The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-06-16
Murders Wife Last Wednesday Afternoon in Kitchen Of
Hotel Then Kills Himsel-News Of Shooting Soon
Spreads and a Large Crowd Gathers
FAMILY TROUBLE is THE CAUSE
lvens After Trying to Purchase Revolver Shot His Wife
and Himself With 20 Calibre Rifle-His
Body Found in Chicken House

I DUNLAP, Iowa, June l5--Special to
the Review-The double tragedy which
occurred ut, the Elber Hotel on We'd
| nesday afternoon at 4:15 o'clock when
fatrlck lvens shot his wife with a 20
calbre rifle inflicting a wound from
which she died thirty minutes later,
and then turned the gun upon himself
! is one which has filled the town with
horror and grief.
The news of the tragedy spread like
Wldiire and in n few moments, large
crowd had gathered. The shooting
took place in the kitchen of the hotel
where the body of Mrs. Ivens was
found lying in a pool of blood. On
! wednesday morning. Mr.. Ivens left for
Omaha with the intention of seeking
| employment there, but returned to
Dunlap Wednesday afternoon. About
$40 o'clock, he went up town and tried
10 purchase a revolver but was in
formed by the dealer that it was neces-
sary that he secure a permit before he
could let him have one. Ivens then re-
turned to the hotel and going to the
room where Mrs. Ivens was lying down
asked her to come down stairs as he
wanted to see her a moment. Mrs. w.
ems went to the kitchen and sat down
by the table and started to hull some
strawberries for the evening meal
when suddenly Mr.. Ivens snatched up
fired bullet into her heart No evi-
dence of struggle was noticeable but
Mrs. Ivens had II slight cut above one
eye, but it is thought she received this
bruise when she fell
AS soon rs the rest Of the family
heard the report of the rifle, they rush
ed to the kitchen and Dir. Slattery was
yond medical aid and died about 4:25,
the bullet having either grazed the
heart or entered very close s
When help arrived. Mr.. Ivens was
nowhere to be found and general
alarm was sent out to- apprehend shim.
Men were dispatched to the railroad
yards to watch the outgoing trains, and
a large crowd had gathered at the rear
of the. hotel, and a. search of alt the
buildings was about to begin. when q
shot rapg out from AN old chicken
house. The crowd rushed into this
building where they found Ivens dead
with the same rifle lying under him
and box of shells nearby. The doc.
tor was called but it was again too
late and the man died a few moments
later.
Mr.. Ivens had not been home for a
couple of years and some time ago he
appeared in Dunlap and made threats
to his wife and no one had any idea
that he had any intentions Of carrying
out this terrible thing.
Mrs. Ivens came to Dunlap last win.
ter and purchased the Jensen hotel,
and in Il short time had won the friend.
ship and esteem Of all. She was .
very pleasant woman, a hard worker
and had large number OF boarders,
who had nothing but good words to
speak of her. Mrs. Ivens had four
two grown daughters by
former husband named Sears, and two
children by Ivens, Il daughter aged ell.
even and u son six years of age.
The relatives of Mrs. Ivens came the
last of the week and took her body
to Schallcr, Iowa, where she was laid
to rest beside her first husband Mr.
lvcns. Of Omaha, came and took charge,
Of the body of his son. which was TAX.
en- to Fremont. Nebr., for burial.
Mr.. Iwens, the father, formerly lived
in Dunlap in an early day, and was in
the employ of VIM. Howard in the har-
ness shop. He was a great musician
md played in one of Dunlap's first
bands.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ivens, so 1t is reported
parted several years prior to her, com
ing to Dunlap, and it was the general
opinion that she was a widow. They
had lived formerly at Tabor, Iowa.
where they ran the Tabor Hotel