Glass, Frank & Mary Maude (Montgomery)

married: ____? Breed

News Clips

Republican and Press

Neillsville, Wisconsin

15 June 1899, pg. 1

PROBABLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

Fearful Tragedy Enacted Last Monday.

James Lowe in a Fit of Jealous Rage Shoots His Wife

Three Times and Cuts her Throat.

He then Turns the Weapon upon Himself

and Attempts to End His Miserable Life.

One of the most terrible crimes ever recorded in the history of Clark county was enacted in this city at about nine o’clock Monday morning, the result of which a woman’s life now hangs in the balance and the would-be murderer lies in the county jail with two ugly bullet wounds in his head and face.

The deed was committed in a fit of jealous rage, though every evidence goes to show that the crime was premeditated and the man had watched for an opportunity for several days. The night previous he had demanded admittance to the home of her son, where his wife then was, with the evident intention of seeking trouble, and it has since been learned that he then contemplated murdering two families, but his plans were frustrated and he returned the next morning to accomplish his fiendish purpose. At nine o’clock Monday morning he went to his own home and asked to see his wife. She was then in her room packing her trunk being assisted by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Montgomery, and making preparations to leave her husband. Without word of warning he walked up behind her, drew a 38 caliber revolver and fired three shots, every bullet taking effect in the woman’s head. She fell to the floor in a semi-conscious condition and thinking he had killed her, the devil incarnate turned the pistol upon his daughter-in-law, who had rushed to the scene when she heard the firing. Bravely enough she stood her ground, daring the human fiend to shoot, and that is perhaps what saved her life. The man then turned the weapon upon himself, putting a bullet in his forehead and one in his chin. Crazed with rage, and not being fatally injured, he rushed to his room, procured a razor and picking up the prostrate woman held her up and deliberately cut her throat from ear to ear. She was still conscious and surely with more nerve and vitality than was ever exhibited she fled from the house to the home of a neighbor.

The news quickly spread and soon a crowd was about the premises, Sheriff Tufts arriving upon the scene in time to arrest the man who then stood in the doorway, defiant and with a look of satisfaction on his face. He was immediately taken to jail by the sheriff, searched and put behind the bars, mean-while expressing the wish that he had succeeded in killing his wife. To the writer he said, "If she dies I will be happy and they can do with me what they chose." Sheriff Tufts turned the prisoner’s pockets inside out and took everything from him, including a jack knife and a pocket book containing three cents.

At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Warlen (Warlum), where the victim of this human devil’s work lay prostrate and gasping for breath, a different scene was transpiring. Physicians Esch and Conroy had been hastily summoned and were doing all in earthly power to stop the flow of blood and save the woman’s life. They cauterized the wounds, extracted two bullets and sewed up the terrible gash, placing a silver tube in the throat to facilitate breathing and enable her to take nourishment. Bravely she stood the ordeal and with a smile greeted anxious friends and neighbors. To her grief-stricken son, Wm. Montgomery, the blow came as a thunder bolt from a clear sky and the sympathy of everyone went out to him in his awful sorrow.

The wonderful courage exhibited by Mrs. Lowe buoyed up everyone, however, and all hands were busy in aiding the sufferer. Before noon the doctors had dressed all the wounds and had their patient resting quietly, but with little hope of her recovery. Since then a change for the better has taken place in her condition and there is considerable prospect that she will yet survive the terrible wounds. Two bullets have been extracted from the back of her head and the one which entered just at the eyebrow and taking an upward direction did not reach a necessarily fatal spot. The outcome is awaited with anxiety and the indignation of citizens is not even beginning to be quieted yet. The difficulty which led up to the tragedy has been of long standing. Lowe’s jealous disposition has often caused family quarrels and ever since living together life with him has been unbearable. Mrs. Lowe had concluded to make her home with her daughter, and was making preparations to this end. It was his knowledge of this fact that crazed the man and led him to so desperate a deed.

As soon as possible after the tragedy, telegrams were sent to Mrs. Lowe’s daughters, Mrs. Frank Glass, Centralia, and Mrs. Mollie Breed, Green Bay, but washouts along the railway lines delayed their arrival here until the next day. During the hours of terrible anxiety, both ladies bore up with wonderful courage. Mrs. Lowe exhibited, as before stated, the most remarkable nerve and vitality, and after arriving at the home of Mr. Warlen motioned for a paper and pencil and in prostrate position wrote: "Goodbye to daughters. I have been shot three times through the head by James Lowe." Mrs. Lowe is fortunate in having the professional attendance of Miss Gaiselle, whose kindly ministrations, in conjunction with those of the physicians in attendance, does much to alleviate the sufferings of the patient.

Mrs. Lowe is a woman fifty years of age, having been born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1849. She was first married to George Montgomery, in 1867, and came here in ’91, after the death of her husband, which occurred at their home in Kentucky. Many conflicting reports are current about the character of the would-be assassin, but a candid consideration of facts seems to warrant the thought that, although irascible at times, he was nevertheless considered a "good fellow" by friends and acquaintances, and the fiendish deed he has committed is hardly to be accounted for. Waiving the motive of the crime, public sympathy is with the victim and general indignation at the instigator of the crime runs high.

===================

Republican and Press

Neillsville, Wisconsin

15 June 1899, page 5:

Albert Lowe, of Whitehall, a son of Jim Lowe, who now repines in the county bastile, was in the city on Tuesday, departing for his former place of occupation the following day. The impression which has prevailed in some surrounding towns to the effect that the would-be murderer, Lowe, attempted suicide while in jail is entirely incorrect. He shot himself at his own home and when arrested by Sheriff Tufts the prisoner was relieved of all his personal effects before he was placed behind the bars.

========================

The Neillsville Times

15 June 1899, page 8:

A story going the rounds at Merrillan and other adjoining towns that Jim Lowe attempted suicide after he had been lodged in jail. The story is absolutely without foundation as his revolver was not on his person when he was arrested. He was searched by Sheriff Tufts before being placed in the cell, a razor being the only weapon found.

Attempted Wife Murder.

Last Monday morning this city was thrown into a high state of excitement by the news that Jim Lowe had shot his wife at their home on East 6th street. An investigation proved the truth of the matter. It seems that Lowe and his wife had some difficulty last Saturday which resulted in a separation, Mrs. Lowe going over to the house of her son, Wm. Montgomery, a short distance away. This is only one of several times this had occurred, each time prior to the last, the differences being settled and they began living together. On Monday morning Mrs. Lowe, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Montgomery, and Mrs. Ray Carleton, went over to the house of the purpose of packing up her household effects with the intention of moving them to Centralia where she intended to reside with a daughter. Upon arriving at the house, they found the door locked, but, upon request, it was opened by Lowe who had not gone to his work that morning, but remained as he stated, to "have it out." Mrs. Lowe entered, followed by the other ladies, going into a small room or closet to the right of the dining room, where she began packing up some clothing, while her companions busied themselves in caring for the dishes in the dining room. Lowe followed his wife into the closet and began talking to her about going back to live with him and she informed him that there was no use to waste words, as she could not live with him any longer, whereupon he became enraged and drew a 38-caliber revolver and fired two shots at her, the bullets taking effect, one, a glancing shot, striking her over the left eye and the other in the back of the head. They had not been in the room more than five minutes when the shooting occurred. After firing the shots Lowe seized a razor, and to make good his fiendish work, slashed a frightful gash in the prostrate woman’s throat about three inches long and an inch deep, completely severing the windpipe and gullet, cutting the right jugular vein partly in two, the blade going clear to the backbone. The wounded woman got up and ran out of the house and over to the home of a neighbor named Warlum, the blood streaming from the wound in her throat and head. She fell as she reached the porch, and was taken into the house and a messenger sent for Drs. Esch and Conroy, who quickly appeared on the scene and dressed her wounds and extracted one of the bullets which had passed under the scalp on the back of the head, a distance of four inches from where it entered. The wound in her throat required several stitches to close it up and unless inflammation sets in, she will recover, although the chances are slightly against it. After finishing the deed, Lowe attempted to commit suicide, and shot himself twice without the desired effect. The first ball struck over his left eye, glancing off thro’ his cap, not breaking the skin, the last struck him under the chin, broke the jaw bone and divided, the larger part coming out of the lower lip below the mouth and the other piece was removed from under his tongue when the wounds were dressed. After the tragedy Lowe walked down the street in an unconcerned way and when he met Sheriff Tufts coming to arrest him, offered no resistance and was locked up pending his examination. The man was taken before Justice R.J. MacBride, Jr., Monday and his hearing was adjourned until Friday morning. Jim Lowe has been employed for years in his brother Tom’s meat market here. He had quit work on Saturday. He is said to have procured the revolver some weeks ago at Purnell’s hardware store at Merrillan. Since the shooting he is said to have expressed regret that he had not done a better job. The woman whose life he attempted to take is his third or fourth wife. She was Mrs. Montgomery before marrying Lowe, and came here from Merrillan. She is still alive, with fair prospects of recovery.

===================

Republican and Press

22 June 1899, page one:

MRS. LOWE WILL RECOVER.

Victim of James Lowe’s Jealous Rage Improving Rapidly

The Would-be Murderer on the Gain

and Filled with Remorse over His Awful Crime.

Ten days have elapsed since the awful tragedy was enacted whereby two lives were so nearly given as a sacrifice to the jealous rage of James Lowe, and the victim of the murderous assault still lives with well-founded hopes for her complete recovery. Her wonderful vitality and strength, coupled with careful nursing at the best of medical aid, has saved her from the very grasp of death and washed James Lowe’s blood-stained hands of the terrible crime of murder. That she could survive even momentarily the frightful wounds inflicted was considered nothing short of a miracle, and the present prospects of her recovery are far more surprising. The wounds in her head are giving no trouble whatever, and the throat, though opened again by physicians for the purpose of making certain tat everything was right, is healing rapidly and well. The patient now eats solid food and is gaining strength every day. Lowe’s condition, though at no time considered serious, is likewise improving and he will be well in time to answer to the charge of attempted murder. Sleepless nights in a gloomy cell, alone with the thoughts of his fearful crime, have unnerved the man and brought remorse to him in as pitiless a manner as he sought to take the life of a defenseless woman. He eats well, however, converses but little, and spends most of the time gazing out of the cell-window toward the scene of the attempted murder. His wounds are yet bandaged and require occasional dressing, but they are healing fast. Last Friday he was taken before Justice of the Peace, Robert MacBride, for his preliminary hearing, but an immediate adjournment was taken to Friday, June 30, pending the result of his crime.

=====================

Republican and Press

29 June 1899, page five:

Mrs. Lowe’s condition continues to improve and her complete recovery is now certain. She is able to be up and around, and was out driving last Monday. Her wounds are healing rapidly. Another adjournment has been taken in the preliminary hearing of the would-be murderer, James Lowe, awaiting developments in the condition of his victim. The examination is set to take place on Wednesday, July 5th.

======================

Republican and Press

6 July 1899, page five:

Advices from attending physicians certify that Mrs. Lowe’s condition is now so far improved as to leave no doubt of her speedy and complete recovery. The examination of Jim Lowe was held before Justice MacBride, yesterday, Dist. Atty. Marsh representing the State and J.R. Sturdevant the defense. The case was characterized chiefly by the taking of testimony, after which the prisoner was bound over to the circuit court, his bail being fixed at $1,500, which at present writing has not yet been obtained.

=======================

Republican and Press

29 November 1900, page five:

Dr. Walter Kempster of Milwaukee, an insanity expert, arrived here Tuesday morning to give testimony on the Lowe case. Dr. Kempster was an expert witness on the trial of Chas. G. Gitteau, who assassinated President Garfield.

=======================

The Neillsville Times

6 December 1900, page eight:

On Saturday, Judge O’Neill heard arguments on the motion for a new trial in the case of State vs. James Lowe. The motion was

denied and the court pronounced a sentence of eight years in the state prison. Lowe received the sentence with stolid

indifference and when Sheriff Tufts started with him Monday for Waupun, he appeared entirely unmoved.

======================

The Neillsville Times

13 December 1900, page eight:

SENTENCED SATURDAY.

Jim Lowe, who received his sentence Saturday, eight years confinement in the state penitentiary at Waupun, with one day each year in solitary confinement, was taken to that institution Monday, to take his punishment for attempting to kill his wife in this city in 1899. The would-be uxorcide was in high spiritis when he and his custodian took the train for Waupun.

======================

Republican and Press

13 December 1900, page five:

Sheriff Tufts went to Waupun Monday with Jas. Lowe.