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Story
April 30, 1923
The Laramie Republican
Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming
What is this article about?
In Montana, James E. Hovey, driven by insane fears of starvation despite his wealth, axed his wife and two infant daughters to death, clubbed another daughter, then shot himself. Two sons escaped and got help; the injured girl recovered.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
INSANE
MAN
KILLS
WIFE
AND
TWO
SMALL
CHILDREN
AND
SELF
ALTHOUGH
HE
WAS
WELL-TO-DO
HE WAS UNDER
THE IMPRESSION THEY WERE HUNGRY.
(By the Associated Press)
Great Falls, Mont., April 30.-Further developments in the tragedy which resulted in the killing of his wife and two small children by James E. Hovey on a farm near Malta, and Hovey's suicide, indicate Hovey was suffering from a recurrence of insanity, which caused him to be placed in an asylum several years ago. He was released last year. Although well-to-do, having property in Montana and in Minneapolis, Hovey feared he and his family were going to starve to death and the only way to save them was to kill them all.
Two sons, aged 9 and 11 years, saw Hovey strike down their mother with an axe. They succeeded in disarming him, but fled when he attacked them with a club. The boys summoned neighbors, who found the mother and two infant girls, aged 15 months and 3 years, dead of wounds inflicted by Hovey, and they discovered Hovey's body in a granary, where he ended his life with a battered shotgun. Another girl, 6 years old, is believed to be recovering today, although she had been clubbed into insensibility.
MAN
KILLS
WIFE
AND
TWO
SMALL
CHILDREN
AND
SELF
ALTHOUGH
HE
WAS
WELL-TO-DO
HE WAS UNDER
THE IMPRESSION THEY WERE HUNGRY.
(By the Associated Press)
Great Falls, Mont., April 30.-Further developments in the tragedy which resulted in the killing of his wife and two small children by James E. Hovey on a farm near Malta, and Hovey's suicide, indicate Hovey was suffering from a recurrence of insanity, which caused him to be placed in an asylum several years ago. He was released last year. Although well-to-do, having property in Montana and in Minneapolis, Hovey feared he and his family were going to starve to death and the only way to save them was to kill them all.
Two sons, aged 9 and 11 years, saw Hovey strike down their mother with an axe. They succeeded in disarming him, but fled when he attacked them with a club. The boys summoned neighbors, who found the mother and two infant girls, aged 15 months and 3 years, dead of wounds inflicted by Hovey, and they discovered Hovey's body in a granary, where he ended his life with a battered shotgun. Another girl, 6 years old, is believed to be recovering today, although she had been clubbed into insensibility.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Madness
Tragedy
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Family Murder
Insanity
Suicide
Axe Attack
Montana Tragedy
What entities or persons were involved?
James E. Hovey
Where did it happen?
Farm Near Malta, Montana
Story Details
Key Persons
James E. Hovey
Location
Farm Near Malta, Montana
Event Date
April 30
Story Details
James E. Hovey, suffering from recurrent insanity, killed his wife and two young daughters with an axe and club, believing they would starve; he then committed suicide with a shotgun. Two sons disarmed him and summoned help; a six-year-old daughter survived.