The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-25
SHOOTS TWO OTHERS
BEFORE SEEKING TO
TAKE HER own LIFE
Ibid It for ChiIdren's Good"
Says Mrs. John Garfield
Of Dawson
SUICIDE attempt FAILS
kidder Authorities Take Wontan
to Steele Jail; Believe Her
Unbalanced

Dawson, N. D., June 25.-(R-H
farm mother, who said II did it for
the children's good" shot ana killed
her two sons. critically wounded her
two other children, and then unsuc.
cessfully sought to end her life.
The woman IS Mrs. John Garfield,
residing half mile north Of here.
Apparently while they were still IN
bed. she shot and killed her sons
Donald. II, and George 9.
She inflicted critical wounds on her
daughter Margaret. IL, and Jack. IL
Both were taken to q Mandan hose
pital.
Mrs. Garfield, who in the opinion OF
the authorities became mentally un.
balanced, was taken to the Kiddep
county jail at Steele, while authorities
sought to find her husband, who .
away on . horse-selling trip.
Feared Children's Sanity
The woman said she feared that one
Of her children, Jack, would become
insane and the rest might be tho
same"
Sheriff D. H. Begeman and states
Attorney Arne Vinje Of Kidder county
said they believed the killings occurred
between 8 and . .. m. today, before
the children had dressed for break-
fast. The victims all were in their
night clothes.
Authorities said Mrs. Garfield aps
peared nervous and remorseful wheu
they arrived, but spoke coherently
Asked why she sought to kill her
four children, she replied she had
been worried over the mental condi-
ton Of the oldest boy. She said sha
dreaded to have him 60 to the stats
hospital for the insane"
II thought the rest minht h tn
same" she said, and decided % END
y all. I did it for the childrens own
good"
Tried to Hang Herself
Her slster-in-law, who was IN Z harm
when the killings occurred, arrived a
Mrs. Garfield attempted to hang her
self.
Mr.. Garfield had gone to oriska Ia.
sell some horses. and had not yet re-
turned today.
A hired man was In the barn mike
ing COWS and Mr.. Canfield,s sister.
who lived with the family, was III
another barn.
When she returned to the house.
Mrs. Garfield had shot the four child.
rem ana was attempting to hang her.
sen. me siser-in-law dissuaded her
and notified authorities.
The two boys killed were on tn
floor Of their bedroom upstairs. TheV
were shot through the head.
Margaret had been shot in the head
aG least twice. the sheriff found, while
Jack had been shot throlrh IT,
breast. They were found doWnstaira.
the boy still in bed.
Mrs. Garfield Is between Is and 50
years old. The family had resided
near here for many years.
The two Garfield children. Mar.
garet. Is and Jack, II, arrived al =
Mandan hospital shortly after noon
where physicians seek to save their
lives.
The girl, most seriously wounded OF
the two, may not live, doctors said.
She suffered . bullet wound In the
left side Of her head. the pellet com.
ing out on the right side. She also
was shot IN the fleshy part Of the
neck.
Hope was held out for the recovery
Of Jack. He was shot through the
right lung. the bullet LODGING ia tho,
skin on the left side Of his BODY.
Physicians said he is mentally UNI.
balanced.
Neighbors who brought the two
children here from their farm 1T Dav.
son, said the boy had been q mental
problem to his mother. Recently. |
neighbors said, he had beaten hie
mother. who was forced to flee to the
home Of neighbors.
The father Of the children had not /!
been located this afternoon, ana ap.
parently Is still without word Of the
tragedy. Neighbors said Mrs. Can.
field sought to take her life BY shoot.
ing. but that she had fired iii ayail.
able bullets at her four children.