SMITH, Grover C. - Murdered - 1930 - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The above pictures published by the courtesy of the Attica Ledger-Tribune show the scene of the shooting new Newtown last Saturday night in which Grover C. Smith (in uniform) was fatally wounded by Jasper N. Bales who is shown at the top center of the picture.  The spot near the porch with the group of five men are standing is where Smith was standing when he was shot the first time.  The second shot was fired just as he reached the spot in the roadway at the extreme right of the picture where the large group is shown.  Bales later killed himself at the home of his father-in-law, Marion Abolt, county commissioner of Fountain County about a half mile up the road from the Bales home and where the shooting of Smith occurred.  Bales and Smith married sisters.  The trouble is said to have started over Mrs. Bales filing suit for divorce because Bales abused her when she refused to mortgage some of her property and give him the money.  ---transcribed by kbz

Trapped in a corn crib by an armed posse, Jasper Bales, age 47 committed suicide by shooting himself through the head on the farm of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Marion Abolt, a mile and a half southwest of Newtown over in Fountain County last Sunday night.  The suicide terminated a hunt for Bales as the one who killed Grover Smith, his brother-in-law, age 45, Newtown World War Veteran and wounded Mrs. Abolt at her home Saturday night when he became infuriated at an attempt of his wife to obtain a divorce and carried out an oft repeated threat to kill.  Three small boys at play found Bales hiding in a wagon-bed in the crib and reported the fact to neighbors who armed themselves and surrounded the out-building.  Commanded to come out, Bales replied: “It’s no use,” and shot himself through the ear, dying instantly.  Two rifles, a shotgun and a revolver were found near his body.  The shooting of Smith followed warnings which Mrs. Bales had received from her husband after filing suit for divorce in the Fountain Circuit Court at Covington.  Saturday evening Mr. and Mrs. Abolt, Mrs. Bales and Mr. and Mrs. Smith with the latter’s daughter motored to Newtown to do some shopping.  Returning to the Bales home to let out Mrs. Bales, the car was parked in the driveway at the side of the house while Mrs. Bales went to pen up some chickens.  A dog was making a great deal of fuss and Mrs. Bales followed it into a wood house.  She discovered an armed man who turned out to be her husband.  Smith meanwhile had gotten out of the car and when Bales fired a shotgun the charge struck Smith in the left side, inflicting a serious wound.  A second shot was fired, striking him in the right breast and shoulder.  Smith ran into the road and Bales followed and is reported to have said to Smith that he did not intend to kill him and was sorry, remarking “I’ll get them yet.”  Mrs. Abolt was struck by several shot but her wounds were serious.  The frightened women got back in the car and drove to Newtown for help.  Smith was taken to a Danville, Ill hospital where he died about three hours after the shooting.  He was a Lt. in the World War and was a prominent Newtown member of the American Legion and played in the Newtown band.  He was engaged as an auto salesman by a Newtown firm.  He belonged to the Masonic, K of P, Red Men and Eastern Star lodges. The widow, the father and a daughter survive.  Bales and his wife parted about four months ago they had two sons, Melvin and Burton one of whom was in Attica and the other in Perrysville at the time of the tragedy.  Bales had been working in Lafayette and later in Paxton, Ill.   He had no car and is thought to have reached Newtown by walking.  Sunday was a most exciting day in the Newtown-Mellott neighborhood and the situation was tense until Bales was found and ended his life.  The funeral of Grover Smith was held Tuesday and Jasper Bales on Wednesday.  Both were buried in the Newtown cemetery.   --transcribed by kbz