Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-25
DRIVEN BY AN INSANE
IMPULSE, EARNAAM SHOT.
A NOTE OF WARNING, AT PORT
LAND, MAINE.
ONE INSTANTLY KILL
TWO OTHERS FATALLY WOUNDED,
AND TWO MORE SEVERELY
INJURED.

PORTLAND, Me-, April 24.-One o.
the bloodiest tragedies In the history o.
Portland in recent years occurred this
afternoon on the fourth floor of the
building occupied by the New England
Telephone Company.
The principal actor in the affair was
George H. Brainerd, forman electric
ian. who has been employed by the com.
pany for almost twenty years.
For some unknown reason, and with.
out the slightest provocation, while
chatting with his fellow workmen, he
whipped out SO calibre revolver and
opened fire on the party around him
He was evidently an expert marksman
for in brief space Of time he killed
one man outright, fatally wounded an
other man and probably fatally wound
ed two others. Then he made an at
tempt to kill Deputy Marshal W. A
Firth, when the officer tried to place
him under arrest.
The man who was killed outright was
l. H. Farnham, OF Boston, the electrical
engineer of the New England Telephone
Company. Earle Buxton, another vic
tim, diea in the hospital tonight. Ell.
mer 2. Lane. of Mechanics Falls, and
James Wadsworth, of Lewiston, are be-
lieved to be fatally injured.
The only charitable motive that car
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, end
excepting Mr.. Farnham, were engaged
in installing a new exchange system on
the upper floor of the building. There
were fourteen 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. Mr..
Farnham came down from Boston last
night to look over the portion complet-
ed
This morning the men went to work
as usual and nothing out of the ordin-
airy 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 a
few instructions and then he and Mr.
Farnham walked away, talking in a
friendly manner. They passed down by
they stopped. Then the report of a re-
volver rang out. The workmen saw Mr.
Farnham fall to the floor with Brain
erd standing over him with smoking
revolver in his hand.
Brainerd did not remain inactive for
a moment after shooting Mr.. Farnham
but he Immediately opened fire on the
other workmen. A panic followed and
every man endeavored to get under
cover to escape the bullets which were
flying in every direction.
Some attempted to escape through a
hole in the floor but they were unable
to squeeze themselves through and were
obliged to take chance at lodging bull
lets as they ran for the stairway
Some of the men lodged behind boxes
and benches until they had a chance to
escape, but three of them were unable
to reach place Of safety.
When Brainerd shot Mr.. Farnham
Lane and Wadsworth were working
together 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 dash for closet in
a corner Of the room.
Buxton was standing at bench near
the head of the stairway and Bralnerd
taking deliberate aim, sent a bullet
straight through his body. Buxton fell
to the floor, but remained partly con-
scious. He saw Brainerd come over
to the head Of the stairway and re-
load the revolver, and then start to-
wards 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 inflict-
ed wounds which the physicians be-
lieve will prove fatal.
Lane made game fight for life, but
fell twice WOUNDED, while Buxton ran
down stairs and was cared for.
Brainerd was then aIone on the
fourth floor with his three victims, but
he Immediately started down to the
operating room, shouting Send for the
police!"
Supt ]. D. Stanford at this point
ran into the hall and met Brainerd
coming down the stairs, revolver in
hand, frantically calling for the police.
Mr.. Stanford knew Brainerd's revolver
was loaded. but he barred the door to
the crowded operating DOM anc de-