Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 143, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1919 — TRIPLE TRAGEDY AT MONTICELLO [ARTICLE]

TRIPLE TRAGEDY AT MONTICELLO

LENIEL POTTS KILLS SELF AND SENDS BULLETS INTO HEADS OF HIS TWO SONS. MONTICELLO, June 17.—One of the most horrible tragedies ever occurring in White county, took place in this city this morning, shortly before 3 o'clock when Leniel Otis Potts, aged 35 years, shot and killed his two sons, Ernest Earl, aged 11 years, and Everett Glenwood, aged 9 years, and then fired a bullet into his own brain, inflicting a fatal wound. The rash act was committed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Potts, 414 South Bluff street, in an upstairs bedroom, which was occupied by the two boys. Mr. Potts arose about 2:40 and vyrent to a dresser drawer in the room in which he with his wife and 5-year-old daughter were sleeping, and took from it a 32 caliber revolver, which he used in taking the lives of himself and sons. Mrs. Potts and daughter were awakened by the noise Of the shots and noting Mr. Potts’ absence from the room hastened downstairs. Finding the front and back doors of the home locked, they returned to the upstairs room, where the boys had been sleeping, and discovered the prostrate forms of the three victims. Shocked by their gruesome find, they ran from the house screaming and went to the home of Mrs. J. M. Dyer, who resides next door. Their conversation and Screams aroused many persons in that section of the city, who hastened to the scene of the tragedy. None of the victims were dead when neighbors reached the Potts home, but the father and the younger son died within a few minutes after the shooting. The older son lived for almost an hour. Dr. E. G. Ricker was called and reached the home before any of the trio died. When the neighbors home, they notified Sheriff Price, who, with Deputy Sheriff Witz, went to the scene of the tragedy. The bodies of the two sons were lying on the bed in the exact position in which they had been sleeping and the prostrate form of Mr. Potts 'wds lying on the floor, face upward, his head in a pool of blood and his right hand still holding the weapon with which he committed the rash act. The bullets which killed the father and son had entered the head directly above the right ear, and the other boy's life had been ended by shooting in the same manner in the left side of the head. The scene in the room where the bodies were found was indescribable. The brains of all three of the victims were oozing from the heads and blood had spurted from the fatal wounds until the room had the appearance of a slaughter house. . Lived in Illinois. The Potts family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Potts, the two sons, and one daughter, Doris, aged five years. Mr. Potts had been twice mariied and the boys were by the first wife. He had resided in Sharpsburg, 111., practically his entire life and came to this city for residence in January of this yehr. His former wife, who was Miss Ethel Frame, of Sharpsburg, died in 1910, and a few years later he wad married to his present wife, who, with their daughter, Doris, survives. An interview with neighbors revealed no trouble in the Potts family, and all who knew Mr. and Mrs. Potts spoke in the highest terms of them. v . , , , Mr Potts owned about six hundred acres’ of land near Roselawn and financial embarrassment ednnot be assigned as the motive for the act. Mrs. Potts said they were planning to move onto the farm in the near future. He was injured in an accident several years ago apd since that time has suffered great pain on various occasions and it is probable that during an attack of excruciating pain he decided without deliberation to commit the crime. The exact reason for the crime will, perhaps, nevsr be known. Mr. and Mrs. Potts retired as usual Monday evening and nothing out of the ordinary was noticed in the former's actions. He had slept very little Sunday evening, but Mrs. Potts could not testify as to the nature of his sleep on the night of the tragedy. Coroner Hughes, who resides at Buffalo, twelve miles north of the city, was notified and reached the home about 5 o’clock this morning. After viewing the bodies he gave permission for the undertakers to take care of them and the inquest will be held in the morning, following which burial permits will be issued. The funeral arrangements have not been announced.