Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-31

Four Persons Meet Death at the Hands OF an
Assassin.
RICHLAND CENTER, May 25.-Reuben
Drake and his wife, both over so years
of age, aad their two grand children nam
ed DUpee, under seven years of age. liv-
ing on farm in Vernon county near
Viola, were found in their house this
morning with their clothes on, murdered
They were highly respected people, and
no cause is known for the crime, or no
clue as to who committed the act.
The Iifeless bodies were found this
morning when the neighbors made an
investigation because of the usual quiet
about the house. The old couple lay on
the floor and the children stretched in
their beds.
Everything was turned upside down
inside the house, and it is supposed that
the murder was the result of an attempt
at robbery. The old man has been
known to receive pen0ion money, and it
is supposed the robbers were in
quest of this. As Mr.. and Mrs. Drake
were fully dressed, it is supposed the muir
der occurred early in the evening. The
neighborhood is greatly excited, but there
is no clue to the perpetrators.
RIoHLAND CENTER, May 26-Tho cold
blooded murder of Reuben Drake, the
aged farmer, living near Viola, this
county, and his wife and their two grand
children, causes profound sensation,
and there is little doubt that if the assas-
sin is apprehended ard there is positive
proof of his guilt, he will be promptly
hanged.
Reuben Drake was about 60 or IS gears
old and his wife was about the same age.
They settled in the Klckapoo Valley forty
years ago, locating on the farm where
they were SO cruelty murdered. Their
home is small frame struc-
ture short distance from Elk
creek, four and a half miles from Viola
and about the same distance from Reads
town, Vernon county. The dwelling is in
lonely spot, the nearest neighbors living
on farm some hundreds OF yards dis
tant. The murdered children were those
of Mr.. and Mrs. Brakes daughter, Mrs.
James Dupee, who, with her husband, lives
at some distance from the homestead
the little ones having been visiting their
grandparents
1t seems that the crime was committep
Thu day evening at about IT o'clock, the
neighbors having
HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED
in the direction of the Drake residence
at about that hour. From an examina-
ton of the premises it would appear that
the children were lying on the bed when
the attack was made, Mr.. and Mrs. Drake
being in the living room. The old PEG
pie were shot. Apparently the
children were awakened by the
noise, and, as the theory is
raised an outcry. The assassin then
took steps to silence them and the little
ones were slain on the bed. The house
was then ransrcked for valuables or to
convey the impression that the crime was
committed for the purpose of robbery.
Whether or not this Is the fact cannot be
said positively at this writing, although it
is possible that the murderer was after
pension money that Mr.. Drake recently
received, he being an ex-soldier.
The murder was discovered yesterday
morning by John Thayer, a man who
lives on the property adjoining that of
Mr.. Drake and who works the Drake
farm, His statement is that about or
o'clock yesterday morning he went to the
home of Mr.. Drake. Seeing no stir about
the place he opened the door of theliving
room, which was not locked, and entered
the house. A horrible sight met his eyes.
Mr.. Drake lay on the floor, face down,
and few feet distant, in the same posi-
tion, was the old mans aged wife. Both
we're dead. A great pool of blood cover
ed the floor, the red flow streaming from
gun-shot wounds in the bodies of the old
people. Knowing the children were in the
house, Mr.. Thayer pushed his wey TO the
adjoining sleeping room, where he
found the little ones lying on the bed
One was dead. The other was gasping,
but died before medical aid could be
summoned and before it could make a
statement regarding the tragedy. The
throats of both children had been cut
and he bedclothes were soaked with
their blood