Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Princeton Union Princeton, MN Thursday, July 13, 1899 HE SHOT HIS WIFE E. S. CLINCH, a Former Resident of This County, Attempts Murder and Then Suicides Mrs. CLINCH, Though Twice Wounded, Will Probably Recover - The Cause Was Jealousy A shocking tragedy occurred at Backus, a small way station on the B. & N. M. road about thirty- five miles from Brainerd, just over the line in Cass county, at an early hour Thursday morning. E. S. CLINCH, an old man who has been keeping a small store at the station, attempted to murder his wife, shooting her twice, after which he shot himself through the head, dying almost instantly. CLINCH was a man over 70 years old, though he looked much younger, and was strong and vigorous for his years. Mrs. CLINCH, who was about 40 years old was formerly Mrs. H. E. DORR, and her husband was a member of the firm of Scribner & Dorr, who formerly carried on the same business at Backus. DORR died some time last fall, and his widow, about six weeks later, in the month of December, married old man CLINCH, who was a lumberman by occupation. SCRIBNER soon after DORR'S death retired from the business and left the country, after which it was carried on by CLINCH and his wife. It seems that the couple disagreed and have been living apart of late. On Thursday morning about six o'clock CLINCH went to the store and calling his wife had some words with her, when he suddenly drew a revolver and discharged two shots at her, each of which took effect, one in the left jaw and the other on the left side of the face just below the eye. Then, evidently supposing that the shots were fatal, he sat down in a chair, and placing the revolver to his head, shot himself through the temple, death being instantaneous. Mrs. CLINCH was brought to the city on the B. & N. M. train Thursday morning and taken to the Stratton house, where Dr. McPHERSON examined her wounds. He found that the ball entering the face just below the eye had lodged a little lower down near the end of the nose, and the other ball had passed through the jaw and lodged in the neck im- mediately underneath. The doctor is of the opinion that the woman will recover, though her injuries are serious. No attempt has yet been made to extract the bullets, because of the inflamed condition of the wounds. CLINCH'S body was found by the neighbors sitting upright in the chair in which he sat when he shot himself, and was left in this position until Coro- ner RODWELL came down from Walker Friday to investi- gate the tragedy. The cause of the trouble between the pair is not positively known, but it is ascribed to jealousy on the part of the husband. The woman came to this part of the country with her first husband, DORR, several years ago from Fergus Falls. CLINCH came here from Anoka. - Brainerd Tribune. ==========================================================================