Bismarck Daily Tribune, 5-20-1904
ANOTHER KILLING IN MERCER
Major A.W. Thomas, Indian agent at Elbowoods reports to State's Attorney A.T. Patterson of Mercer county what he believes to be a murder committed on that part of the reservation located in Mercer county. The victim, an indian named Milton Fowler, is supposed to have been killed by his wife, a Sioux woman named Good Roads Woman. The body of the man was found buried near his house and the woman is under arrest and is detained at the agency. The Indians in the vicinity are reported to be in a high state of excitement because of the supposed crime.
Major Thomas and the agency physicial, owing to the length of time that would be required to send for the coroner and other authorities, went to examine the body of the dead man. They discovered a wound in the face from the nose across the left eye, about 3½ inches long and 2½ inches deep, the evident cause of death. The indications were that the blow was struch with a hatchet, while the deceased was lying in bed. There was little evidence of a struggle. The body was wrapped in two comforters or quilts and buried in a hole two feet deep about fifty feet from the house.
The widow's story is that the man took two pieces of calico and went among the white settlers to trade for potatoes, and since that time she says she has not seen him.
The trousers, overalls and hat of the deceased were found buried with him. The woman admits having been at home all the time since she claims Fowler went away and admits also that they quarreled.
Bismarck Daily Tribune, 5/24/1904
Good Roads Woman, a member of the Sioux tribe, is charged with the killing of her husband, Milton Fowler, a Sioux-Ree, and waived examination, and was brought down by Constable Chas. Helnemeyer and an Indian police and turned over to Sheriff Welch for safe keeping pending the convening of the district court at Stanton. Fowler is the fourth husband of this dusky daughter of Eve, and there are those who are suspicious that this is the second she has murdered. They had taken their allotment of lands and were engaged in farming. One day, about a month ago some of the neighbors called to see Fowler, and they were informed by the woman that he had gone to the Russian settlement some distance away to see about getting some potatoes. Noting that he had left his team at home, they became suspicious that all was not right, and the following day an investigation was instituted with the result that the remains were found buried in the yard near the house with a deep wound over the left eye, like one made with a hatchet. The body was buried wrapped in blankets, which would indicate that the wound had been inflicted while still in bed.
Bismarck Daily Tribune, 6-15-1904
At a long conversation held among them yesterday, Mrs. Good Roads Woman made her first statement regarding the crime and told how her husband met his death. It appears that a day or two before the Indian was killed, he had beaten her severely and thrust the tine of a pitchfork through her arm, the scar of which is plainly visible. A visiting Indian saw part of the assault and threatened the woman's husband with vengance. That night, after all three had lain down to sleep, Mrs. Good Roads Woman heard an outcry, and looking up saw the other Indian strike her husband with an axe while he lay in bed and she got up and fled. Afterward she saw the Indian take the dead man out, dig a grave and bury him where he was found.
Bismarck Daily Tribune, 7/28/1904
