Myles Young, Sr. (1915)

KENSLER, RIPPEY, WIGHT, YOUNG

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 8/11/2006 at 13:32:06

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, July 28, 1915

SHOOTS HIS WIFE AND THEN SUICIDES

Myles Young Sr., Well Known Grain Dealer, Shoots Wife Then Takes Own Life

WIFE’S CHANCES OF RECOVERY GOOD

Apoplectic Stroke is Thought to Be Cause of Sudden Insanity

One of the most shocking tragedies that ever occurred in the city of Winterset was enacted on last Thursday, when Myles Young Sr., a long time business man and respected citizen of Winterset, shot and perhaps fatally injured his wife and then shot and killed himself. The shooting followed a quarrel between the husband and wife, which began Thursday morning and was resumed again soon after the dinner hour. A. E. Goshorn, who resides directly across the street from the Young residence on the corner of Green street and West Sixth avenue, had just started down town when he heard the report of the shotgun and the screams of the children. He rushed back to the Young residence and was soon afterward joined by J. W. Frankelberger, L. D. Hammond and W. C. McDonald, all nearby neighbors of the Youngs. Mrs. Young had fallen through the front door. A charge of number four shot had torn an awful wound in the lower jaw while scatterring shot lodged in the face, neck and shoulder. Elwood Bertholf, who was passing in an automobile, was sent after a physician. Soon after Dr. Hickenlooper arrived a second shot from within announced the second step in the awful tragedy. City Marshall Macumber arrived soon after and was the first to enter the sitting room, to which the husband returned, after firing on his wife. He lay in a half reclining position on the davenport; both hands clutching the barrel of a single barrel shotgun. The charge had passed through his head and death was instantaneous.

Myles Young, who was 72 years of age, came to Winterset from Peru, Illinois about 31 years ago to engage in the grain business. Some twenty years ago, Mrs. Young died and about twelve years ago, he married Mrs. Clydona Kensler, a daughter of Geo Wight, a pioneer farmer and auctioneer of Adair county. Mr. Young’s family consists of two sons, Myles Jr., of Winterset; Fred of Chicago and two daughters; Mrs. Arthur Rippey of Des Moines and Miss Lucy Young of Chicago. Mrs. Young had two daughters by her first marriage, Mrs. Chas. Spurgin ---------- Miss Blanche Kensler, who was visiting in California at the time of the tragedy. Two daughters, Irene, aged 10 and Mildred, aged 8, were born of the last marriage.

The tragedy is one of the worst ever recorded in this community. When hundreds flocked to the Young home on last Thursday and witnessed the terrible work that had been done they were too horror stricken to analyze the motives that led one of the most respected and law abiding citizens to plunge into a most revolting crime. While it is known that the shooting followed a quarrel, it is generally believed that it was the result of an insane mind. Mr. Young suffered a stroke of apoplexy in April of this year. After several weeks illness he resumed his place at the grain office, but did little of the active work of the office. While his mind appeared normal, the terrible crime he committed can only be explained on the grounds of insanity. His general demeanor was one of extreme courtesy and kindness toward everyone and it is impossible to believe he would in his right mind resort to violence of any kind, let alone the awful tragedy in which he attempted to murder his wife and the mother of his two children, and then destroyed himself.

Mrs. Young has written the statement that she believes he was insane when the deed was committed.

Burial services for Mr. Young were held Saturday afternoon. Rev. Allen Judd of Des Moines conducted a brief service at the grave.

The deepest sympathy is everywhere expressed for those bereft.

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