The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-11
AWFUL CRIME OF A MANIAC
Kills Three Persons and Then Com
'.''.''''. mits Suicide.
CRAzED 81 BUSINESS LOSS
5. u. Miushall Shoots W. d. o. Sands and
and Ills Wife and Daughter
aud Cuts Ills Own Throat.
Insane from Trouble.

Pentwater, Mich, April los. Il.
Minshall, an attorney of this town,
made a successful attempt last night
to assassinate William Il. .. Sands,
president of the Sands & Maxwell Lum-
her company. After leaving Sands for
dead, Minshall went to his home and
shot his wife and three children dead
and then committed suicide by shoot
ing himself through the head.
Sands met Minshall last night on the
street and the latter had a Winchester
rifle and demanded that Sands accom-
pany him. Sands attempted to disarm
him, when Minshall fired the bullet
striking Sands In the upper part of his
right arm and shattering 1t badly.
Sands then ran towards his home. but
was unable to get the door open. Min
shall, who had followed his victim, fired
four more shots. three Of which took
effect. BY this time Sands had man.
aged to unlock the door and as he en-.
fled to his home.
The noise caused by Sands fall
aroused his family and help was sum
moned. A general alarm was raised by
the use Of the towns fire whistle. a
cartridge was found near where the
shooting occurred and 1t was identified
by $. w. Fincher,a druggist. this morn
ing as belonging to a Winchester rife
which Minshall had borrowed from
him yesterday for the purpose Of shoot
ing crows. This turned suspicion to-
ward Minshall as the attempted assas-
sin Of Sands. and the big crowd which
had gathered went to his house. The
house was found lighted, but as no re-
sponse could be obtained to the repeat
ed knockings on the door, 1t was forced
open. .....
.'.. AN AWFUL SCENE.
Mrs. Minshalls body was found lying
against the door In the main room.
Her throat had been cut from ear to
ear. The body Of Ruth, 16-year- old
daughter. and promising musician,
was found In one corner Of the same
room. She had been shot through the
head. Mr.. Minshalrs body was found
near his wife's with his throat cut.
In a bed room were found the bodies
Of Georgia, aged 4, and a 2-year-old
baby boy. One shot from the Win
chester had ended both.
Minshal was 40 years old, and came
here from Chicago three years ago, and
was In the employ Of Sands & Maxwell
until a year ago when he began the
practice Of law and also began writ
ing Insurance. He had a big line Of
lHSuEdICc VA 0AQluS q N1dXWeuS b prop
erty, which the firm cancelled q few
days ago. This and other financial
troubles Is supposed to have made Min
shall insane. He left letters which
showed that he intended to be revenged
e9N Sands. One of the letters which he
left was writer to 0 friend in Chicago
asking him to care for his family in
case they should survive him. In the
letter Minshall complained bitterly of
the companys treatment Of him In
business matters, He wrote that he
would demand satisfaction from Sands
and If he did not receive it he would
take him along with him to mix the
elements.
From this letter 1t could appear that
the murder of his family was an after
thought on the part Of Ainshall
Sands died at Z o'clock this evening
from the effect of his wounds
Sands was Pentwater's leading citi-
zen, and was very wealthy. He is viii
lage president and q member of the
Grand Army of the Republic. He was
65 years old