The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-08
A MURDERoUS MANIAC.
A Man Suddenly Goes Mad and Attempts to
Murder His Mother and Two Sisters.
Deadly Assault with Shovel and Razor-One
Sisters Throat Cut and the House Set on
Fire-Terrible Struggle for Lifs-The
Mailman at Length Mastered.

NEwBURa March !, 1872
At four O'CLOCK this morning tragedy occurred
near the Hudson, seven miles north OF this CITY,
resulting In the wounding Of two sisters, one OF
them, perhaps, fatally, by maniac brother. Inc
wretched man. whose name IS George William
Purdy, is welLto-do farmer, about forty years OF
age unmarried, and occupies with his mother,
an aged lady, Mrs. Phoebe Purdy, and sister,
Miss Eliza Purdy. the homestead left them by the
husband and father. Mr.. Isaac Purdy, who died TWO
or three years ago. A widowed sister, Mrs. Anna
Conki,ng lives in the vicinity. but has been for the
past two or three days assisting her mother and SIS
ter in the work OF taking care OF George, VINO
has been unwell. For several years he has SUI
fered from epileptlc attacks and from temporary
insanity, having been thrown or his mental BAL
ance 1t is said, by troubles which nave OccasiOned
prolonged litigation IN regard TO disputed property.
The case has been IN the courts for years. and on
the death Of his father care OF attending to the
litigation fell upon George. But until this morning
NEVER OFFERED VIOLENCE
to any one and was considered very harmless,
quiet sort OF man. He had been very affecli0nate
towards his mother and SISTERS especially towards
Mrs. Conklin0. Last night George occupied a small
night upon the loor IN order to be near
the brother and attend 10 his wants. The mother
also slept In the room. At about tour O'Clock this
morning George entered the room occupied by the
clock there annoyed him, preventing him from
sleeping, he stopped the CLOCK. He returned TO
ms Ds ns door asan Se either 5
or threw himself at full length, with arms ex-
tended, on the floor OF the sitting room. The
ladies were greatly alarmed. and, taking him
from the floor, they laid him upon their bed. OBJ
serving Ill effects Of the fall they left him lying
there, went INTO his room anu lay down on his ped.
The mother remained near her son to care for his
. wants. In few minutes ne jumped up excitedly,
started Tor the room IN which the sisters we're
Opening the door, he shouted
''I'M GOING TO KILL YOU
The next place Wen meet Is at the bar Of Goo ~ He
then, selzing each by the throat he tred to choke
shovel they struggled with al! their might,
full grasp and went into the sitting room. He FOL.
lowed them there, ana the struggle for life
assisting vita her feeble powers her dang ugh
ters In the struggle the stove was over
man and ran towards the doors, Miss Purdy to the
front door and MRS. Oonkiing through the
house. The former made good her escape
and went to alarm the neighbors but the maniac
overlook Mrs. Conkiing as she was leaving the
house and attempted to cut her throat.
terrible struggle with the brother, and in the
course OF 1t sustained two severe cuts in the right
arm one OF them Just missing the main artery: lie
her throat making
A TERRIBLE CASH,
laying bare the wlndppe and root Of the tongue, but
not cutting the arteries. BY this lime the sister was
returning, followed at a short distance by one OF
the neighbors. The mailman left Mrs. Oonkling and
ran to meet Miss Purdy, seized her by the HAIR
Of her head and threw ner to the ground.
He would doubtless have succeeded In TAX
ing her life but for the efforts Of Daniel
Van Ursdal. the neighbor referred to, who knocked
the mailman down and secured him. the
flames wore extinguished and surgical aid was
procured for the sister, who had been cut
by the razor. Although she has sustained
Terrible injuries some hope Is entertained
badly cut and bruised about the head, nut is not
seriously injured. The old lady, Mrs. Purdy, Ia
slightly injured In the struggle with her son she
was dragged around the room by the hair OF the
head, ana was bruised by his failing on her. In the
course OF the morning an officer arrived
was handcutred. He went to bed and continued to
fegn sleep all the morning, refusing to reply when
spoken to. from the expressions which he used
during the struggle 1t Is supposed that he intended
to XIII his mother and sisters and then com.
nit suicide. He Will be taken tomorrow to the In
sane hospital at POughkeepsle. The family are all
very respectfully connected and IN comfortable CIR
cumstances. and the sad event has made q profound
sensation IN the vicinity.