The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-04-15
AHoRRIBLEAFF
A MANIAC aEURDERS HIS WIFE AM
Two CHILDREN.


A MANIAC MURDERS HIS WIFE AM
Two CHILDREN.
Attempts to murder His Father-Particu
lars of the sad AFFAIR.
A special from St. Paul to theg1me
| gives the full particulars of the nun
der of his wife and four children b,
John r. Gray, at Oakdale, Washing
ton county, Minn., on the 7th inst
The murderer is farmer, and was la
boring under fit of insanity at til,
time he committed the deed. GRAY i.
aman about forty years of age, snd $
native of Harrisburgh, Penn. Hi:
wife Alice--formerly Fatrey-waI
thirty-eight years ofage. They were
married at Hastings eleven years ago
The children were two boys and two
girls, as follows: Margaret aged
nearly 10: James B.. aged 8; David
aged ., aud Nellie, Jane, aged 3d.,
About daylight on the morning OF
the murder James Armstrong, a
nephew, heard loud cries coming from
the direction of Gray's house. He i'm
mediately went in that direction, and
when near anough to the place he
heard Gray cry ont q Oh come and
hang me, continually repeating the
cry. Armstrong walked near and saw
Gray sitting on the steps Of the gran
ary with rope in his hand whistling
and screaming. Armstrong at once
ran to the residence of Gray's father.
who lived near at hand, and the two
repaired to the house of the murderer
They pushed open the door and found
the four children lying upon the floor
side by side, covered with a quiIt,
their throats cut from ear to ear, and
their faces gashed i'm horrible man
ner. tr=lrs,,-- g. f,-z ..f..
AT this moment the maniec murder
or advanced toward his father with a.
rope in his hand, and would undoubt-
edly have strangled him had not Arm
strong, and another son, who had ar
rived. seized the unhappy man, and,
after desperate struggle, securely
bound him. In answer. to their in
quiries, in regard to his wife, he said :
Il killed them all with an axe, and
they have gone to heayeni Oh, hang.
me! hang me I. t,, ..s.s.. ..,....,. -.
He finally told them that his wife
was in the granery. Repairing thither
the body of Mrs. Gray was found ON
the floor, covered with a quilt. 5ab i
The murderer was arrested and
started for St. Paul On arriving at
the Jail, the strength of several men,
was needed to place him ina cell. In.
1855, when living in Harrisburgh,l he
took severe cold, which settled in
his head, producing almost entire
deafness. His disposition previous to
this was eminently social, and he was
very fond OF, company and proud of
his personal appearance This sudden
lnfirmity seems to have weighed heav-
lily on his spirits. He became at times
morbidly moodyDand low spirited.
the most eminent phys
icians in Harrisburgh, st Louis and
other cities,iin hopes of obtaining re-
lief, and as hope died out, his dispo-
sltion seemed to undergo change.
his deafness preyed upon his mind
and effected his health; but up to a
short time ago no fears were, enter
tanned for his sanity. For three. or
our days before committing thesdeed ]
ne had been unusually low-spirited h:
on Monday last his brother Maxwell,
had accompanied him to ST. Paul, and
got some medicine from Mr.. Wiley.
On Tuesday he felt much more cheer
full, and was busily employed during
the whole, day in cutting wood. e aI,,s