The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-26


Portland, Me-, April 24.-One of the
bloodiest tragedies in the history of
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
Geo. n. Brainerd. foreman electri-
clan who has been employed by the
company for almost twenty years.
s. For some unknown reason, and with
out the slightest provocation, while
chatting with his fellow workmen, he
whipped out 3S-calibre 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 outright, fatally wounded an
other 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 outright was
L. H. Farnham, of Boston, the electri-
ephone Company.
Earl Buxton, another victim, died in
the hospital tonight.
Elmer z. 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 and marked
evidence of mental arrangement.
The men in the tragedy were en-
pleyeS of the telephone company and
excepting Mr.. Farnam, were engaged
in installing new exchange system en-
the upper floor of the building.
There were fourteen men in the crew
and Brainerd had charge of the work
Mr.. Farnam 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 ordi-
. nary occurred up to noon time. Just
before O'Clock. Mr.. Farnham and Mr..
Bainerd 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
friendly manner. They passed down by
the long switch board to the end,
where they stopped Then the report
of the revolver rang out. The work
men saw Mr.. Farnham faI1 to the floor
with Brainerd standing over him with
a 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 en-
deavored 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 then obliged to take
a chance at lodging bullets as they
4 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
a place of safety.
When Brainerd shot Mr.. Farnham,
Lane and WadSworth were working
together directly across the room. and
before they could make the slightest
move Brainsrd turned his revolver on
them and opened fire. Wadsworth
fell to the floor, while Lane was not
hit at this time, made a dash for a
closet in a corner OF the room. Bux-
ton was standing at a bench near the
head of the stairs, and Brainerd, tax
ing deliberate aim, sent a bullet
straight through his body. Buxton fell
to the Hoor but remained partly con-
scious. He saw Brainerd come over to
the head of the stairway and reload
the revolver and then start towards
1.-The closet in which Lane had taken
~shelter. Brainerd went to that closet
apparently with the deliberate inten-
tion OF killing Lane, and although he
did not kill him instantly he indicted
wounds which the physicians believe
will prove fafaA
Lane made a game hight for life,
but fell twice wounded, while Buxton
ran down stairs and was cared for.
Brainerd then was alone on the fourth
floor with his three victims, but he i'm
mediately started down to the oper-
ating room shouting: Send for the
police" Superintendent ]. d. Stanford
at this point ran into the hall and met
Brainerd coming down the stairs re-
volver in hand, frantically calling for
the police. Mr.. Stanford knew Brain
erd's revolver was loaded, but he bar
red the door to the crowded operating
room and demanded that the man re-
turn up stairs go back: we will fix
it with the police" he said; and Brain
erd went back.
Deputy Firth and others from the sta
ton. The deputy at the fourth floor
met Brainerd who. with self-control.
greeted him pleasantly, shook hands
and then turned as if to go up stairs.
The deputy saw the revolver in Brain
erd's hand and determined to over
power him.
As Mr.. Firth attempted to seize the
weapon, Brainerd turned and met the
attack with the revolver leveled at the
deputy. A struggle followed and the
revolver was discharged, the bullet
grasing the officers side. Then an
other officer dubbed Brainerd into