Evening journal., 1901-04-25
Murderer Shows No Sign Of
Mental Dcrangement
TWO OF HIS VICTIMS DEAD
Two Others Probably Fatally
WOunded-Then Made Attempt
TO Kill an Officer

Portland Me-, April 25.-One of the
bloodiest tragedies in 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. George
II. Brainerd. foreman electrician,
who has been employed by the com
pany for almost 20 years, while chatting
with his fellow workmen, without the
slightest provocation whipped out 49,
caliber revolver and opened fire on the
party around him. He was evidently
an expert marksman, for in a brief
space Of time he killed one man out
right fatally wounded another man
and probably fatally wounded two
others. Then he made an attempt to
kill Deputy Marshal w. A. Firth.
The man who was killed outright
was l. II. Farnham, Of Boston, the
electrical engineer of the New Eng
land Telephone company. Earle Bux-
ton. another victim, died in the hos
pital last night. Elmer y. Lane, of Me-
chanic Falls. and James Wadsworth. of
Lewiston, are believed to be fatally in
jured.
The only charitable motive that can
be assigned for the crime is insanity,
yet neither before nor after the tragedy
did Brainerd exhibit any marked evil
dence of mental arrangement.
The men in the tragedy were en-
ployes OF the telephone company, and
excepting Mr.. Farnham were engaged
in installing a new exchange system
on the upper floor of the building.
There were IA men in the crew, and
Brainerd had charge Of the work, Mr..
Farnham having general oversight.
The entire force, which was attached to
the general Office in Boston, had been
at work for three or four months.
Yesterday the men went to work as
usual, and nothing out of the ordinary
occurred up to noon time. Just be-
fore 2 o'clock Mr.. Farnham and Mr..
Brainerd walked over to one corner of
the room, where a carpenter was at
work. Brainerd gave the carpenter
few instructions and then he and Mr..
Farnham walked away talking in
friendly manner. They passed down
by the long switchboard to the end,
where they stopped. Then the report
of a revolver rang out. The workmen
saw Mr.. Farnham fan to the floor, with
Brainerd standing over him with
smoking revolver in his hand.
Brainerd Immediately opened fire on
the other workmen. A panic followed,
and every man endeavored to get under
cover or escape the bullets which were
flying in every direction.
Lane and Wadsworth were working
together directly across the room, and
before they could make the slightest
move Brainerd turned his revolver on
them and opened fire. Wadsworth fell
TO the floor, while Lane, who was not
hit at this time, made a dash for a
closet in corner of the room.
Buxton was standing at a bench near
the head of the stairway and Brainerd,
taking deliberate aim, sent a bullet
straight through his body. Buxton
fell to the floor, but remained partly
conscious. He saw Brainerd reload the
revolver and then start towards the
closet in which Lane had taken shelter.
Lane made game fight for life, but
fell twice wounded, while Buxton ran
downstairs and was cared for.
Brainerd then was alone on the
fourth floor with. his three victims. but
he Immediately started down to the
operating room, shouting: "Send for
the police" A telephone message had
brought Deputy Firth and others from
the station. The deputy, at the fourth
floor. met Brainerd. who with self con-
troll greeted him pleasantly. shook
hands and then turned as IL to go nm
stairs. The deputy saw the revolver
in Brainerd's hand and determined to
overpower him. As Mr.. Firth attempt-
ed to seize the weapon Brainerd turn
ed and met the attack with the revol-
yer leveled at the deputy A struggle
followed, and the revolver was dis
charged, the bullet grazing the officers
side.
Then another officer clubbcd Brain
erd into submission, and he was taken
to the police station. He appeared ex-
cited and ugly and was kept hand
cuffed. His clothing was saturated
with blood, and he paced restlessly up
and down the cell. The police are
\ making inquiry to determine II Brain
erd has shown signs of insanity at any
previous time.