
Prescott. killed hisl wife and two step
children. severely injured his own
daughter and then tried unsuccessfully
to kill himself by cutting his wrists
and throat.
The crime was committed while the
family was at breakfast. Domestic
trouble was the cause ascribed by
neighbons.
Children Late to Breakfast.
The fact that the children were late
to breakfast was said to have been
the immediate cause of the tragedy.
It was said that Hoskins and his
daughter would recover, tho the girls
condition was said TO be serious.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hoskins had been
married previously. and each had two
children. a boy and girl. Neishbors
declared their family life had been
marked by frequent trouble.
When Mrs. Hoskins left the room
for some lard kept on the rear porch.
Hoskins stepped outside and returned
with a heavy club.
Gave No Warning.
With no preliminary warning, he
smashed in the skulls of his two step
children. Gladys Campbell, years old,
and Roy Campbell aged Is, beating
their heads to a pulp. He then struck
his own daughter, Irene. aged Is, but
she escaped after the first blow, and
nd IN he Of OH
Going to the porch, he encountered
his wife land again the bloody bldd-
geon was brought into play and, she
met the same fate as her children had
She was about 30 years old, while her
husband is SO.
Hcskins sent his own son. Murine
about Is years old. to Nevinsville for
ii brother of the father. and Irene, tho
injured, ran to a ncighbor's home for
aid.
1t was when this neighbor reached
the Hoskirs home that the slayer de-
ciared his intention to end his own
life and slashed futilely both his wrist S
and his throat.
Pending the decision of the coroncr's
| jury no formal charge has been lodged
at the farm home.
Victims Buried.
The community of Prescott gath
| cred in the Methodist church at Mourr
Zion cemetery Sunday afternoon il
tribute to the three victims of Iowa.
1 third family murder of a week. Mrs
Hulda Hoskins, Miss Gladys Campbe
and Roy Campbell. killed by the hus
hand and stepfather Saturday morn
| ing.
Following the funeral services at thu
| church, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Hon
| the bodies were placed in the famil
plot, where one child was buried sew
| eral years ago.
While the 500 or 500 friends ant
| relatives of the unfortunate family
were grief stricken at the crimeA littl,
| condemnation of the slayer was OK.
pressed. An atmosphere of incredN
lous horror seemed to preclude discus
sion.
Seated close to the caskets were. thu
father. mother and brother Of thu
slayer. their heads bowed thruout tho
service. Not far from them was tn
aged father Of the murdered wife, who
appeared stunned by the catastrophe
and who apparently paid little heet
to the hymns or the sermon.
Third Murder in Week.
The Hoskins murder is the third II
Iowa within a week in which a family
has been partially or totally wiped out
On Saturday, Jan. 4, Bill Barnes
killed five persons and committed sui
eide at Onawa.
Friday the bodies of the five mem
bers Of tho Frank Blizek family at OK
ford Junction were found dccapitateC
in the ashes Of their home.
The next day, just one week aftel
the first ira gedy, the Hoskins crime
was committed