Etta Russell

RUSSELL, MARRIOTT, CORE, HOOTMAN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/4/2002 at 09:28:23

Mrs. Etta Marriott Russell was shot and killed Wednesday morning, Aug. 1, by her husband, Cain Russell, at their home on a farm south east of Birmingham. The weapon he used was a shot gun and the wound was made in the back of her head, causing death instantly.

Three sons were at work in the fields at the time of the shooting but Ralph was near enough to hear the report of the gun and ran to the house and found his mother lying dead. He called the other boys and they called neighbors and relatives by phone and took care of their father until help came and he was placed in charge of the sheriff.

The cause for the shooting is not known or any special family quarrel which may have caused Mr. Russell to have become so enraged or so crazy as to kill the woman who had been his life partner for so many years.

There are ten children, four sons and six daughters, two of whom are married. Their home for many years was in Harrisburg township, having moved to a farm near Birmingham only three or four years ago. Mrs. Russell’s maiden name was Etta Marriott, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Marriott of Bentonsport.

The only witness of the shooting was a five-year-old daughter. The ten children range in age from 23 years to about ten and a half months. The two married daughters are Mrs. Peter Core of Bonaparte township and Mrs. Glenn Hootman of Birmingham. Mrs. Russell was 45 years of age.

Mr. Russell is in jail at Keosauqua. He is 47 years of age. He was once before the insanity commissioners but in some manner escaped being sent to a hospital. He now seems to be a nervous wreck.

It was not considered necessary to hold a coroner’s inquest, the remains being taken care of promptly by the Birmingham undertaker.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings