The New York herald., 1876-07-03
Drained BY A LUNATIC.


IND. AN OLD MAN STRUCK DOWN WITH AN
AXE IN THE HANDS OF HIS CRAZY soN-FULL
DETAILS OF THE AWFUL TRAGEDY.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 80
About eleven O'Clock Wednesday morning Mr. John
Shank wealthy farmer, seventy-sx years OF age, liv-
Ing on Salt Fork Creek, about miles north from
Lawrcnceburg was discovered by his daughter, Eliza
Shank lying up against old smoke house. gaspng in
the agones OF death, with tho blood oozing from his
mouth aud nose and with the entire back of his skull
mashed and crushed in horrible manner. Miss
Shank at hrst petrhed with horror, and then, with
piercing scream, alarmed the inmates OF her home
all of WI ON came rushing out just in time TO sec the
old fall back corpse At first it was thought
that Mr. Shank had been plundered and then
dcred but the discovery of the bloody with which
the murder had been committed lying near the
victim. and the sight Immediately thereafter OF
Ezra shank sauntering eisur"ly up from tho barn.
which is located not moro than dozen yards from the
OF the tragedy together with the knowledge that
he been chopping wood pot minutes before the
crime committed, convinced the friends OF the de-
ceased that the crime patricde and that Ezra
OF age and for nearly quarter OF century has been
hopelessly insane Until very recently, however, he
had never been suspected of being vcious indeed, he
had been considered perfectly harmless, and the most
OF time kept about the old homestead rather
than asylum because OF his barmlessuess. He Is
Of a powerful frame, being over SIX eot high and
fore, anything but u fral antagonist in desperate
fight. His father was man equally tall. but by no
means heavy beside being cnieebled by his weight
Of nearly fourscorc years
Ezra haa been OF late very obstinate and lazy, and
once or twice had INDUCED in some savage threats
when any Of the children. Of whom there ten all
grown and nearly all living at home, insisted on his
doing any work. No attention, however. was paid to
\, day nefn N arul \.
requested TO take the axe and break up some wood
In compliance he took the axe but in going TO work was
very suky and would answer no questions. Ii is sup
posed his father happened along when he felt most
vicious and began when, with tho hor
rblc desperation OF mailman. the son raised the
cruel and dashed out his fathers brains The sight
presented was sickening IN the extreme and the aged
vile and mother, on bchoidns It, iancd and has ever
since utterly prostratcd, only hOvcring between
life and death. The sous at FIRST we're frenzied and
sought to question their brother, but they could get
nothing out OF him. He would answer no
questions and when shown the lifcicss body OF his
father evinccd concern than had he been dis
cussing the weather.
Coroner skinner, OF Lawrenceburg was summoned
and yesterday morning held an inquest, The result OF
which was verdict to the effect that the deceased
came his death by blows from axe in the hands
OF some person unknown to the jury During the
progress OF the inquest an attempt was made to ex
anime the mailman, but his answers to questions we're
50 incoh few that the jury were unwilling to
stake their reputation on tho assertion that ho was
guilty. Tie inadman was snlky curing sna wno'e eA.
Coroner approached Ezra with The tact Tor which he
cminery capable and after friendly good-morn
ing finally succeeded IN wormng cut CT him his guilt
in the following fashion:-
"Wcl, Ezra. what do you know about the old mans
getting knocked down.p
s.Wcll. he got knocked down." was the prompt reply
"Wcrc you near here when u happenedY"
''Weli, wasn't lar away"
Odd you see anybody strike your latnerT"
III might have seen 1t done"
s.Dld you see any strangers about here this morn
s.Therc might have been somebody about here, but
saw Yoa know them fellows are mighty
''what do you think your father struck with,
slcdge bolt axci"
''Hc wasn't struck with sedge or bolt, hc was
where did you stand when the old man got hits'
~ wasn't lar oil {"
''Didnt you accidentally hit your father with your
axe when he came too close to youY'
''Do you tnink could accidentally hit him when he
was standing up aud was chopping the ground ?"
Now, Ezra continued the Coroner, didn't you
deliberately strike down the old man with purposeY"
To this direct question the madman dcigned no re-
ply a moment With a wicked glitter IN his eye he
survoycd Mr. skinner from head 10 foot and then re-
spondcd:-
'Do you think you can work that out with arith-
metics'
',Do you know who struck him'" pressed the
Coroner
s'i think | could tell"
Gould YOU ind tho who struck him"
'Ycs, think could
'.was the old mau standing with his aco to your
''No; hc stood little qunrtering. You know he was
struck little back OF the and on the back OF the
'D,d you hear your sister after your father
was dscovcrcdr'
"Ycsn
'Iiow long you in getting to your fathcr?n
''WcIl, think was about three minutes IN getting
back2n
The dialogue was continued for about half hour.
aud in its volume OF random talk was intro
duccd by the Coroner 70 draw the lunac on TO CON-
INITIAL The madman displayed considerable cunning
hrs answers but cnectualiy betrayed his guilt as
to convince his brothers and sisters that
he pcrpctratcd The horrible crime and to make them
lncarccratcd
asylum.
Ezra never married, having been mad almost
since boybood, and save when In the asylum has al
ways been cared for by his ather. John shank Was
OF the Oldest native citizens Of Dearborn county,
having been born in Center township In 1900 He was
highly respected citizen. and square and honora-
bic mau widely known. Hts unmcIy and fearful
end viii be deeply inourned by largo circle oil
friends