The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-01
A MANIA TO KILL
Seized This Wcrkmsn While
Pleasantly Talking.
SHOOTS DOWN FOUR MEN.
He Then Reloaded His Pistol and
Hunted Down More Human
Game. Finally Over
DC wsred by Police.

Sasuc. FtnGHy OsFI'
powered by Police.
One Of the bloodiest tragedies in the
history of, Portland, Maine, in recent
years occurred Wednesday afternoon on
the fourth floor Of the building coupled
by tbs New England Telephone COM
pany.
The principal actor in the affair was
George H. Brainerd, a foreman who
has been employed for the company for
almost twenty yesrs. For some IN
known reason, and without the slight
est provocation, while chatting with
his fellow workmen, he whipped out a
5S calibre revolver aud opened FIRE on
the party around him. He was ev:-
IDENTIFY an expert msrksmsn. for in 3
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 Marshall ". A. Firth, when
the cfHcer tried to plsce him under ar
reet.
The man who vas killed OUTRIGHT
was I. 3. Farnhsn Of Boston, the cleo
trical engineer Ct the New England
Telephone company. Earl Buxton sn-
other victim, died in the hospital Wed.
nesdsy night. Elmer q Line Of
Mechanic Falls and James Wsdswcrth
Of Lewiston are believed to be fatally
Injured.
The only charitable motive that can
be assigned for the crime is insanity.
get neither before or after the tragedy
did Brainerd exhibit any marked eVi,
dence of mental arrangement.
The men in the tragedy were en-
ployes Of the telephone company, and,
excepting Mr.. Fsrnhsm,' were engaged
in Installing new exchange system on
the UPPER floor Of the building. There
were Il men in the crew, and BraineId
had charge Of the work. Mr. Fsrnhau
having general oversight. The entire
force, which was attached to the gen
eral Office in Boston, had been at work
for three or four months. Mr.. Fsrn
ham came down from Boston Tuesday
nightto look over the portion com
pleted.
"Wednesday morning the men went to
work IS usual, and nothing out of the
ordinary occurred up to noon. Just be,
fore 2 o'clock Mr.. Farnbam and Mr.
Rrainerd walked over to one corner Of
the room. where carpenter was at
work. Brainerd gave the carpenter
few instructions, and then he ard Mr..
Farnham walked away in 8 friendly
manner. They passed down by the long
switchboard to the end, where they
stopped. Then the report Of . revolver
rang ont. TIE wofkmen saw Mr.. Fsrn
ham fall on the floor, with Brainerd
standing over him with a smoking re-
volver in his hand.
Brsinerd did not remain inactive for
9 moment after shooting Mr.. Farnhsn,
but immedistely opened FIRE on The
other workmen. a panic followed, and
every man endeayored TO get under
cover to escape the bullets, which were
flying in every direction.
Some attempted to escape through
hole in the floor, but they we're unable
to squeeze themselves through, and
were then obliged to take q chance at
lodging bullets IS the ran for the stair.
way. Some Of the men lodged behind
boxes and berches until they had
chance to escape, but three Ct them
we're unable to reach place of safety
When Brsinerd shot Mr.. Farnham,
Lans and Wadeworth were working TO-
gether directly scross the room sn6 be-
fore they could make the slightest move
Brsinerd turned his revolver on them
and opened FIRE. Wsdsworth fell to the
floor, while Lane, who wss not bit st
this time, made dash for closet in
corner Of the room. Buxton was stand,
ing ct bench near the head of the
stairway and Brainerd taking deliberate
aim, sent bullet strsight through his
body. Buxton fell to tie floor but re-
manned partly conscious. He saw
Brainerd come over to the head Of the
stairway and reload the revolver and
then start towards the closet in which
Lane had taken refuge. Brainerd went
to that closet apparently with the
deliberate intention Of killing Lane and
although he did not kill him instantly
he inflicted wounds which the physi-
cisns believe will prove fatal.
Lane made game fight for life, but
fell twice wouaded, while Buxton ran
down stsir5'and vas cared for. Brain
erd then was slone on the fourth door
with his three victims, but he i'm
nediately started down to the operat-
ing room shouting send for the police !"
Supt. j. D. Stanford at this point ran
into the hall and met Brairerd coming
down the stairs, revolver in hand, fran.
ticslly calling for the police. Mr.. Stan,
ford knew Blainerd's revolver was load
Cd, but he barred the door to the crowd
ed operating room and demanded that
the man return up stairs. ''Go back;
We will fix it with the police" he said.
And Brsinerd went back.
A teleohone message had brought
Deputy Firth and others from the sta
tion. The deputy st the fourth floor met
Braiperd who, with self control, greet.
ed him pleasantly, shook hands and
them turned as if to go up stairs: The
deputy saw the revolver in Bssinerd's
hands and determined to overpower
him As Mr.. Firth attempted to selss
the weapon, Brsinerd turned and met
the attack with the revolver leVelled st
The deputy. A struggle followed and
The revolver was discharged, the bullet
grazing the officers side.
Tben another officer dubbed Brain
Grad iato submission and he was taken
to the police station. He appeared e1-
cited and ugly and was kept hand;
suSed. His clothing vas saturated
With blood and he paced restiessly up
and down the cell.
In she meantime the surgeons hse