Farmer Murders Wife, Kills Self At Wilton, Iowa
(Special to The Argus)
Wilton. Iowa, Aug. 16. - A murder and suicide, which took place late Friday afternoon, were revealed here yesterday when neighbors, alarmed at the unaccountable absence of Mr. and Mrs. William McCroskey about their home, called authorities and forced their way into the house. The body of Mrs. McCroskey was found lying face downward at the foot of steps leading into the basement and her husband's body was a few feet away, in a corner of the cellar, in a sitting position against the wall. His .22 caliber rifle had dropped beside his body, where it had fallen after he had sent a bullet through his brain, following the murder of his wife. Both bodies were in such state of, decomposition that they were buried at 10 o'clock this morning in a double grave in Oakville cemetery. The only services were the brief prayers said by the Rev. J. M. Newgard at the grave. Financial worries were believed to have been the cause of the double tragedy. Mr. McCroskey was heavily involved in farmlands in this community.
Retired from Farm
Both were natives of Cedar county and were widely known in this territory. They had resided in Wilton since retiring from active farming 12 years ago. Mr. McCroskey was 71 years of age and his wife 73 years old. Neither had been seen since Friday afternoon. At that time Mr. McCroskey was downtown and had talked briefly with his lifelong friend, J. M. Chamberlain. Although they discussed conditions, Mr. Chamberlain could not recall today that Mr. McCloskey gave any hint of the impending tragedy. It was about 4 o'clock when he returned home. From the position of the bodies it is believed that, having determined upon ending his wife's life and his own, he went to the basement and with his rifle ready, called his wife to him. As she came down the cellar steps he sent a bullet into her brain. He left her body lying where it fell face down at the foot of the stairway. Reloading the rifle, he sat against the wall almost the length of the cellar from the scene of his wife's murder, and propping the muzzle against his own head, pulled the trigger. Death in both cases was instantaneous.
Find Doors Locked
Miss Ella Nichols, whose home is across the alley to the north of the McCroskey residence, and the Rev, Mr. Newgard. who resides across the street, missed their neighbors over the weekend, but did not become alarmed about them until yesterday noon. They observed no activity about the house and when their conversations revealed that neither had seen the couple for three days they reported to Constable F. S. Abbott. He went to the house accompanied by the neighbors and discovered that the screen doors at both front and rear of the home were locked on the inside. He forced a door and uncovered the tragedy. Coroner W. S. Norton, Muscatine county coroner, announced that no inquest would be held. Mr. McCroskey was born Jan. 14, 1861, and bis wife, formerly Etta Ayres, July 19. 1859, in this county. Their marriage took place Dec. 11, 1882, and they spent nearly a quarter of century farming near here. After their retirement they purchased the home in which the double killing occurred, and had resided there since. They are survived by a daughter, Mrs. Earl Hillyer, who resides in this county. Mrs. McCroskey is survived also by her two brothers, I N. and H. B. Ayres, both of Wilton. Mr. McCroskey leaves his step-mother, Mrs. Lou McCroskey, Wilton; a brother, George, Tipton; a sister, Mrs. Lucy Wright, Atalissa: a half-brother, Harry, Cedar county, and a half-sister, Mrs. Ethel Crock, Wilton. Eight grandchildren also survive.
Published in The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois on Tuesday, August 16, 1932, Page 13
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
(Special to The Argus)
Wilton. Iowa, Aug. 16. - A murder and suicide, which took place late Friday afternoon, were revealed here yesterday when neighbors, alarmed at the unaccountable absence of Mr. and Mrs. William McCroskey about their home, called authorities and forced their way into the house. The body of Mrs. McCroskey was found lying face downward at the foot of steps leading into the basement and her husband's body was a few feet away, in a corner of the cellar, in a sitting position against the wall. His .22 caliber rifle had dropped beside his body, where it had fallen after he had sent a bullet through his brain, following the murder of his wife. Both bodies were in such state of, decomposition that they were buried at 10 o'clock this morning in a double grave in Oakville cemetery. The only services were the brief prayers said by the Rev. J. M. Newgard at the grave. Financial worries were believed to have been the cause of the double tragedy. Mr. McCroskey was heavily involved in farmlands in this community.
Retired from Farm
Both were natives of Cedar county and were widely known in this territory. They had resided in Wilton since retiring from active farming 12 years ago. Mr. McCroskey was 71 years of age and his wife 73 years old. Neither had been seen since Friday afternoon. At that time Mr. McCroskey was downtown and had talked briefly with his lifelong friend, J. M. Chamberlain. Although they discussed conditions, Mr. Chamberlain could not recall today that Mr. McCloskey gave any hint of the impending tragedy. It was about 4 o'clock when he returned home. From the position of the bodies it is believed that, having determined upon ending his wife's life and his own, he went to the basement and with his rifle ready, called his wife to him. As she came down the cellar steps he sent a bullet into her brain. He left her body lying where it fell face down at the foot of the stairway. Reloading the rifle, he sat against the wall almost the length of the cellar from the scene of his wife's murder, and propping the muzzle against his own head, pulled the trigger. Death in both cases was instantaneous.
Find Doors Locked
Miss Ella Nichols, whose home is across the alley to the north of the McCroskey residence, and the Rev, Mr. Newgard. who resides across the street, missed their neighbors over the weekend, but did not become alarmed about them until yesterday noon. They observed no activity about the house and when their conversations revealed that neither had seen the couple for three days they reported to Constable F. S. Abbott. He went to the house accompanied by the neighbors and discovered that the screen doors at both front and rear of the home were locked on the inside. He forced a door and uncovered the tragedy. Coroner W. S. Norton, Muscatine county coroner, announced that no inquest would be held. Mr. McCroskey was born Jan. 14, 1861, and bis wife, formerly Etta Ayres, July 19. 1859, in this county. Their marriage took place Dec. 11, 1882, and they spent nearly a quarter of century farming near here. After their retirement they purchased the home in which the double killing occurred, and had resided there since. They are survived by a daughter, Mrs. Earl Hillyer, who resides in this county. Mrs. McCroskey is survived also by her two brothers, I N. and H. B. Ayres, both of Wilton. Mr. McCroskey leaves his step-mother, Mrs. Lou McCroskey, Wilton; a brother, George, Tipton; a sister, Mrs. Lucy Wright, Atalissa: a half-brother, Harry, Cedar county, and a half-sister, Mrs. Ethel Crock, Wilton. Eight grandchildren also survive.
Published in The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois on Tuesday, August 16, 1932, Page 13
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
Farmer Murders Wife, Kills Self At Wilton, Iowa
(Special to The Argus)
Wilton. Iowa, Aug. 16. - A murder and suicide, which took place late Friday afternoon, were revealed here yesterday when neighbors, alarmed at the unaccountable absence of Mr. and Mrs. William McCroskey about their home, called authorities and forced their way into the house. The body of Mrs. McCroskey was found lying face downward at the foot of steps leading into the basement and her husband's body was a few feet away, in a corner of the cellar, in a sitting position against the wall. His .22 caliber rifle had dropped beside his body, where it had fallen after he had sent a bullet through his brain, following the murder of his wife. Both bodies were in such state of, decomposition that they were buried at 10 o'clock this morning in a double grave in Oakville cemetery. The only services were the brief prayers said by the Rev. J. M. Newgard at the grave. Financial worries were believed to have been the cause of the double tragedy. Mr. McCroskey was heavily involved in farmlands in this community.
Retired from Farm
Both were natives of Cedar county and were widely known in this territory. They had resided in Wilton since retiring from active farming 12 years ago. Mr. McCroskey was 71 years of age and his wife 73 years old. Neither had been seen since Friday afternoon. At that time Mr. McCroskey was downtown and had talked briefly with his lifelong friend, J. M. Chamberlain. Although they discussed conditions, Mr. Chamberlain could not recall today that Mr. McCloskey gave any hint of the impending tragedy. It was about 4 o'clock when he returned home. From the position of the bodies it is believed that, having determined upon ending his wife's life and his own, he went to the basement and with his rifle ready, called his wife to him. As she came down the cellar steps he sent a bullet into her brain. He left her body lying where it fell face down at the foot of the stairway. Reloading the rifle, he sat against the wall almost the length of the cellar from the scene of his wife's murder, and propping the muzzle against his own head, pulled the trigger. Death in both cases was instantaneous.
Find Doors Locked
Miss Ella Nichols, whose home is across the alley to the north of the McCroskey residence, and the Rev, Mr. Newgard. who resides across the street, missed their neighbors over the weekend, but did not become alarmed about them until yesterday noon. They observed no activity about the house and when their conversations revealed that neither had seen the couple for three days they reported to Constable F. S. Abbott. He went to the house accompanied by the neighbors and discovered that the screen doors at both front and rear of the home were locked on the inside. He forced a door and uncovered the tragedy. Coroner W. S. Norton, Muscatine county coroner, announced that no inquest would be held. Mr. McCroskey was born Jan. 14, 1861, and bis wife, formerly Etta Ayres, July 19. 1859, in this county. Their marriage took place Dec. 11, 1882, and they spent nearly a quarter of century farming near here. After their retirement they purchased the home in which the double killing occurred, and had resided there since. They are survived by a daughter, Mrs. Earl Hillyer, who resides in this county. Mrs. McCroskey is survived also by her two brothers, I N. and H. B. Ayres, both of Wilton. Mr. McCroskey leaves his step-mother, Mrs. Lou McCroskey, Wilton; a brother, George, Tipton; a sister, Mrs. Lucy Wright, Atalissa: a half-brother, Harry, Cedar county, and a half-sister, Mrs. Ethel Crock, Wilton. Eight grandchildren also survive.
Published in The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois on Tuesday, August 16, 1932, Page 13
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
(Special to The Argus)
Wilton. Iowa, Aug. 16. - A murder and suicide, which took place late Friday afternoon, were revealed here yesterday when neighbors, alarmed at the unaccountable absence of Mr. and Mrs. William McCroskey about their home, called authorities and forced their way into the house. The body of Mrs. McCroskey was found lying face downward at the foot of steps leading into the basement and her husband's body was a few feet away, in a corner of the cellar, in a sitting position against the wall. His .22 caliber rifle had dropped beside his body, where it had fallen after he had sent a bullet through his brain, following the murder of his wife. Both bodies were in such state of, decomposition that they were buried at 10 o'clock this morning in a double grave in Oakville cemetery. The only services were the brief prayers said by the Rev. J. M. Newgard at the grave. Financial worries were believed to have been the cause of the double tragedy. Mr. McCroskey was heavily involved in farmlands in this community.
Retired from Farm
Both were natives of Cedar county and were widely known in this territory. They had resided in Wilton since retiring from active farming 12 years ago. Mr. McCroskey was 71 years of age and his wife 73 years old. Neither had been seen since Friday afternoon. At that time Mr. McCroskey was downtown and had talked briefly with his lifelong friend, J. M. Chamberlain. Although they discussed conditions, Mr. Chamberlain could not recall today that Mr. McCloskey gave any hint of the impending tragedy. It was about 4 o'clock when he returned home. From the position of the bodies it is believed that, having determined upon ending his wife's life and his own, he went to the basement and with his rifle ready, called his wife to him. As she came down the cellar steps he sent a bullet into her brain. He left her body lying where it fell face down at the foot of the stairway. Reloading the rifle, he sat against the wall almost the length of the cellar from the scene of his wife's murder, and propping the muzzle against his own head, pulled the trigger. Death in both cases was instantaneous.
Find Doors Locked
Miss Ella Nichols, whose home is across the alley to the north of the McCroskey residence, and the Rev, Mr. Newgard. who resides across the street, missed their neighbors over the weekend, but did not become alarmed about them until yesterday noon. They observed no activity about the house and when their conversations revealed that neither had seen the couple for three days they reported to Constable F. S. Abbott. He went to the house accompanied by the neighbors and discovered that the screen doors at both front and rear of the home were locked on the inside. He forced a door and uncovered the tragedy. Coroner W. S. Norton, Muscatine county coroner, announced that no inquest would be held. Mr. McCroskey was born Jan. 14, 1861, and bis wife, formerly Etta Ayres, July 19. 1859, in this county. Their marriage took place Dec. 11, 1882, and they spent nearly a quarter of century farming near here. After their retirement they purchased the home in which the double killing occurred, and had resided there since. They are survived by a daughter, Mrs. Earl Hillyer, who resides in this county. Mrs. McCroskey is survived also by her two brothers, I N. and H. B. Ayres, both of Wilton. Mr. McCroskey leaves his step-mother, Mrs. Lou McCroskey, Wilton; a brother, George, Tipton; a sister, Mrs. Lucy Wright, Atalissa: a half-brother, Harry, Cedar county, and a half-sister, Mrs. Ethel Crock, Wilton. Eight grandchildren also survive.
Published in The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois on Tuesday, August 16, 1932, Page 13
Contributor: David Hillyer (49657898)
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