Evening journal., 1896-09-11
KILLED HIS FATHER.
Perc y Mullikin of Centerville,
Md, Is a Parricide.
HE WAS PROTECTING HIS MOTHER
CRAzED BY DRINK, THE FATHER
ATTEMPTED TO KILL HIS WIFE
AND BOY AND WAS SPOT
THROUGH THE HEART.

AND BOY AND WAS SPOT
THROUGH THE HEART.
Percy Mulliken, 17-year-old boy OF
Centreville, Queen Anne county,
Nd, is in the county Jail there on
charge of parricide he having killed
his father last night.
The boy did the hor-lble deed while
protecting himself ant mother from
similar fate.
The boys father, John II. Mullikcn.
aged 45 years. was the owner of
small farm near Centreville Though
Queen Anne county is a local option
section, Mulliken was addicted to
drink, and found little difficulty in APP
peasing his appetite for IL. For sew
eral days he had been drinking and
yesterday he became almost crazy. lie
went home yesterday afternoon and
procuring a knife, threatened to kill
every one on his farm.
He terrorized his wife and son COM
pletely and drove them from tho
house, threatening to kill them II they
ever returned.
Mrs. Mulliken and her son were
frightened and left the house, but fear
ing that the father would harm him
self, the boy afterwards ventured
back
He found his father sitting on a
chair with the knife in his lap. Sneak
ing cautiously up to him, the boy re-
moved the knife. He then called IN his
mother.
The father shortly afterwards be-
came aroused from the stupOr into
which he had fallen, and became more
savage than ever.
He again ordered his wife and son
to leave the place. Instead they re-
treated to the second story of the
house and locked the door The father
went outside and Percy locked the door
after him.
Mulliken then went to the wood pile
in the front yard, and procuring an
axe. returned to the house ana de-
manded admittance.
1t was refused and he threatened ia
break open the door with the axe The
bov then went down and opened thf
door for him.
No sooner had Mulliken entered the
house than he swore to kill both MIS-
Nulliken and his son for their opposi
ton to his wishes In a frenzy o
drunken madness he started for th'
boy with uplifted axe
Mrs. Mulliken meanwhile had stoo1
at the head OF the stairs. leading t'
the second story. When she saw he
husband attempt to strike the boy sh
called to the latter to come to her.
, He quickly ran up the steps. MUM
ken started after him, swearing II
. would kill his wife first ana the DO
! afterwards.
He had gotten about half way up th
steps when the boy reached the tol
r THE bov saw that his father mean
murder. and turning TO his mother
said:
Mother. what shall ! dos'
INV son. / don't know what TO tel
YOU to do. Mrs. Mulliken answered.
well. / know what / will do re
piled the son.
So saving. he reached around tn
corner of the stair landing to where
double-barreled shotgun stood. IL wa
l. loaded.
He called to his father to stop, or h
would shoot him. but Mulliken kept ol
up the steps with continued threats O
killing them.
= The boy then raised the weapon anc
pulling both triggers, shot his fathe
directly through the heart, killing hir
y instantly.
= The boy then notified a neighbor q
r what he had done, and the latter 1
r. turn notified Constable Robert Cause,
= The later arrested the boy at hi
J. home this morning. He had made n
EFFORT to escape. and said when arrest
r ed "I couldn't help IL. He woul
have killed mother"
The killing occurred about 81
s. o'clock last night, and the boy was al
D. rested and lodged in jail about
+ o'clock this morning.
l. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Mulliken weI
u we'll known throughout eastern Mar.
.. land and Delawre. Mrs. Mulliken
+ the daughter of the late clerk OF III
y Queen Anne court, William Dever.
d. The murder first became known
" Wilmington this morning throug
" Deputy Sheriff T. S. Roberts, OF Quee
% Anne. who was ip town.
The boy expresses great sorrow Il
le his deed, but says he haA to do 1t, {
"a see his mother killed, and possib
had his own life taken.