The New York herald., 1876-09-18
A SICKENING TRAGEDY.
LIFE IN INDIANA DRUNKEN FATHER KILLS
HIS CRIPPLED Son WITH AN Axr.
From the INDIANAPOLIS Journal

HIS CRIPPLED Son WITH AN Axr.
From the Indianapolis Journal.
A terrible tragedy was enacted In Center township.
Hancock county, about five miles north Of Greenfield
Thursday afternoon whicn resulted IN the death Of
James Rccdy, cripple, Al the hands OF hts father
Jerry Recdy, In a shocking manner. The ARRAY was
caused by whiskcy. IN which both father and had
indulgcd freely during the day at Greenfield They
went homo about four o'clock, and Mrs. James Rcedy
the only person tho place. ana. o course the only
witness TO Tho ARRAY, madc statement, from which
the following facts cleaned She says James was
lying aslcep tho noor In the room which faces
the south Tho old man, having "A long buggy whip,
struck James several times and wanted him get up.
The son did iko kind Of treatment anu barshy
demonstrated with his father This gos up a quarrel
which termina,cdn in desperate and death struggle in
the from. yard far from the northeast Of
the blacksmith shop, situate little and south
the house Jerry ht the with the butt end OF the
buggy whip, that is broken about eight inches
IRON the butt; and as II loaded with steel iron
from onefourth to thrcc-eighihs OF an inch in dame
Ter, u must have been hcasy blow. The boys Is
broken. and probably by that blow The boy evidently
had small pocket kniic or some other sharp insru
mcnt, as the left arm OF the old man. some iour 1vo
inches below the point OF The elbow, has cut In :hc
form oi half an inch or moro IN DEPTH Also
second wound, made probably with the same nstru-
mcnt, the right side OF his back and the lower
point Oi Inc shoulder D1dc, the deptn Oi which
inch or over. The woman says Jerry got .hc at
the woodpilc, but she did remember when il was
used. only that she her husband iail from tho
blow, AT which time she left the premises, screaming
every jump IN search Of assistance She reached the
house OF Mr. Reynolds, some halt mile away n
formed the family OF the difficulty. When youns
Reynolds and others reached the house James was
found lying his face. IN tho blood that flowed
The death stroke OF the axe In the hands OF drunken
and excited father, and in an unconscious state He
taken INTO the house and placed n lounge,
when messenger was despatched Tor Dr. Howard OF
GrccnncId who was unable 10 DO anything. however
and the injured man died az twenty minutes past
eight not having recovered CONSCIOUSNESS
The murderer was found IN The back of the house
covered with blood and making terrible ou;cry,
tircy disproportouaic TO the extent OF his injuries.
During the night Jerry tred leave The house. but
detained aad arrested nj eleven O'Clock by Con
stable Thomas. He was lodged jail at halt past
Twelve yesterday m0rhipg. He says the quarrel
commenced about the custody aud control OF Tho place
hc house. shop aud i've oi ground. the boy say
ing that he intended o boss the place. anGJcrry
Ing his right TO that hish prcrogaive Jerry struck
the boy with tho whp, when the tight commenced.
From this point Jerry says he has recollection OF
what occurred don't know when he got the how
he used IT, He says when III town each drank ionr
glasses Of Honor, drinking Vt the time and that
they returned home together little before sundown
The testimony IN the viii be limited and nnsat-
isnctpry. The condition yi the boy. being cripple
ard unable to stand wiihoat The OF hs crutces,
the OF The wounds father viii be tho
best guides to proper solution OF the unfortunate
tragedy.