Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-08-21
SHOT HIS OWN CHILD
Douglas Curtis Murdered His
Daughter and Shot Himself.
he WAS cRAzED BY LIQUOR.


Douglas Curtis. 9 switch thrower IN tho
employ of the Western Indiana railroad.
made = desperate and s0cces<ful attempt
az murder and sgscide al his home IN
Auburn Park today. lie shot and Ia
stantly killed his 7-year-old daughter
Leslie as she slept IN bed with her
mother. and thea placing the muzzle OF
the weapon close 20 his wifc's head he
sent a bullet crashing into her brain.
Satisfied that he had killed both and
deciding that with them gene life wes
not worth living. he stretched himself
on the floor beside the bed and. placing
the muzzle of the weapon In his mouth.
sent bullet through has brain. Death
for him Was instantaneous. His little
daughter never moved from the position
she occupied when shot But Mrs Cur
tis. bleeding from a ragged wound In
her head. staggered from her bed and
apartments 10 another room IN the
house. from which place she was re-
moved 10 St Luke's hospital by the
police. The hospital physicians tonight
could not say whether she would re
cover or not.
Murder Deliberately Piannot.
The terrible affair had been deliber-
ateiy planned. Curtis started on a spree
about three weeks ago. The little money
he had laid by for rainy day was soon
dissipated. When il disappeared it did
not lessen in any particular his desire
for drink. He left his family in deep
distress. without any money TO purchase
food and dependent wholly upon the
kindness OF neighbors Mrs Curtis
spoke Of the condition Of affairs 10 her
husband some days ago during a tempo
rary period of comparative sobriety.
IL seemed to affect him greatly. and he
promised 10 bring his family from the
pitiable condition into which they had
fallen on account Of his conduct But
the unfortunate Curtis, il he intended
to make an effort TO reform, seems 10
have forgotten il when away from his
wife's side. The next man 10 whom he
spoke about his actions was Samuel
Leper, who lived across the hall from
him. IL was a conversation diametri-
cally opposite TO that he had held with
his wife. Prom his pocket he drew a
revolver and said: Il am going 10 kill
myself. my wife and Leslie"
Filled Up With whisky.
Curtis arose about 7o'clock this morn
ing. went into saloon close by for his
morning drink. lie took several and
then his mood changed. lie waited
about moment and then left the saloon
with a nervous. unsteady step. Every
thing shows that from this point he had
at last intended % murder his family
and himself He walked up stairs and
let himself into his own room. Pulling
off his shoes, his coat and vest. he drew
a chair 10 the washstani and wrote tho
following note: Please notify John r.
Craig. No. 10 North Fifth street. Rco-
kuk. Iowa; also Myran Curtis. La Harpe,
Hancock county. Ill Cause. adversity.
Douglas Curtis"
lie drew revolver from his pocket
and crept into the room where his wife
and daughter were sleeping. The crazed
man reached across the bed and thrust
Ing the muzzle Of the revolver close To
his daughters mouth he pulled the trig.
ger. The bullet went crashing into the
child's brain from the revolver. which
was held close enough To burn the flesh
on the child's face. The terrible charge
had done its work we'll. killing the girl
instantly. The shock had in measure
unncryed tho murderer. With the re-
port his hand tremblcd and he fell for
ward across bis wife.
struggle Win HIS Wtfe
Though slightly deaf the stunning re-
port and the heavy weight Of her hus-
band across her in the bed awoke her
she struggled TO get free. As she turned
from him in her efforts 10 get up he
placed the muzzle Of the pistol 10 the
back of her head. There was q fash. n
report and a smothered groan. and she
fell back on the bed unconscious,
though not dead. Then cooking
tho revolver with his left hand
he placed the muzzle close 10 his own
head and pulled the trigger. Death was
instantaneous. IL was some moments
after the last shot had been fired that
Mrs. Curtis blindly staggering from her
blood soaked bed reached the door and
descending 10 the floor beneath. walked
into Mrs. Whitehouse's apartments.
Give me drink. am shot" gasped
the wounded woman. Mrs Whitehouse
led Mrs. Curtis 10 her own bedroom aud
sent for police officer and a physician.
When the latter arrived they found Cur
lis and has daughter dead and Mrs. Cur
tis unconscious She was at once re-
moved 20 ST Luke's hospital and the
bodies of the dead were removed 90 the
morguc aud prepared for the coroner's
inquest which will be held tomorrow.
Mrs. Curtis relatives live st Keokuk.
Iowa Her father is W. n. Ray Of that
T. n - n