The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-02-18
JOHN MARRS
Stayed His Four-Year.Old Son, Shot
His Sister and Daughter,
And Then Took His Own Life-His Wife
May Die of Prostration--He Had Pre-
viously Been an In mate of the Ken.
tucky Lunattc Asylum.

LEXINGTON, n.y., feD. l5.-Ine
bloodiest domestic tragedy that ever
occurred in Lexington was enacted at
7:45 o'clock Saturday morning, when
John Marrs killed his four-year -old son
John, shot his 14-year-old daughter
Helen tried to kill his sister Ida and
then killed himself.
Mars was about 40 years old, and
had been a member of the firm of M.
kaufman & Co., clothers, for years
He was prominent in building associa-
tion circles, owning great deal of real
estate, and was considered one of the
safest and most promising of Lexing-
tons younger business men.
When the arising bell rang Saturday
morning at his residence, 129 South
Upper street. Mrs Marrs, who slept
with her daughter Helen in q room
occupied by her husband, arose, put
ON her wrapper and went down into
the kitchen to send a servant girl up
with warm water for her husband.
He was sleeping in another bed with
his son, John, and did not awake when
the bell rang When the girl went in
to the room Marrs started up with
such peculiar expression on his face
that she hastily set the water down
and left the room.
When she was half way down the
tinued to the kitchen and told her
mistress tnat something was the mat
ter upstairs. Mrs. Marrs and her sister,
in-law, Miss Ida Marrs, teacher in
the public schools, ran up to the room.
They heard shots as they were going
up. Mrs Marrs tainted at the head Of
the steps, just as Helen ran out of the
room and fell.
Miss Ida ran into the room where
she saw her brother fourishing pistol
He struck her over the right eye
with the weapon, cutting long cash
and knocking her back into the hall.
As she fell he fred at her, but the bull
let flew wild. Marrs slammed the
door to.
Neighbors rushed in and forced the
door, when horrible sight met their
gaze. Lying on the floor, with his feet
under the bed and his head toward the
door that opened into an adjoining
room, was Marrs in a sea of blood.
His throat was cut from ear to ear,
both jugular veins and the wlndpipe
being severed.
The head was barely hanging to the
body. Near his left hand was large
razor covered with blood.
Cn the floor was a large, old-fash.
ioned revolver with four empty cham
bers. On the bed was the boy, sat-
urated with blood. He had bullet
ho1n l., <ho 20 ~ +; fo~
his throat was cut from ear to ear.
Three pieces of flesh were cut from
his right cheek.
Miss Ida Marrs' wounds are not dan
gerous, but she was badly Frustrated
from the shock. Mrs. Marrs is in a
precarious condition from nervous
prostration. About 10 years ago John
Marrs showed signs of insanity and
was incarcerated in the Eastern Ken
lucky lunatic asylum. He was dis
charged as cured after six months, and
returned to business in the best of
health and spirits and made money
rapidly for several years.
On account of depression in business
his affairs of late have not been in a
prosperous condition.
He was taken violently i'll about a
month ago with a peculiar headache
and remained at home three weeks.
His friend, Moses kaufman, called to
see him several times this week and
saw evidences of mental trouble and
had intended to take him to a doctor
Saturday and have him treated.
Mars comes from one of Kentucky's
oldest and best families. His father,
John Marrs, was for many years
treasurer of the city of Lexington.
The family has always stood high in
business and social circles
LEXINGTON, Ky, Feb. 15.-The fu-
neral of John W. Marrs and his boy,
John, jr., took place at the Central
Christian church at o'clock Sunday
afternoon. The church was packed
with fully 1900 people. AS many
more We're on the outside of the build
ing, blocking the streets for squares.
Father and son were buried in the
same grave.