Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-20
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY
A Father Beats Out the Brains Of
His Two Children.
SHOEMAKER CRAzED BY JEALOUSY.


ST. FRANCIS, Kan, June ia hor-
rible tragedy was enacted about
miles northeast Of ST. Francis Satur-
day. Frank Williams, farmer, at
tempted to murder his wife, Miss Alice
Smith and William Smith, and after
ward beat the brains out OF his two
children with Ratchet, q little girl
aged about and boy about 0 years,
and then blew his own brains out with
o revolver.
Williams lost his first wife last Sep
TENDER and on May IL, 1895, was mar
ried to Mrs. Anna Kennedy, formerly
Miss Dixon, who had lived near by and
who had assisted in his homework for
some time past Their married life
was very unhappy and after about four
weeks of turmoil the woman left him
and went TO live with Mr.. A. Swanson,
neighbor, During the past week, Mr.
Williams went to the house of Swan
son, flonrlshel revolver and threat
encd to kill his wife and Mrs. Swanson.
Saturday morning the Swanson fam
lily und Mrs Williams started to come
to st. Francis for the purpose of having
Williams arrested On the way they
stopped at the house Of George Smith
While there Williams appeared upon
the scene and proceeded TO settle
the differences between himself and
wife by whipping out revolver and
beginning to fire at everybody in
sight. William Smith was shot through
the cheek, knocking out two teeth
and tearing away Il portion Of the jaw
bone. lie was also shot twice In the
back. Miss Smith received bullet in
the breast but fortunately her corset
the bullet and she received
but slight flesh wound. Mrs. Will.
Jams, the wife, received bullet in the
mouth, but was not seriously wounded.
Williams then rode home where he
the work by smashing the
brains out OF his two children with
natchet, and shooting himself through
;he head. When the sheriff arrived on
he scene, Williams and the girl were
lead and the oy dying.
SHOEMAKER cRAzED by JEALOUSY.
LorfsvllfE. Ky, June l7-Arthur
iourdin, Il shpenaker living at Row.
ington. u snburo Of Iewee valley, IS
niles from this city on the Louisville
Nashville railroad, shot and proba-
Wy fatally wounded Thomas Murphy,
nd then stabbed his wife to death, at
o'clock last NIGHT. Gouriin suspected
lurphy Of Icing intimate with his wife,
nd had evidently been waiting for
n opportunity TO present itself so he
oud get even with him. This oppor-
unity came yesterday evening when
lurphy was passing by Gonrdin's
ouse on horseback. Gourdin was sit
me on his porch, and when Murphy G.
lme up Gourdln drew a revolver and !!
firing, wounding Murphy u
several places and killing his horse G.
ON under him. Mrs. Gourdin rushed IN
II Of the house and her husband told Vi
n to go away, but she refused to "a
, so, and he then hit her several II
mes with the butt of his revolver, M
living her back into the house, where an
, seized knife lying on the table Nc
I'd stabbed her eleven times, killing 10
" instantly. The dead woman leaves Or
ur children ranging in age from 1 "a
'ar to 49, Gourdin was arrested and So
aced in Jail at La Grange. Murphy's OF
nditlon is very critical, and he will g
obably die. hr
FIGHT AT A CHURCH FESTIVAL
HUNTINGTON, W. Va, June l7.-Ata cr'
untry church festival Saturday night la
ere was fight Creed Harvey, q thu
IL known citizen, was shot through br'
. heart dying instantly. Mrs. Amy oil
nsford was seriously injured by be- oll
: struck on the head with a stone Str
ok Ward and Rhoda Perdue, the tin
lrderers leaped through the window VIII
d escaped to the woods. A large the
sse is now securing the country for hal
an OF