The St. Louis Republic., 1900-06-25
Killed One Man. Fatally Injured
Another, Hurt Two Women and
Then Committed Suicide.
FAMILY ALMOST WIPED OUT.
One of the Victims Batiled Brave
" With the Madman-CoolneSs
Prevented Attack on Sey-
eral Old " omen.

Cedar Rapids. Ia, june siCharies Nef-
ford. a maniac. at O'Clock this morning
killed James Fiizsmmons. fatally injured
Joseph Drake. seriously and possibly fatally
injured Mrs. James Fitzslmmons, slightly
injured Miss Kate Fitzsimmons and then
ended his own life.
NIencrd was - years old and has been
insane for number Of years Two years
ago he was in the independence Asylum for
a short time. but escaped and was never
returned. He was not generally considered
dangerous.
Saturday night about 10 o'clock. while
clad in nothing but a shirt he darted out OF
hi; home. ravins maniac. He was seen
two or three times between then and mid
night. hut the police failed to find him.
Shortly before o'clock this morning.
Reginald Andrews. the jantor mt the Old
Ladies' Home. was awakened by crashing
glass. The next moment Mefford stood be-
fore him stark naked swinging a neck yoke.
"Ycur time has come" shouted Mefford-
What time do you mean asked Ar
drews with remarkable cO"lneSs.
Il have murdered one whole family to-
night and | am going to kill you next and
then everybody in the home" replied Mei-
ford.
Meiford swung the nsckyoke and tried
to brain Andrews. The latter lodged and
grabbed the weapon. threw Meiford on the
he'd and chokeL him until he begged for
mercy. Then Andrews agreed Ia give him
a BATH n suit Of clothes and some break
fast. which apparently satisfied him R'3sh-
ing through the house. Andrews locked the
twelve or fourteen old ladies' in their
rooms. notified the police by telephone and
then ran across the street To the home of
gar,l1 .lx.a tsf
dressed, picked Up a revolver. and they
started out. AS they did so Mefford, carry
ing an AK. WAS seen TO plunge through Il
window IN the home of James FitZsimmons.
about $50 yards away. As he entered the
room Mrs. Fitzsimmons uttered a scream.
Mefford swung the AK and brought it down
toward her head. Her uplifted arm saved
her life. The arm was broken in two
places and she sustained a serious scalp
wound.
Mr.. Fitzsimmons hearing the scream,
dashed into the room and grappled with the
maniac. Menord shook him off ana sent
the AK crashing into his skull. splitting
his head wide open. Then. dashing up
stairs. Mefford attacked Miss Kate Fitz-
simmons. infiictlng a number of severe
scalp wounds.
When he came downstairs Drake had just
entered the house Drake dropped to his
knee to shoot. Click. click click went the
reVolNST- f3ut there were iCur eihPi! nan
bers and each time the hammer came down
on one of them Then Mefford struck him
on the head with the az. second and
third blow followed and Drake fell over.
Andrews escaped the maniac again.
Meffcri took brakes revolver and ran
out of the house. After running several
blocks ne put bullet into his left breast
Just below the heart Running on two or
three blocks farther he sat down on the
curbstone. Placing the revolver to the
center Of his forehead he fred again. He
continr ed to wave the revolver above his
head But Just as the first officer grabbed
the revolver from behind Mefford fell over
into the gutter dead.