Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-04-25
Electrician At Portland. Me-,
Runs Amuck Among
His Fellows.
WITHOUT PROVOCATION
George H. Brainerd Shoots Into a
Crowd Of Fellow Employees
Causing Bloody Tragedy.
Two Were Killed and Two Other,
Will Die As Result Of His
Deadly Fire.

Portland, Me-. April 25-One of the
bloodiest tragedies Ia the history Of
Portland in recent years occurred yes
terday afternoon on the fourth floor
Of the building occupied by the New
England Telephone company.
The principal actor In the affair was
George II. Brainerd, foreman cleo
trician, who has been employed by the
company for almost 70 years. For
some unknown reason and without the
slightest provocation, while chatting
with his fellow workmen. he whipped
out 4 3S-caliber revolver and opened
IRE on the party around him. He was
evidently an expert marksman, for in
4 brief space OF time he killed one
man outright, fatally wounded another
man. and probably fatally wounded
two others. Then he made an attempt
To kill Deputy Marshal w A. Firth
when the officer tried To place him un-
der arrest
The man who was killed was J. IL.
Farnham Of Boston. the electrical en-
company. Earle Buxton, another VIC
tim, died in the hospital last night.
Elmer n. Lane OF Mechanic Falls, and
James Wadsworth of Lewiston, are
believed to be fatally injured.
The only charitable motive that can
be assigned for the crime is insanity.
yet neither before nor after the trag
edy did Brainerd exhibit any marked
evidence OF mental arrangement The
men in the tragedy were employees OF
the telephone company and, except
ing Mr.. Farnham, We're engaged in
Installing new exchange system on
the upper floor of the building. There
were II men in the crew. and Brain
erd had charge of the work, Mr.. Farm
ham having general oversight.
During the afternoon Farnham and
Brainerd walked over to one corner
Of the room where carpenter was at
work. Brainerd gave the carpenter
n few instructions and tnen he and
Farnham walked away. talking in Il
friendly manner. They passed down
by the long switchboard 10 the end.
where they stopped. Then the report
-
men saw Farnham fall to the noor
with Brninerd standing over him. re-
volyer in hand. Brainerd then opened
fire on the other workmen.
Some attempted To escape through
n hole in the floor, but they were un-
able to squeeze themselves through
and were then obliged to take a chance
at dodging bullets as they ran for the
stairway. Some Of the men lodged
behind boxes and benches until they
had IA chance To escape, but three of
them were unable TO reach place
OF safety. When Brainerd shot Farm
ham. Lane and Wadsworth were
working together directly across the
room, and before they could make the
slightest move Brainerd turned his re
volver on them and opened tire.
WadswOrth fell To the floor and Lane.
who was not hit at this time, made q
dash FOR closet In "A corner of the
room.
Buxton was standing at a bench
near the head OF the stairway, and
Brainerd. taking deliberate aim, sent
q bullet straight through his body.
Buxton fell to the floor but remained
partly conscious. He saw Brainerd
come over to the head OF the stairway
and reload the revolver and then start
toward the closet in which Lane had
taken shelter. Brainerd went TO that
closet apparently with the deliberate
intention Of killing Lane, and although
he did not kill him instantly, he in
nicted wounds which the physicians
believe will prove fatal
Brainerd was then alone on the
fourth floor with his three victims.
but he Immediately started down 10
the operating room. shouting Send
for the policer' Superintendent j. d.
Stanford at this point ran into the
hall and met Brainerd coming down
the stairs, revolver in hand. fransi-
cally calling for the police.
stanford knew Brainerd's revolver
was loaded. but he barred the door
to the crowded operating room and
demanded that the man return up
stairs
go back. We will fix II with the
police" be said. and Brainerd went
hack. telephone message had
brought Deputy Fritn and others from
the station. The deputy at the fourth
floor met Brainerd. who. with self
control. greeted him pleasantly, shook
hands and then turned as IL 10 20 up
stairs. The deputy saw the revolver
In Rrainerd's hand and determined to
overpower him. As Mr.. Firth attempt
ed to seize the weapon. Brainerd turn
ID and met the attack with the re
volver leveied at the deputy. A strug
gle followed and the revolver was
discharged. the bullet grazing the ON
GERS side. Then another police officer
sluhhed Rrainerd into submission and