Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1897-02-18
JOHN MARRS
Stayed His Four-Year-Old Son, Shot
His Sister and Daughter,
Aud THIN Took His own az" Tits wifo
May Die Of frostrstion lie Hal frr-
NiousIy Bren AN Iamste Of the KEN
IuUky Iunst,c Asylum.

LEXINGTON, Ky, Feb. II. The
bloodicst domestic tragedy that ever
occurred in Lexington WAS enacted at
go o'clucl, Saturday morning. when
John Mars killed his four-ycaI old son
John, shot his li-ycar-nld daughter
Helen, tried To kill his sister Ida aud
then killed himself
Mars was about 20 wears old, and
had been a member If the firm Of NJ.
kaufman 4 Co, clothcrs, for wears.
lie was prominent IN building aN>"cia.
ton c.~clcS. owning great deal of real
estate. and was considered one of the
safest and most promising of hcNlng.
toms younger business men.
When the arising bell rang Saturday
morning 81 his residence, ~ South
Upper street. Mrs Mars. who slept
with her daughter Helen in a room
occupied 10y her husband, arose. put
on her wrapper and went down int,
the kitchen to send a servant girl NJ
with warm water for her husband.
lie WAS sleeping IN another bed with
his son, John, and did not awake when
the hell rang When the girl went in.
10 the room Mars started M with
such a peculiar expression on his face
that She hastily set the water down
and LEFT the room.
When She was half way down the
STEPS she heard pistol shot She con
tiuucd To the kitchen and told her
mistress tnat something was the mat
ter upstairs. Mrs. Marrs and her sister.
in-law. Miss Ida Mars, teacher in
the public schools, ran up To the room.
They heard shots as they were gong
up. Mrs Marrs tainted AT the head of
the steps, just as Helen ran ont of the
room and fell.
Miss Ida ran into the room where
she saw her brother ilnuri>hing pistol
lie struck her over the right eye
with the weapon, cutting a long cash
and knocking her back into the hall.
As she fell he fired at her, but the bull.
let flew wild. Mars slammed the
door Ia.
Ncighbors 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 Mars in a sea of blood.
His throat was crt from ear to ear,
both jugular veins and the wInipipc
being severed.
The head was barely hanging to the
body. Near his let hand was large
razor covered with blood.
Tn the floor was large. old fash.
toned revolver with four empty cham
bers. On the bed was the boy, sat
urated with blood. He had bullet.
hole in the center of his forehead, and
his throat was cut from ear TO ear.
his right cheek.
Miss Ida Marrs' wounds are not dan
gerous, but she was badly FRUSTRATED
from the shock. Mrs. Mars is in Il
precarious condition from nervous
prostration. About 10 years ago John
Mars showed signs of insanity and
was incarcerated in the Eastern Ken
lucky lunatic asylum. IL. 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 Ia
zee him T,S=s,fsi times this week ani
saw evidences of mental trouble and
had intended to take him To n docto.
Saturday and have him treated
Mars comes from one OF Kentucly's
oldest and best families His father
John Mars, was for many years
treasurer of the city of Lexington
The family has always stood high in
business and social circles
LEXINGTON. n.y.. Feb l5.-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 I,50) people. As many
more were on the outside of the build
ing. blocking the streets for squares
Father and son were buried in the
same grave.
sunday Observed by the Squadron.
CHARLESTON, :. c., Feb. l5.-Adm