The Worcester spy., 1899-09-14

Southbridge, Sept. 13.-The double
murder of Patrick and Mary King by
their son, Peter, which was committed
at the farm abode Of the family, stu
ated on the Brookfield road, about
three-quarters of mile from the cen
ter of Fiskdale village, near South
bridge, early this morning, has de-
veloped into one of the most awful trag-
edies ever committed in Worcester
county
The reports of the early morning,
gathered under the many difficulties,
cid not develop the dreadful circum-
stances of the crime. The poor old
mother of Peter King and his invalid
brother were caring for him, when the
man was seized with an uncomfortable
desire to do murder
While the mother and brother were
ministering to Peter Kings comfort he
suddenly came out of trance=like state
and with piece of chair and couple
of sticks of wood, beat his poor old
father and mother to death. The bro-
ther, Thomas, did not escape. He was
struck a heavy blow across the face
that drew the blood and inflicted a deep
cut
Peter for several days past had been
drinking heavily. 1t was one of his
periodical sprees, and when under the
influence of liquer he was little better
than maniac.
The last drunk proved too much for
him. Yesterday afternoon he returned
home in sick and broken down condi-
ton. Drink had shattered his nervous
system, and he shook like leaf while
his father, mother and brother did all
they could to bring him back to his nor
NAL condition.
He reached home about o'clock in
the afternoon, but aside from being ex-
tremely nervous, did not show any
signs of approaching Illness. All went
well until late in the evening. when he
was seized with violent attack Of what
is supposed to have been delirium trem-
ems.
That was about 1890 o'clock, and at
that time his mother and brother were
engaged in feeding him with milk. His
mother then left the room and went into
her chamber.
A few minutes later the son COM
menced to break up the furniture. He
had demolished several articles and was
engaged in pulling the stove to pieces
when the mother and son. Thomas,
again appeared op the scene. They at
tempted'to stop the crazy man from de-
molishing things.
With q cry like wild beast the fren-
zied man snatched UP piece of chair
and dealt his mother a fearful blow
over the head which felled her to -he
floor. His next move was to strike his
brother crushing blow across the face
with the weapon.
The murderer then dashed down stairs
followed by his brother, who made his
way as quickly as possible to the door
leading outside, and hurried for an Off
Ger. The blow Peter struck his brother
fast as he could for help with the blood
streaming down his face and over his
clothing.
Patrick King, the father, evidently
heard the noise upstairs, and came out
of his chamber into the sitting room.
AS soon as the crazy man saw his
father coming toward him, ne again
swung the chair with terrible force
against his fathers head. The cid man
was knocked 20 the floor and as he lay
there the son rained blow after blow
upon the old mans head and shoulders.
When the bottom of the chair broke
still more, he took sections of it, which
were sharp cornered, and continued to
beat the PROSTATE man. When the
father was discovered early this morn
ing, his skull was. crushed, ard he pre-
sented a horrible sight
While the son was killing his father,
Mrs. King partly recovered from the
blow she had received, and although
weak from the loss of blood and terri
bly, frightened, had the courage to at
tempt to come down stairs and help
defend her husband. She was too weak
to walk down and managed to reach
the lower floor partly by sliding and
rolling down the stairs. leaving trail
of blood behind her.
The fiend heard his mother coming,
and prepared to end her career at once.
He rushed to the woodbox and grab
bing up a couple of sticks of fire wood
waited for her. AS she entered the
room on her hands and knees, as she
was too feeble to stand erect, the son
attacked her and battered in her skull
DR.. Cary C. Bradford, who later
viewed the remains in his official capa-
city as medical examiner, told the re-
porter of The Spy that at least sol
blows must have been rained upon her
head, and that it was impossible to tell
how many more the son had given the
father.
After pounding the heads of his pa
rents until he was tired out the muir
derer calmly surveyed his awful work.
He did not leave the house, but went to
his room where he removed some Of his
outer garments, probably with the in
tention of retiring for the night. He
could not have realized what he had
done. and his actions showed It,
Officers S. w. Patterson, Charles II.