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THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1876.NUMBER 7.UiCrZacotoSHOCKING TRAGEDY!G. L. South wick Shot and Killed in Mrs. Julia Hnmbertson’s Bed Chamber!Full and Reliable Particular? of the Terrible Tragedy..About thrco years ago a raau by the name of C. L.; Southwlck came to town and engaged to work for Mr. J, C. Harris, as a carriage trimmer, shortly after he niarjicd a young girl o? good character, but he and his wife had not lived long together before disputes and difficulties arose, owing, mostly, tothodrunk-ennoas'of the husband, who, when intoxicated, heat. and otherwise abused his wife: So matters run along luhnrmoni-ously Until ouc day he deserted his wlfo, leaving for parts unknoSvn. He and his wild having siuce come together, lie engaged in ttie employ of Hr Harris. Family disturbances, again arose; - Southwiok assaulting and beating his wife so that she was compelled to leave him and re turn to lier parents who live at Lost- Nation, Iowa.Southwiok afterwards got angry ut Ifanis.' auil.again quit his employ, but returned a few months ago, and being iu debt to Mr. Harris, he was again engaged by. ids old employer.Last Saturday tho people were startled by tho announcement on the streets that Southwlck had been shot dead during thb night in Ml'S. Julia Hiuubcrtson’slady; undoubtedly having reference to Mrs. H. This closed the testimony.Mrs. Humbortson Is a vromau of poor health, and owlug to the montai excite-mont, caused by the transection, her attorney advised horto malcoho statement to the Coroner's Jury. But her statement in substuuco is that Southwlck cauio homo lato Friday night Intoxicated, and commenced cursing and swearing, and talking incoherently in relation to different parties, at tho same time' threatening and cursing them ; also using the most wicked, obscene and profane language toward her. Slio was in bod at tho time. He then pulled off his boots and wont lulo his own room and got in bod, putting out the light which Mrs. H. had loft burning for him. After being there a short time ho got up and came to her bed and ir.adc Indecent proposals to her, and upon her refusing and ordering him away ho commenced cursing and swearing at her iu a most violent manner, and threatening her personal injury if she refused to submit to his wicked designs. On his attempting to get into bed she reached out and got tho pistol lying on her bcl, having ro-moved it from tho cupboard during tho afternoon. She then fired a random shot and Southvrick fell. It was very davk in the room at tho tirno, so that she could not toll his exact whereabouts except by his voice and his movements. She says tliatit was so dark that it was only by accident that she hit him.dadliCcso.anprnnthto:nothritiaikcorfoSfG:tosaS.WiifSIWG.thR.diAiklt;31The pistcl belongs to hor brother, hut lie told her 6ho could have it so ns lo protect herself whenever he was away; It was in the cupboard before mentionedstfci*C«01tia:Citicthe day proceeding the shooting. South-bed-chamber, by a pistol iu tho hands of wick came into the house and Inquired that lady. •: • • • • * | for It, but she lofuacd to tell him whereMr. Harris is an unmarried mau, without family, and resided in :hc upper story or a two-story frame building near hiscarriage -shop, tho-lower story being used as a store-room fur carriages. Mrs Humbert sou. liis sister, a widow lady about forty years of age, and her dangle ter resided with Mr. Harris;Tl:f; upper story of the’house is divid-~e-i: i^u«/chrcc rootfts: one on the north side, ill which was the bed occupied by ’Southwlck; one on the cast occupied by 3Er. Jlicten, who works for Harris, and one oh the south side which was used by the family iu general, and in which was the bed of Mrs. Humberlson. ■A Coroner's jury was summoned which • proceeded to the scene of the tragedy, to inquire Into ' the cause of the death. On tho floor by the side of the bed of Mrs. H., lay the dead body of Sonthwiek, which was In a nude state, excepting his shirt.Tho testimony beforo tho Coroner’s jury was not tukcn down in full, and for that reason much of the testimony of the witnesses does not appear.J.-I. JVIittun, a mar. about 45 years of age was sworn and testified substantially as follows:“Hoard with J. C. Harris. Was acquainted with the deceased. Deceased lodged in house beforo mentioned. Soutliwick slept in 'the bed in the north room of building. Mrs. Humbertson occupied the bed where the body of the deceased laid. The cast room was occupied by witness. Saw Soutliwick last night. He came home lute; went into the room occupied by Mrs. H.,hc having to go through that room to get. to his bed room. Heard a conversation between deceased and 3Irs. H., but could not understand what was suid. At times Southwich would tr.lk bud and swear. Heard Southwlck pull off his boot3 and go to room. He must have gone to bed as the bed showed that it had been occupied. Witness then went to sleep and did not hear anything until ho was awakened at about 11$ o’clock by tl»e report OE a pistol. Heard Mrs. H. shriek for witness to get a light, and crying, “O, I have killed him! 0, I have billed him! I couldn't help it! f couldn’t help it! Witness said the pistol had been kept in the cupboard at the head of the bed and that Mrs. H. had told witness, South -wick that day had wasted the pistol. Witness advised her to remove it. Said Southwlck lmd been treated by 3Irs. H. as a brother, but that he had been very abusive to her, often cursing, swearing and using indeccnt;langunge toward her. Witness considered Mrs. H. a very respectable and estimable lady. Neverit- was. He thou commenced rit Hinging at the bureau in search, but did not find It. He then commenced to curse her and said that lie knew whore it was, that it was in the cupboard, She replied llutl if ho know vhr.t made him ask where It was. She afterwards told Mr. Mitten about Sonthwlck's wdutiug tho pistol, and ho advised her to remove it from whoybit was. Acting upon Mitten's nil-’ vieo’ ohe took tho pistol and laid it upon her bed ar.d covered . it with a cloth, whore It laid until as above mentioned.3Ir. Harris was away on busiaos at the 'dice of the shooting.The Coroner's Jury roturned the following verdict:STATE OF IOWA Jocks.m County. ,An Snqmdrion heldut Manookota. in Jackson Ciu:i|y, on tho 27lh flay or .May. 38715. I«fore S. S. (icrnumd, J. P., auiinlt;' coroner of ihc aitlil county, u wm cli*- body of J).L. Souihwick thon lylug dc-fld. by iLejurar.-r-wbose names are hereunto subscribed. The said juror* awn \helr oatlis, do say Him the said person came to hts death by a pts'.al-abol from a pisiol in the bauds of Mrs. Hitcili-rtnon. and that tho net was commuted iu self-defense, and justifiable under the circnm-aluutea. : \VM. STEPHENS,. .. WM T. SUTTON, \V. E. WOOD.Southwiok was a bad character and had a violent temper ar.d wicked dls? position. Public opinion is unanimous in support of tho verdict of the coroner's jury, that the shooting was justifiable undir the circumstances. He has been for some timo the terror of tho ladios living in that community. All honor and praise is due to the lady who had the courage t.o thus defend herself against the assaults and insults of this libertine and ruffian.Since writing the above we arc in receipt of the Clinton He.rald containing the following further advices from 31ii-quokcta. As the old adage is “go away from home to learn tho news’* we give it although we do not bcliovo there is. on iota of truth in it. We give it for what it is worth:make any threats againsthoard her SouthwickC. Mo.rhers sworn and testified as follows: I am acquainted With deceased. Live on Prospect street. Saw him in the afternoon about 4 o'oiock. He had been drinking. When drufik ho was very ugly.I was called here about 12 o’clock last r.ight. Southwlck das dead when I got bore. I have heard deceased use bad and insulting Ianguago to 31 rs. H. without cause or provocationDr. A. B. Bowen sworn, testified that-. I was called to this case last night at 12$ o'clock. When I seen deceased there was no motion of pulse or heart. Wound midway between eye and oar. When the pistol wns discharged it must have been within ft few Inches of his head as there were marks of powder on face and shirt.' I do not think he knew what killed him. No one present but 3Ir. Mason when I came except 3frs. H., who was in the north room screaming and saying “I have shot him—I have sent him into eternitv with all hi3 sins.”Another witness testified that he was with deceased until 10* o’clock that night. Wanted witness to go home with him, and at the same time intimating his intention to offer iusult to a certainFurther advices from Maquoketa state tnat excitement is still rifo over the killing of Soutliwick by 3rrs. Humbertson. The coroner .held on Inquest Saturday morning, and a verdict was rendered by the jury, that deceased came to his death through the firing of a pistol in tho hands of Mrs. Humbertson, in self defense.In the meantime, Southwiek’s dosortecl wife 3ms arrived in 3Iaquoketa and is disposed to investigate the affair. She Still manifests sympathy for her erring husband, and claims that the latter had been long intimate with Airs. Huinbert-son. whoso story about the “attempted ont.age” may, in her view, he seriously questioned. Mrs. Southwlck statos that Mrs. Humbertson had.endeavored to get Soutliwick to marry her, after he had deserted his lawful wife, and that ho refused; that, furthermore, Southwiok had Harris—his~ employer and brother of 3lrs. Humbertson—practically “under his thumb” in some business or other affairs, and that Harris, though absent at the time of tho murder, was really a party to it. Tho whole affair In the light of tho new developments grows moro interesting, and while the public more readily credits Mrs. Humbertson's story, the investigation promised by the other woman is eagerly awaited.—The Republican Convention met In Andrew last week, and this is the way tho leading Republican paper of the county “talks out in meetm’. Verily, there is harmony with a vengeance in the Republican ranks.To-day the Republicans met In Andrew, in convention, to nominate delegates to tho Congressional, Judicial and State conventions. Hon. John HHsiDger of Sabuliv was called to the chair, A. F.
Newspaper Details
Jackson Sentinel
Maquoketa, Iowa, US
Thu, Jun 01, 1876
Page 7
Full Page
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Brian P.
USA 04 Dec 2017
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