The morning call., 1894-12-12
MAD FOR BLOOD.
David Spragg Butchers
His Family.
CUT ONE CHILD'S THROAT.
Hacked His Wife to Death With
an AK.
UT ONE CHILD's THROAT.
MURDERED HIS INFANT BOY.
Then Shot Himself, After killing,
as He Thought, Two of
His StepchiIdren.

RIDGwAY, Mo-, Dec. 1.-THE most hor-
rible human butchery ever recorded in this
section was committed FIVE miles south
west of this city this afternoon. David 6.
Spragg in fit of insanity murdered his
wife and two children, mortally wounded
his TWO stepchildren and then took his
own life. The weapon of death which the
maniac welded with such appalling re-
suits was large butcher-knie.
The nearest neighbor of the Spraggs
lived almost mile distant and it was
some time before the news of the crime
spread. In few hours numbers of people
arrived from town and an investigation of
the crime was made. The most sickening
sight met the gaze of the investigators.
Lying in the yard near the gate were the
remains of Mrs. Spragg. mntilated almost
beyond recognition. with her disheveled
hair floating in the pool of blood surround
ing her. In one corner of the sitting-room
OF the dwelling lay the lifeless body of
little Galley, years old, and in the other
Albert four-year-old boy. Albert's
head, resting on the slate with which he
had been playing, was a mass of blood
and brains, while blood still oozed from
the gaping wounds in the throats of each
child. On the kitchen floor, with blood
besmeared all over his hands and face and
still clenchiDg the terrible instrument of
death in his bony hands, lay the author of
the awful crime. Great pools of blood had
coagulated on the floor, making more
sickening and terrible the scene. Two
stepchildren of Spraggs, both under
years old, were taken TO the home of
neighbor. where they are dying from
dozens of cuts that cover their little bodies.
Evidence of terrible struggle was
plainly visible in the Spragg home. The
walls, books, stoves and furniture were
spattered with blood, chairs we're upset,
the oiican overturned and things generally
turned upside down. The particulars Of
the butchery are learned from Dora On
staff, stepdaughter of Spragg She is
child of IL years, and, after eluding her
stepfather's murderous grasp. escaped to
neighbors and gave the alarm. Her state
ment. somewhat broken because of the in-
tense excitement under which she labored,
is substantially as follows:
Spragg had been com planning all morn
ing of an aching head and his nearest
neighbor, Mr.. Meyers, was sent to Ridg-
way for physician. Soon after Meyers
departure Spragg tied Caley's hands be-
uluu AtLA dAQ uOllDC1hb0ly LuEOdbs
Mrs. SDragg rushed into the room at this
point and attempted to interfere, when
Spragg made lunge at her. She ran out
into the yard, around the house and then
into it again, closely followed by Spregg.
In the house he caught her and desperate
struggle ensued. He literally hacked her
head and face into slices. and then cutting
her head almost from the body, dragged
her by the hair into the yard.
Covered with gore and every minute be-
coming more frenZied the human monster
now returned to the house again to con-
| tinue his work. Dora. who was sick in
bed, had climbed out of a window in the
meantime and escaped. When the people
first began to arrive they were deferred
from entering by Spragg, who stood in the
door with a loaded shotgun. Finally he
locked the door, and it was then that he
| butchered his stepchildren. Just as the
crowd was preparing to break into the
house two shots were heard. and when the
door was finally forced open Spragg was
dead and the scene as described was pre-
sented to view.
The two stepchildren, who were still
alive. were cared for, but cannot recover.