The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-16
HE HAD SIX VICTIMS.
DREADFUL WORK OF A GRIP
CRAZED FARMER.

A Mother AMI Four Children Knled-In-
Was the Perpetrator ot the Awful Decd
Probably ln-a from the Grip.
Mrs. DR.. Alien, of Ecatricc. went to
Ellis, Neb,, on visit to Eer brother,
John II. Puterbaugh, who lived a mile
and half south of town. She was
driven to the farm by Louis Perling ard
knocked at the door, but receiving no
response ntercd the house. the door not
being lurked. t> she entered she saw
her brother on the Go, r ! ear the door.
and supposed he was asleep. She 81 Oke
to him. hut there being no response. she
looked more closely. aud saw blood on
her brothers ghastly face Mrs. Allen
called Per ing in, who made an invts St
gati II. and found a horrible state of
affairs
On bed in the room in which the
husband and father lay was the mother
with 4 bullet through her head. In bed
with her was 2year-old babe, also shot
through the head. On "A 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 l3 and one Is. both dead with
biillci-holcS in their heads.
The dead are John ruterbangh, his
wife, and four children. How they met
their terrible fate is as yet not knOwu
only by su,mSc. The general be icf is
that the terrible ncnd was the work of
the husband and father. The motive is
not known, as Puterl augh was a pcac =
able man in comfortable circumstances
and IL il believed no trouble existed in
the family.
II tot Iat I,n Ia ri
| was committed by Vutcrbaugh- BY his
side, under his arm, lay 81 ca 'ib"r sin
| chambered revolver with all the cham
| bcrs empty.
Til" scene in the house was h, RI bic
| one and male the strongest hearted
tnrn away The faces of the dead.
| though covered with blood. were calm as
| though sleeping. No signs of fear were
portrayed Oh any of them, and no cvi-
Gcncc Of a struggle were seen any
| where. All seemed to have been killed
while sleeping. and 4 We're shot directly
| through the skull In every ease the
pistol was placed close to the head, "a
| powder stains were visible upon the pill
| lows Of bed clothing,
| Putrrbaugh was not drinking man
| aud had the reputation of being an hon
| est and Fcaccabc citizen. He suffered
from grip last spring and since then has
not been in the best of health, frequently
compIa ming of a pain in his head He
| was a man about 2> or 40 years of age,
| aud his wifi" was year or two younger.
! The murdered children were as follows:
Carrie. l. wears: Mabel, IL Years
| Charles, 10 Years: Ralph. year,, one
| son. Allen. l, years of age survives
| lie was away from home at work.
Putcrhaugh was in Beatrice few
| days ago and is said To have then pur
| chased tie Icvo.vcr with which the ter
! rihlc deed was committed. In the barn
| near the house Wrrr the two mules and
| three horses. IIitche 10 a wagon iu
| front of the barn were two more horses
| and in the field :. number OF cows
Tie house was fairly we'll furnished
for farm house. and in tic cupboard
was an abundance of good food. Putcr
laugh owned ~ acres of land. whicl
| Eo purchased in March last from A
| Wisncll. OF Beatrice. lie was liked b,
all who knew him there and at his forme
| home III nillcr.