 |
Chase County Kansas Obituaries
|
Morris, Sadie Kitchner F. W. Morris shot his wife twice with a winchester shot gun, killing her instantly about eight o'clock Monday morning. He then turned the gun on himself. The gun would not work and so he went into the house and got a double barrel shot gun and blew the whole top of his head off. The killing took place at the Morris home about three miles east of Homestead.
Morris and his wife have had trouble for some time and a few months ago Mrs.. Morris left home, declaring that Mr. Morris was becoming mentally deranged and that she was afraid of him. She returned a short time after but conditions did not seem to improve
and she began suit for divorce.
About a week before the tragedy Mr. and Mrs
Morris came to town and had Grisham and Swan draw up a contract of separation and made a division of the property. In the agreement Mrs. Morris was to have possession of the minor children, a boy of fifteen, a girl of thirteen and a little girl of five.
In the division of property Mrs. Morrie was given the home place and continued to live there with the children. Mr. Morris went to stay with his brother, Sherd. It seems that Morris continued to brood over his troubles and was often found crying and talking to himself.
Monday morning about eight o'clock he appeared at the home of his wife. He came in the house but Mrs. Morris was out in the yard. He asked Stella, their thirteen year old daughter, if she would not go and live with him. She said she didn't think she would. When he asked her why, she answered that she did not think he had treated them all right.
He then went out into the yard where Mrs. Morris was and after a word or two he grabbed hold of her and threw her down. He dragged her into the house and told her he was going to kill her and then himself. When he stepped across the room to get the gun Mrs. Morris ran out of the house and across the yard as fast as she could.
As soon as he reached the door he fired and as Mrs. Morris continued to run, he fired again. This time Mrs. Morris fell. He went over to where she was and acted as though he was putting out the fire on her clothing. Seeming to be satisfied that she was dead he placed the muzzle of the gun under his chin and tried to discharge it. It would not go so he went into the house, got the double barrelled shot gun returned to the yard and placing the muzzle of the gun to his forehead pulled the trigger. The whole top of his head was blown off.
The two little daughters, age thirteen and five, were witnesses of the whole tragedy. The boy was working in the field at the time.
Mr. Morris was 53 years and had lived in that part of the county about thirty years. Mrs. Morrie was about ten years younger. She came from near Hartford to this county to teach school about twenty-five years ago. It was in this way that they became acquainted and it was shortly after the close of her school that the wedding occured.
Morris's maiden name was Sadie Kitchner.
Word of the tragedy was telephoned to this city shortly after it happened and about eleven o'clock the coroner, Dr. McKinley, county attorney, Dudley Doolittle, and Clay Shaft left in the latter's automobile for the Morris farm. They were joined there by Sheriff Myers who was at Cedar Point when he heard the news and who came direct from there to the Morris farm.
The little girls gave a very clear statement of the whole affair and no inquest was necessary. The bodies had not been moved and were in the same position when the officers arrived as when they fell. The clothing was entirely burned off the upper half of the woman's body. Besides the three children at home there is an older daughter, Mrs Wil Sheridan, who lives near Homestead.
Chase County Leader News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Oct 26 1909.
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your obituaries and death notices.
Background and KSGenWeb logo were designed and are copyrighted by
Tom & Carolyn Ward
for the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project.
Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page.
The USGenWeb Logo was designed by Linda Cole.
 |
|