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Kills Wife, Fatally Wounded Mother-in-Law and Then Kills Self SHOOTING TOOK PLACE AT OTTUMWA SABBATH Insanity Caused By Domestic Troubles Said to Have Been Responsible Melvin Johnson, formerly a resident of Fairfield, shot his wife, mother-in-law and then him self at the home of his wife’s mother, Mrs. Seely, in Ottumwa Sabbath afternoon, about four o’clock. Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Johnson were killed and Mrs. Seely was shot in the abdomen seriously wounded. The reason responsible for the act is said to have been insanity caused by do mestic differences. According to the stories of the neighbors and the boarders at Mrs. Seely’s home, the shooting occurred at 4:00. Mr. Johnson had returned to Ottumwa from St. Louis on Friday and, it is said, had been taking his meals at Mrs. Seely’s. The three boarders were in a different part of the house and their first intimation of trouble were the reports of the gun. The affray started in the kitchen, Mrs. Seely being the first victim. Mrs. Johnson ran out the room and up the stairs where she jodgers in an attempt to escapé her husband. He followed her into the room and before the lodger was awakened to the trag edy being enacted fired three shots at her, all of them taking effect. Mrs. Johnson then ran out of the room and out onto a rear doorstep where she fell. Her husband followed her to the door step where he emptied the revol ver in his own person. According to reports Mrs. Johnson had left her husband and had, said some reports, made preliminary steps toward secur ing a divorce. It was fear of this which, it is thought, caused Mr. Johnson’s insanity which in turn caused the enactment of the trag edy. Melvin Johnson ‘was a son of Eugene Johnson, of Fairbury, Tl. and was about forty years of age. He had been employed as a ci gar itmaker in the various cigar factories of the city, engaging in that business for himself in this city for some time. He was also in the same business together with Er. E. Greenfield for a short time. The bodies were brought here Wednesday noon and were met at the train by members of the 1.C.C. F. No. 629 and the De gree of Honor Lodges to which Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had be longed. They proceeded to the cemetery at once,and short ser vices were conducted, Rev. A. K. Newell assisting in the ser vices, Comrade and Mrs. Will Hen drix were in the city yesterday making preparations for a trip to Cincinnati for Visit with their son, Dr. Hendrix. Mrs. Lillie Meta and two chil dren returned to their home at Glendale the first of the week af ter enjoying a short visit with relatives here.
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Jefferson County Republican
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Fri, Jul 17, 1914
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jason S.
USA 03 Feb 2026
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