Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-01
} MADnAN'S H0RB|B[E CRIME Desperate from Drink with Re-
 voIVer in Hand THE KILLS THREE PEOPLE One of Them, Miss Slack, Young Lady
 from this City.
 HIS OTHER VICTIMS AGED PEOPLE Was Boarding with the Family and Wanted to Marry a Thirteen Year-Old Daugh- ter-Angry Citissns Attempt to
 Lynch the Triple Murderer.
 
IS OTHER VICTIMS AGED PEOPLE

Atlanra, Ga., Dec. 31.-Edward c. Flanagan, an employe of the Standard Oil company, attempted to exterminate the Allen family at Popular Springs, De- Kalb county, tonight, and did kill three members.
 His victims were Dixon F. Allen and wife, both more than 70 years old, and Miss Ruth Slack.
 Flanagan seems to have been in love with Leila Allen, the eleven year old granddaughter of Dixon Allen. The old couples married son, G. w. Allen, and his wife and two children, lived with them in d meat little cottage four miles from the city limits. Flanagan had been boarding with them for six months. His actions today were not quite natural. but did not cause any alarm. It was noticed though that he was anxious to get the members of the family to leave the house. Late in the afternoon he returned and when supper was announced, he ate with the family. When he had finished he asked Mrs. G. W. Allen to give him a drink of water. She left the room to get it. Her husband was standing by the table talking to his father. Flanagan went to his own room, and, returning in moment, thrust pistol through the por- tiere close to the sons head and fired. Allen lodged and the ball struck him in the back of the head. He fell to the floor. Flanagan stepped over his body and knocked the lamp from the table with his pistol. This left the room in darkness. Old Mrs. Allen, Miss Slack, who was a sister of the younger Mrs. AL len, and the children, ran into another room in terror. Flanagan clubbed the elder Allen with his pistol and killed him with a few blows. Then he strode quick ly to the room where the women were screaming and began firing on them. Grandmother Allen was shot through the body twice and killed. Miss Slack was shot through the back and mortally wounded At this moment the daughter in-law, who had gone for the water, res turned and rushed into the room where she heard the firing. She found that Elan agan was trying to kill Leila, her daugh- ter She struck the pistol and then clinched with the murderer. He strug- gled and she held to him until he dragged her out doors.
 Then she, by almost superhuman strength, threw him to the ground. Elan agan fought like mad man and tried his best to shoot her. She prevented him from firing for a minute or more. By this time her husband had recovered consciousness and he ran out to his wife s rescue. Together they were able to hold Flanagan and disarm him. Mrs. Allen then called help, and when neighbors
 rived Allen was holding the murderer on the ground.
 Flanagan was bound with ropes and held until the sheriff arrived. In the meantime a large crowd had assembled and they talked of lynching Flanagan. The sheriff did not wait to give them an opportunity, but immediately hurried the prisoner off and brought him to this city, where he was placed in the county jail Flanagan would not talk, except to say that he was drunk. He came to Atlanta from Louisville, Ky, last spring. He was carpenter by trade, but of late had connection with the Standard oil com pany.
 Miss Slack, who died about midnight, is from Birmingham. She was to be married next week. c. w. Allen, who is not dangerously wounded is contractor. He thinks that Flanagan was in love with his daughter, Leila, and wanted to kill the entire family because he could unt marry the cihld.