The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1921-08-25
WOMAN BEATS HUSBAND
ALMOST TO DEATH
g. NJ. Howard, Cripple, Almost Kill
ed by Wife Who Entered Room
While He Was Asleep.

One of the most shocking crimes
ever committed in this community
was perpetrated here Saturday night.
when G. M. Howard, cripple and al
most deaf, was beat almost to death
by his wife. For several days C. M.
Howard, the laundryman and ice
dealer Of Port Gibson, and his wife
had been quaTreing, and the day be-
fore the tragedy he had appealed to
the authorities to place her under
peace bond because of her repeated
threats to kill him. Justice Tillman
and Attorney Satterfield had arranged
what appeared to be settlement Of
the difficulty between the pair, where
by Mrs, Howard was to arrange her
affairs and leave town within thirty
days, and the two children were to be
placed in an orphan asylum at Match
ez. Mr.. Howard agreed to this ar
rangement, but casually stated that
she would kill him before the end of
that time, which came near being a
true prophecy.
Saturday night just before nine
O'Clock neighbors heard piercing
screams and heavy blows. The officers
We're notified by telephone Of the
trouble, and Constable Beard was the
first man to reach the scene When
he entered Howard's room, be saw
what appeared more like a slaughter
house than home. The poor fellow
was sitting ON the floor trying to hold
the door so that no one could enter
He was so drenched in blood that it
was difficult to tell what he was, and
the whole room was blood-bespatter-
ed, He at once accused his wife of
The deed, but people at the picture
show where she had gone with her
children, stated that it was impossible
for her to have committed the deed
and reached the opera house between
the time the screams We're heard and
the tragedy discovered. Neverthe-
less, she was arrested and taken
home. She at first strenuously deni-
ed guilt, but finally admitted the deed.
Howard had locked the door to his
room because of fear Of his wife and
had retired. She stated that she en-
tered his room through window and
almost Drained her victim with a crow
bar while he was asleep. After beat
ing him until she thought him dead,
she repeatedly stabbed his body with
the sharp end of the bar, one blow
carrying the heavy instrument clear
through his arm and breaking the
bone She stated that the deed was
committed some time before being
discovered, the first blow rendering
the man unconscious; and he did not
scream until after having recovered
consciousness.
Drs. Bailey and May attended the
horribly mutilated man, and he was
sent to the state hospital ataNatchez
on the early morning train, accom-
panied by Marshal Rowan and e. v.
Rogillio.
Mrs. Howard was Immediately
placed in Jail, while the children were
taken to the home Of neighbor,
Later they were taken to the Natchez
orphanage by Mrs Thornton, the Red
Cross secretary.
Had Mrs. Howard not weakened
and admitted the crime, it is doubt
full whether she oculd have been con-
yicted, so well had the deed been
planned. However, had her victim
not rallied sufficiently to give the
alarm before her return home, he
would certainly have been killed.
The latest reports from the wounds
ed man are to the effect that'h stands
a fair chance to recover, but it will
be some time before he will be able
to leave the hospital.
Howard, DESPITE the fact that he
has but one leg, has very little use Of
one arm, is blind in one eye and is
almost entirely deaf, has been able
% make living for his family, and
he has always spufned charity. When
given things by kind-hearted people,
ne invariably finds a way to return
the favor. He has the sympathy Of
the entire community in this horrible
affair.