Mrs. Etta Marriott Russell was shot and killed Wednesday morning, August 1, 1917 by her husband, Cain Russell, at their home on a farm southeast of Birmingham. The weapon he used was a shot gun and the wound was made in the back of her head, causing death instantly.
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Cain Russell died March 27, 1930 in the insane ward at Anamosa, Iowa. No family member claimed his body. It is believed that he had Huntington’s disease.

Contributor: YKK (49649052)

The people of this community were shocked Wednesday morning of last week about 9:30 o'clock, when word came to town that Cain Russell, living on the old Nathan Moore farm, one and one-half miles southeast of Birmingham, had shot and killed his wife with a shotgun.

Cain Russell is a man 47 years of age and with his family has lived on this farm for the past two years. He is of a quarrelsome nature, especially with the family, has a violent temper, and eighteen months ago had been before the county insane commission. It seems insanity runs in his family, one brother having been in the asylum before his death and others have shown evidences of the same nature.

The morning of the tragedy the mother had nursed her 11-months old baby boy and laid him on the bed asleep. As she went to the kitchen she noticed her husband prowling around in a closet and asked him what he wanted, and he replied nothing, but was evidently getting his gun. She then went to the garden for a pan of beans for dinner, brought them to the kitchen and placed them on the table. It is supposed she was going out of doors again, as the husband came behind and shot her at close range with the one-barreled shotgun, the full load striking her behind the left ear, making a frightful wound, but did not disfigure her face. She dropped to the floor and was partly in a reclining postion in the kitchen, her head resting on a chair. The husband apparently realized what he had done and was filled with remorse, as he had tried to kiss her after the deed, and his face and hands were covered with blood.

None of the children were in the house at the time, but a little 12-year old daughter was just outside. The baby was awakened by the report of the gun and began to scream and the 12-year old sister, with rare presence of mind and motherly instinct, rushed through the kitchen where the dead mother and crazed father were, grabbed up the baby and started for a neighbor's house, followed by three little sisters.

The oldest son Ralph, was working near by and hearing the report of the gun and seeing smoke coming out the door, rushed into the house and found his father attempting to shoot himself. In the scuffle which followed the loaded gun fell to the floor, and upon the arrival of two younger brothers the father was overpowered and three guns taken from the household.

An alarm was given the neighbors, Bert Miller being first on the scene, closely followed by David and Quay Miller and others near by. They found Russell walking around in the barnyard, crying and talking to himself, that he had been poisoned and had lived in hell long enough, and asking for something with which to kill himself. He was watched until the arrival of Sheriff Haney, who had been summoned, and was taken into custody and is now in the county jail.

The County Attorney was summoned and from the evidence of the oldest son and little daughter, there was no doubt the wife came to her death by the hands of her husband and no Coroner's inquest was held.

The untimely death of the mother leaves a family of ten children, two daughters married, and the remainder at home, five being under twelve years, the youngest 11 months old, and needing a mother's care.

The funeral was held at Bentonsport, her old home, Friday morning, there being a large concourse of people present to show their respect, sorrow and sympathy for the deceased and family.

The preliminary trial was held on Thursday, Russell waiving examination and was bound over to the grand jury.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book B, Page 167, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA
Contributor: YKK (49649052)