, 1876-09-02
TERRIBLE HOMICIDE.
Desperate Fight with n Maniac c-Sho
Through the Heart.


residence of Mr.. Frank Davis, about
Is miles south Of this place. The
house is now occupied by Mr.. Davis.
young man u Years old, brother,
II. sister, 10, and Mr. and Mrs.
Grisdale and one small child. On tue
evening named, about l:5O o'clock,
several neighbors, men and boys,
were at The place, when a stranger
came 10 the house and asked for a
drink of water, which was handed TO
him by Miss Emma Davis, the sister;
be merely enquired the road and pass
ed On, and she went back into the
house. The boys aud men all, except
ing the uncle, who was asleep, lett
soon after and went 20 the river TO
take a bath. Peter Uiam, young
man IL years old, soon returned and
was setting on the lounge near small
table, Miss Davis opposite and Mrs
Grisdale at the side, when the stranger
reappeared entering the house through
the kitchen. Miss. Davis set HIM
chair and returned to her seat. lie
left his hat and coat in the kitchen
and otherwise disarranged his wear
ing apparel, taking no notice of the
chair, he continued to approach the
young lady with motions fully lndi>
cative of his teveTed brain, while his
eyes shown forth a luSter peculiar to
a mad man.
Miss Davis call to her uncle, and
Mrs. GriSdae rushed into the room to
have her husband hurry to the assis
tance. The man advanced and seized
the girl about the waist and pressed
her TO him, while Peter Ulam attemp
led to release her. Mr.. Grisdale
struck him several blows with his fist
aud with q chair, but to no effect.
Mrs. Grisdale then ran toward the
river shouting " Murder :" and res
quested help as the man was killing
her husband ard Miss Davis. Dur
ing the time the struggle in the house
continued the man stiil holding TO
the girl, fought the old gentleman out
of the house, and slamming the door
after him said Git ! | have got her. p
Balm Davis was the first 10 arrive from
the river, and as he passed the wood
pile be picked up the Ak, forced the
door open and struck at the man, but
missed him. The man then let 90 of
the girl and seized the Ak and tirece
struggle ensued for its possession, Mr..
Grisdale and Ulam renewed the at
tack, but he fought with unabated
fury when Frank rushed into the
house, jerked down his gun and shot
him. The bail enterd the breast, and
be let 90 the AK and fell dead on the
floor. Balm ,hen struck BIN terrible
blow on the temple with the AK which
left an ugly wonnd.
Frank came to town early Monday
morning, and Justice SIocum, acting
coroner, repaired to.the scene and call
ed a jury. consisting Of J. \. Brig
man, W. II. Smith, 0. L. Willis, T.
J. Beale, r. Phipps and J. S. Smith,
who proceeded TO hear the evidence
in the case as the law directs. The
first witness examined was.
WILLIAM BILLIARD,
Who testified: Il know the man
whose body is before us, his name is
John Kroll, he is a native of Austria
and is supposed to be 30 or 80 years
old. He has resided in Coos county
three or four years. He has q cousin
at Randolph, named NJ. kroll. Know
no other relatives. lie was committed
to the Insane Asylum, from Coos coun-
ty, and was discharged from that in>
stitution in April last"
PETER ULAM.
am sixteen years old and a resi-
dent of this county. About half pas,
four o'clock Sunday evening a man
came along and asked for water,
which was given him. The boys all
went in swimming and | went along.
returned before them and about ten
minutes after returned the man who
got the drink Of water came back. Miss
Emma Davis went to the door 20 see
who it was, and came back. | was
sitting on the end of the lounge, Mrs.
GriSdale in the middle and Miss Davis
next to the window. The man loos
ened his suspcnders; Emma called for
Mr.. GrISdale to help. The man took
hold of the girl. Mr.. GriSdale and
attempted to release her but he fought
us; hit him few times but it did
not seem to hurt him. Mr.. Grisdale
took a chair TO him, but the map held
on to the girl all the time-kept fgh
ting and followed US into The kitchen
with the girl; then Mr.. Grisiale took
a gun End threatened to shoot him
unless he loOSened his hold. He said
"shoot, shoot.' Mr.. Grisiale told
me- 10 call the boys Balm came with
AK. The man shut the door against
him, BAN broke the door open and
came in. lie thea let 90 of the Girl
and took hold Of the Ak. They scntii.
ed around over the AK and r. Girls.
dale hit him On tie head with rock
which knocked him nearly down, he
raised up and ! hit him with a piece
OF q rail, he attempted TO rise when
Mr.. GrIsdale hit him with another
rock; as he raised again Frank shot
him. Left him until neighbors arriy-
ed, and told them all about it. after
which We removed him to the she'd
Did not hear him say anything after
he got the water. His actions wera