Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-07-18
SIX CORPSES.

They Are Found in a Nebraska Farm
house-J. II. Puterbaugh Believed to
Have Taken the Lives of His Wife and
Four Children and Then Killed Himself.
ELLIS, Neb., July 11.-About 4
o'clock Friday afternoon Mrs. DIR. AL
len, of Beatrice, came to Ellis on a
visit to her brother, John II. Pater-
baugh, who lived a mile and a half
south of town. She was driven to the
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 floor near the door and
supposed he was asleep She spoke to
him, but there being no response
looked more closely and saw blood
and her brothers ghastly face. Mrs
Allen called Perling in, who made
an investigation and found a
horrible state of affairs. On a
bed in the room in which the husband
and father lay was the mother with
bullet through her head. In bed with
her was 2-year-old babe, also shot
through the head. On lounge in 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 13 and one Is, both with bull
let holes in their heads. The dead
are John Puterbaugh, his wife
and four children. How they met
their horrible fate is as yet not known,
only by surmise. The general belief
is that the terrible deed was the work
of the husband and father. The mo-
tive is not known, as Puterbaugh was
peaceable man in comfortable circum
stances, and it is believed no trouble
existed in the family.
Coroner Wells, of Beatrice, arrived
on the scene shortly after 8 o'clock,
and the inquest is in progress. 1t seems
certain that the terrible crime was
committed by Puterbaugh. BY his side,
under his arm, lay 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, We're calm as though sleeping.
No signs of fear were portrayed on any
of them and no evidence of struggle
was seen anywhere. All seemed tC
have been killed while sleeping and
all were shot directly through the
skull. In every case the pistol was
placed close to the head, as powder
stain were visible upon the pillows ol
bed clothing.
Puterbaugh was not n drinking man
and had the reputation of being III
honest and peaceable citizen. He suf
fered from the grip last spring ant
since then has not been in
the best of health, frequently
complaining of pain in his head
He was man about SO or 40 years o
age, and his wife was year o.
two younger. The murdered children
} were as follows: Carrie, Is years
Mabel, Is years; Charles 10 years
Ralph, 9 years. One SOB, Allen, L
years of age, survives. He was ava,
from home at work, having lef
Wednesday.
Puterbaugh was in Beatrice Wednes
day and is said to have then purchased
the revolver with which the terribl,
deed was committed. In the barn nea
the house were the two mules an,
three horses. Hitched to a wagol
t in front of the barn wer
: two more horses, and in th
7 field a number of cows. The house wa
: fairly well furnished for farm house
> and in the cupboard was an abundanc
l of good food. Puterbaugh owned "a
acres of land which he purchased Marcl
: last from A. Wisnell, of Beatrice. ii
5 was liked by all who knew him her
and at his former home in Diller
Y