FOSSETT, John - shoots wife - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The village of Hillsboro across the line in Fountain County was all excitement Friday evening over the cruel shooting of his wife by John Fossett, a young man who has been working in the flouring mills of that place. About three months ago he was married and the union unhappy. (to Laura Stephens 17 Nov 1888) A few days ago they separated, his wife going to live with her mother. Friday evening he saw her in the yard and asked her if she would live with him, to which she replied saying that she would not. He then drew a 38 calibre revolver, shooting her three times, until she fell to the ground. The balls penetrated her breast, tearing off the fingers on one hand that she had thrown up for protection. She was alive Friday night but the attending physician said she could not recover as the leaden missles had entered the lungs and hemorrhage had set in. When he saw that had done his fiendish work well he started to run to his mother’s home, loading his revolver as he went as was supposed to take his own life but at the gate he was overtaken by three citizens who placed him under arrest. We go to press too early to secure any farther particulars but we suppose he was taken to Covington and lodged in jail.

The trial of John Fossett at Covington Friday charged with attempted wife murder resulted in his being sentenced to the penitentiary for 7 yeas. This family has had their share of trouble in this world and it seems as if they were destined to meet doubly the shary of others.

Mrs. John Fossett who was so cruelly shot by her husband at Hillsboro last Friday is improving and the physicians say she will recover. Fossett is in jail at Covington and will have his trial in May.  Same page: The Journal and Argus News have established lines from here to Hillsboro receive specials in regard to the condition of Mrs. Fossett. We could give them away but we would not.

John Fossett of Hillsboro, Fountain County made an attempt to kill his wife Friday night because she refused to move to a farm which he had recently purchased. He shot her four times, the first shot sending a ball through her body, entering her left breast three inches above the nipple; the next one took effect in her right hand, cutting off the middle finger and another still further mangled her hand; and another ball struck her dress stays. She is not expected to live. - kbz

The trial of John Fossett at Covington Friday charged with attempted wife murder resulted in his being sentenced to the penitentiary for 7 years.  This family has had their share of trouble in this world and it seems as they were destined to meet doubly the share of others.