Grant Hibbs (1895)

HIBBS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 4/25/2008 at 21:48:59

Winterset Madisonian – December 10, 1895
Winterset, Iowa
Page 1

From Earlham

Last Sunday evening word was brought to town announcing the death of Grant Hibbs, who was visiting with his father at Bear Creek, by shooting himself twice through the brain. It is reported that he attempted to murder his wife, and after cutting several ugly gashes in her head, he immediately took his own life. Deceased had been partially deranged for several months.
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Winterset Reporter – December 12, 1895
Page 5

Chips and Whetstones

Frightful Tragedy.

A terrible tragedy occurred at the house of Valentine Hibbs, near Earlham, last Sunday, mention of which is made by our Earlham correspondent this week. Grant Hibbs, aged 23, had been confined in the asylum for insanity, and about six weeks ago was released as cured and went home. Last Sunday he suddenly became a raving maniac again and with fearful results. He got a revolver and shot at his wife, missing her. He then turned the weapon upon himself and fired two shots into his own head. Before falling from the effects of these wounds, he grabbed a knife and plunged at his wife. A desperate struggle ensued in which she was slashed ten or more times. The knife was plunged into her scalp once just above the eye and a terrible gash was the result. She was also badly cut about the arms and hands. He made a desperate effort to cut her throat. He soon fell from the loss of blood and at this writing is thought to be beyond all hopes of recovery, his wife, however, getting along much better than first expected. The family, all but Grant, his wife and children, were away from the home at the time, and when the neighbor’s came in Mrs. Hibbs was seated on the floor with her husband’s head on one knee and one of her little children on the other, the floor red with blood all about them. It was a horrible scene and one which those present will not soon forget.
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Winterset Madisonian – December 13, 1895
Winterset, Iowa
Page 2

Hibbs is Dead — Mrs. Hibbs Improving.

Grant Hibbs, whose desperate attack on his wife and his attempt on his own life last Sunday at his father’s place just northwest of Earlham, died Tuesday evening. Mrs. Hibbs is reported to be improving, and hopes of her recovery are now entertained.
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Winterset Reporter – December 31, 1895
Page 8

THE HIBBS TRAGEDY

Correction of the Press Reports Concerning the Hibbs Affair

We are informed by one in position to know that the press reports of the Grant Hibbs tragedy recently enacted near Earlham were at fault in many particulars. Hibbs’ home was in Davis county, from which place he was taken to the asylum. He was not discharged from the asylum but escaped. He was employed carrying provisions from the basement of the building to the dining room, when he discovered a door ajar through which he made his escape. He husked corn and made enough money to get home, arriving there without a hat. His parents Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Hibbs, living near Earlham, did not know he was out of the asylum and had started via his home in Davis county to Mt. Pleasant to see him. Much to their surprise, however, they found Grant at home, but as the asylum authorities had instituted no search for him and were apparently indifferent about the matter, they thought nothing much of it. Grant and wife accompanied his parents home to Earlham to visit, and it was while there the awful tragedy occurred which ended his life and came near proving fatal to his wife.

If all reports are true the management of the Mount Pleasant asylum needs looking into a little. It seems to be extremely loose.