Elmer Williams, whose right name is Elmer Flowers, 60 years old, widower, living on a farm belonging to John Billings, one and a half miles north of Rockport, Friday morning went to the home of Mrs. Nettie Love, a widow, living near the Dutch Creek schoolhouse, a short distance north of Rockport, and, renewing a quarrel which was started the Tuesday night before, picked up a shotgun and loaded it with shells, which he carried in his pocket, shot and killed Mrs. Love and then turned the weapon upon himself, the charge tearing away the top of his head.

John Triplett, a neighbor, who heard the shots and was summoned by two children of Mrs. Love, who were the only witnesses, ran to the scene of the shooting and found the body of Mrs. Love at the rear door of the kitchen. The back portion of her head had been torn away by a charge of shot. Williams body was found in the house.

It is reported that Williams went to the Love home at about 7:00 that morning and started the phonograph, before grabbing the shotgun. Mrs. Love is said to have been standing at the stove getting breakfast when Williams shot her in the back of the head. When he saw what he had done, he screamed: "I didn't mean to do it, the trigger slipped." He then went into the next room and shot himself.

At the coroner's inquest held Friday afternoon a verdict of homicide and suicide was brought in by the jury after a short hearing. Evidence showed that Mr. Williams had been intimate with Mrs. Love, a widow, for several months, but that the couple had quarreled last Tuesday. Mr. Williams told friends that Mrs. Love had told him "she would let him know if she were to marry anyone else" and it is believed that jealousy was the cause of the double tragedy. Williams is also reported as saying after their quarrel, "She will never marry anyone else." The two children that witnessed the tragedy made splendid witnesses at the inquest. It is said he borrowed two shells from a neighbor, came to her house and put them in her gun. Nettie Hardy Love was the daughter of Thomas J. Hardy. Her husband, Ernest H. Love, died a year ago leaving her a small house, two acres of ground, a horse and buggy and a little furniture, all of which was clear of debt. There are 6 children, two of whom are married. Alonzo, who lives in New Canton and Bertha, who is Mrs. Earl Schmidt and lives near El Dara. There are four children at home, Andrew is 13, Emma and Robert, twins are 11; Harold is 3. County nurse Edna Williams was at Rockport Saturday and bought clothes for the children. It is not known just what the county will do with the 4 youngest children, but will probably put them in an orphan's home. At the present time they are staying with a neighbor, Mrs. Schmidt, the mother of Earl Schmidt. Funeral services for Mrs. Love were held from the Christian Church of Rockport Sunday morning at 11:00.

Another article: The funeral and burial of Elmer Williams was at Summerhill Cemetery Sunday afternoon. His daughter, Leslie Walton of Marblehead and his son Hugh and wife of Mason City , came for the funeral. Corp. Gilbert L. Williams of Co. H, 17th Infantry, Ft. Des Moines , IA , stated in his telegram that he would come later, as he was at this time getting his discharge papers made out.