The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-28
AN INHUMAN CRIME.
A Physician Kills Three Of His Children by
POiSOn-A Fourth Almost Dead.

Springfield (OhIol Special.
The most appalling and inhuman crime in the
annals of the history of Springfield was perpe-
trated here this evening, being an attempt at
wholesale slaughter of au entire family and sui
eide by the father. DR.. John Maxwell, practic-
ing physician in this city, who recently came
here from Selma O., got his wife up town on a
pretext, and, in her absence, tied cloths strong
ly saturated with chloroform over the mouths
of his four little children, ranging in age from
thirteen to four, two boys and two girls. He
then drank quantity of the drug himself, and,
applying cloth to his nostrils, laid himself
down on the bed beside them all to die When
the wife returned at supper time she was fren-
zied at discovering her entire family laid out in
the above condition, Laura, aged twelve, was
already dead, and the remainder were insensi-
BILE She gave the alarm, and assistance came
Maxwell was dragged out into the open air,
and walked vigorously up and down until he
partially recovered. Two letters were found
from Maxwell's hand directed to his wife and
father-in-law, confessing and accounting for the
crime. He was jailed on the charge of murder,
although not yet out of danger.
At this time eight physicians are working des-
perately with the remaining children, one of
whom will recover; the other two can not live
until morning, the most energetic treatment with
electricity failing to affect them.
The letters left by Maxwell, who supposed he
would be dead when they were opened, stated
that ne was tired of life and wanted to take the
children with him to heaven, where they would
cease to suffer. One letter was dated Nov. 81,
showing Maxwell has had the sickening deed in
contemplation for some time. 1t stated that he
was tired of poverty and perjury
oh
to life of adversely. He preferred to kill them
with his own hands. A pint bottle half full of
chlo-oform, found by the bedside 1t is
feared that Mrs. Maxwell will go mad, and there
are serious fears that she may not survive the
shock. Maxwell is under Indictment in the
courts here for libel, and trouble connected with
this and his property brought on alteration.
The city is wrought up to the highest pitch of
excitement over the crime. Physicians since re-
port that the dose administered by Maxwell was
a combination of aconite and chloroform, deadly
poisons and compounded with pharmaceutical
cunning. so as to be without antidote. He com
PEELED them to swallow the mixture, and not in
hale it. The remaining children are given up
for dead.
100 A. M-Another of the children, a boy
Arthur by name, died about midnight, aud the
other son, Kenneth, is at this writing entirely
without pulse, and ere dawn will be dead
Blanche is the name of the girl who died first
Oracle the other girl is now the only
one of the four living, and she is being
walked about in the yard III the desperate hope
of saving her life. She is nearly exhausted,
and her fearful delirium makes most pitiable
sight Her recovery is very doubtful The be-
reaved mother is now sitting by the kitchen
stove, moaning and wringing her hands in untold
agony, while sympathizing friends are doing all
in their power to ease her terrible bereavement
The father is quietly sleeping in the jail at this
hour, and the physicians think he will recover.
He has been in ill-health for some time and in
debt Added to this, he was recently indicted
by the grand jury for alleged libel on DIR. Battin,
of Selma, this county. The family removed here
since that time DR.. Maxwell has been in state
of perpetual unrest, being greatly worried about
the Indictment and his financial troubles He
complained of terrible and constant pain in the
head, passed sleepless nights, and often broke
down and cried like child over his adverse cir
cumstances. This is by far the most shocking
tragedy that has ever happened in the history of
this CITY