Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-07-17
HE HAD SIX VICTIMS.
DREADFUL WORK OF A GRIP.
CRAZED FARMER.

A Mother AM Four Children Klllsd-yn-
dscations that the Husband and Father
Was the Pcrpetrator OF the Awful Decd
Probably In s-e from tho Grip.
Mrs. DR.. Alien, OF Beatrice. went to
Ellis, Neb, on visit to her brother,
John II. Puterbaugh, who lived q mile
and . half south OF town. She was
driven to TIE farm by Louis Perling and
knocked at the door. but receiving no
response entered the house, the door not
being locked. As she entered she saw
her brother on the fioor lear the door,
and supposed he was asleep She SPOKE
to him, but there being no response, she
locked more closely, and saw blood on
her brothers CHASTITY face. Mrs. Allen
called Per ing In, who made an investi-
gaticn, and found horrible state of
affairs
On bed In the room In which the
husband and father lay was the mother
with bullet through her head In bed
with her<sas a-year-old babe, also shot
through ths head. On 4 lonnxe III the
room lay lad OF 10 years dead, shot
through the head. In the room above
was another bed occupied by two young
girls, one l3 and one Is, both dead with
bullet-holes in their heads.
The dead are John Puterbaugh, his
wife, and four children. How they met
their terrible fate is rs yet not known,
only by suimise. The general belief Is
that the terrible Deed was the work of
the husband aud father Tho motive is
not known, as Putertaugh was q peace
able man in comfortable circu stances,
aud 1t Is believed no trouble existed In
the family.
1t seems certain that the terrible crime
was committed by Puterbaugh. BY his
side, under his arm, lay q 32-caliber six.
chambered revolver with all the cham
bers empty.
The scene in the house was horrible
one and made the strongest hearted
turn away. The faces Of the dead,
though covered with blood, were calm as
though sleeping. No signs of tear were
portrayed on any OF them, and no evi-
dence Of struggle were seen any.
where. All seemed to have been killed
while sleeping. and a were shot directly
through the skull In every case the
pistol was placed close to the head, -
powder stains were visible upon the pill
lows or bed clothing
Puterbaugh was not drinking man
and had the reputation OF being an hon.
est and peaceable citizen. He suffered
from grip last spring and since then has
not been In the best OF health, frequently
complaining Of pain in his head. He
was NAH about 80 or 40 years of aga,
and his wife was year or two younger.
The murdered children were as follows:
Carrie. Is years; Mabel, l3 years;
Charles, 10 years; Ralph, years One
son, Allen, II years OF age, survives.
lie was away from home at work.
Puterbaugh was In Beatrice . few
days ago and Is said to have then pur-
chased the revolver with which the ter
rible deed was committed. In the barn
near the house were the two mules and
three horses Hitched to . wagon In
front Of the barn were two more horses,
and In the field number OF cows.
The house was fairly we'll furnished
for . farm house, and in the cupboard
was an abundance OF good food. Puter
baugh owned 24O acres of land, which
he purchased in March last from A
WisnelI, OF Beatrice. He wss liked b,
all who knew him there and ct his forme
i hOmn In Df1lrr