Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-25
MANIAC RUNS AkO|)|k|.
Insane Man Does Fearful Execution
With an Ak at Cedar
Rapids.
One Man Killed and Three Others
Terribly Injured En- Excit.
ing Chase.
The Maniac Shoots Himself Just as
the Police Officers Overtaks
Him.

Special to Times Republican.
Cedar Rapids, June 25.-Charles Mef.
ford, a powerfully built insane man Of
% years. plunged thru window in the
home OF James Fitzsimmons about $50
Sunday morning and broke an arm OF
Mrs. Fitzsimmons in three places with
an ak, dealt q fatal blow upon the head
of Mr.. Fitzsimmons with the same
weapon and hacked Kate Fitzsimmons.
daughter. He then struck James
Drake three times with the ak, inflict-
ing probably fatal injuries. The mani
ac followed this by shooting himself
twice. the second bullet ending his life.
Mefford had been insane for several
years and was once an inmate OF the
Independence asylum, but escaped
after a few weeks and was never re-
turned, on the belief that he was not
dangerous. Last Saturday night he be-
came wildly insane, and, clad only IN
shirt, dashed from the house. He was
seen two or three times before mid
night, but the police who We're hunting
for him could get no trace OF him.
At 4:40 Sunday morning Reginald
Andrews, young Englishman,t janttor
at the Old Ladies' Home. heard VIM
dow crash, and as ne raised up in bed
Mefford appeared at his door stark
naked and swinging neckyoke.
Your time has Gomez! shouted Mef-
ford.
what time do you mean?' said An
drews.
Il have murdered one whole family
tonight and am going to kill you
next; then go thru the home and kill.
everybody here. replied Mefford.
Andrews began talking to him and
soon had him sitting on the bed. Sud-.
denly Mefford jumped up and swung at
Andrews with the neckyoke He
lodged, and grabbing the neckyoke
4 pulled Mefford on bed and choked
him. He then got Mefford to agree to
1 put on a suit of his clothes and get
4 some breakfast. Andrews left the room
and locked the twelve or fourteen old
ladies in their rooms, notified the poles
4 by telephone, and running across the
street asked Joseph Drake to help him.
Drake grabbed a revolver and run-
ming out they saw Mefford plunge thru
a window in the home of James F'ltz-
simmons. $50 yards away. AS Menord
entered the house Mrs. Ftzsmmons
4 raised up in bed and uttered scream.
Il AIefford struck at her with an ak ne
4 picked up at the home. Her arm was
\ broken in TWO places and the ak struck
liner head slancing blow. making a Sc
ivere wound a. this moment Mr.. Fitz-
Il simmons appeared in the room. anc
4 AIefford, turning on him, sunk the az
lin his head and fatally wounded him.
4 He then ran upstairs and attacked
i Kate Fitzsimmons, their daughter, in
Il flicting three severe scalp wounds.
Returning downstairs Mefford made
for Drake. who had just entered tbs
A room. Drake dropped to his knee and
Il tried to shoot the maniac. There We're
i four empty chambers in the revolver
!. and it happened that the gun was
4 turned on the first one. Before a cart
4 ridge was reached Mefford had STRUCK
II Drake three times across the top of tht
4 head. knocking him senseless and in
4 flicting injuries that doubtless vii
prove fatal.
a Andrews was half way thru the win
dow when this happened. He was un
armed. however. and when Meffore
came toward him he ran. Meffcrd the,
picked up the revolver and fed across /
fiat.
Going about half mile he fired bal
4 into his left breast below the heart
Then, getting up gain, he ran on. TIL
police by this time we're close BEHIND
! and when they We're about a blocl
i away Mefford sat down on the curl
land sent another bullet crashing thru
81 the center OF his forehead. AS the frs
officer came up TO him he plunged int
i the gutter dead.
>
d Two English judges have decided tina
hairdressing and shaving must in futur
be numbered among the professions. TIL
effect of this decision is 10 put barber
outside the scope Of the act OF Charles II