Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1893 — A BLOODY RECORD. [ARTICLE]

A BLOODY RECORD.

Assassination, Mnrdnr and Suicide. Five Victims to Fiendish B*ge Near Bey—sc—__—, xiao», ■ . ——— Four years ago Clinton Jordan, living seven miles east es Seymour, then twentyone years old, married a daughter of Joshua Foster, with whom he has never lived happily. Last week they separated finally and she returned to the home of her father. Late Saturday night Jordan met his father-in-iaw and accompanied him home, contrary to the wishes of the latter, who feared trouble. Jordan promised to behave, but soon after his arrival at Foster’s home he began a Quarrel. Foster then ordered him out of the house. Immediately Jordan fired at the old man, but missed him, the ball striking Miss Cora Foster, aged seventeen, In the head, killing her Instantly. His second shot hit Mr. Foster in the head and he fell, but he soon rose and ran on a fourth of a mile to the home of his'son-in-law, William Powell, where he fell and lingered until late Sunday afternoon, when he died. Jordan then turned his revolver toward Mrs. Foster, his mother-in-law, shooting her in the neck, the ball ranging downward and causing a wound from which she died Sunday night. Jordan’s wife attempted to defend her mother, and he stabbed her repeatedly in the face, hands and breast, and ended by shooting her through the head. J6rdan then coolly opened his vest and placed the revolver against his breast, sending the ball directly through his heart. He dropped dead instantly, falling across the dead body of his wife. The pistol was placed so close to the breast of Jordan that his clothing caught fire and was literally burned off of him, the skin dropping from his body when it was lifted, and his corpse presented a horrible sight. Mr. Foster, the aged victim, was sixty years old and his wife was fifty. Mrs. Jordan was eighteen years old. Foster had an unsavory reputation, and when drinking, which he often did, he was ugly and quarrelsome. All the other victims were peaceful and orderly citizens. Jordan, the assassin and suicide, was illiterate and very stupid, but he had always been considered harmless, His parents were respectable people. The scene at the Foster homestead was one of the most horrible ever witnessed in Jackson county, and the excitement is intense. Had not Jordan killed himself he would certainly have been summarily punished by the enraged people.