The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-25
F0REMAN'S MAD ACT
KILLS ONE MAN AND FATALLY
WOUNDS THREE.
sLAUeHTERS HIS GANG
BRAINERD GIVES NO INDICATIONS
OF INSANITY.

gineers at Portland, Me-, Suddenly
and without Warming Draws Re-
voIver and Begins work of Death.
Electrical Engineer Farnham of
Boston Killed Outright, Another
Man Has Since Died and Two
Others Are Probably Fatally
wounded.
Portland Me-, April 24.-One of the
bloodiest tragedies in the history of Port
land in recent years occurred this after
noon on the fourth floor Of the building
occupied by the New England Telephone
Company The principal actor in the af
fair was George H. Brainerd, foreman
electrician, who has been employed by the
company for almost twenty years. For
some unknown reason and without the
slightest provocaton, while chatting with
his fellow workmen, he whipped out a SS-
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 outright fatally
wounded another man and probably fatal
ly wounded two others. Then he made an
attempt to kill Deputy Marshal W. A.
Firth. when the officer tried 20 place him
under arrest.
The man who was killed outright was
l. II. Farnham of Boston, the electrical
engineer of the New England Telephone
Company. Earl Buxton, another victim,
died in the hospital tonight. Elmer z.
Lane of Mechanic Fall, and James Wads-
worth of Lewiston are believed to be IA
tally injured.
The only charitable motive that can be
assigned for the crime is insanity, yet
neither before nor after the tragedy did
mental arrangement.
The men in the tragedy were employees
of the telephone company, and exceptins
Mr.. Farnham, were engaged in installing
new exchange system on the upper door
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.. Fernham came down from
Boston last night to look over the por-
ton completed.
Drninerd Begins Shooting.
This morning the men went to work as
usual and nothing out Of the ordinary
occurred up 70 noon time. Just before 2
o'clock Mr.. Farnham and Mr.. Brainerd
walked over to one corner of the room
where carpenter was at work. Brainerd
4 n fa ne ffIic nm an
then he and Mr.. Farnham walked away,
talking in a friendly manner. They
passed down by the long switchboard TO
the end, where they stopped. Then the
report of revolver rang out. The work
men saw Mr.. Farnham fall to the floor
with Brainerd standing over him with
smoking revolver in his hand.
Brainerd did not remain inactive for
minute 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 es-
cape the bullets which were flying in
every direction.
Some attempted to escape through a
hole I'm the floor, but they were unable TO
squeeze themselves through and were
then obliged to take chance at dodgng
bullets as they ran for the stairway.
Some of the men lodged behind boxes
ana DenCneS Until tney HdQ a cHdtlce TO
escape, but three of them were unable to
reach a place of safety.
A Madman's FIendish Work.
When Brainerd shot Mr.. Farnham, 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 a 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. Bux-
ton fell to the floor but remained partly
conscious. He saw Brainerd come over to
the head of the stairway and load the
revolver and then start towards 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 in
stantly he inflicted wounds which the
physicians believe will prove fatal
Lane made a game fight for life, but
fell twice wounded, while Buxton ran
down stairs and was cared for.
Brainerd was then alone on the fourth
floor with his three victims, but he inn
mediately started down to the operating
room, shouting: Send for the policer
This Man Was Brave and Cool.
supt. ]. D. Stanford at this point ran
into the hall and met Branerd coming
down the stairs, revolver In hand, fran
tically calling for the police. Mr.. STAN
ford knew Brainerd's revolver was load
ed, but he barred the door to the crowded
operating room and demanded that the
man return upstairs.
"Go back; we will fix II with the po-
lice" he said. And Brainerd went back.
A telephone message had brought Depu-
~ FIRTH and others from the station. The
deputy at the fourth floor met Brainerd,
who, with self-coutrol, greeted him pleas
emily, shook hands and then turned as II
to 20 up stairs. The deputy saw the re-
volver in Brainerd's hand and determined
to overpower him, As Mr.. Firth at
tempted 10 seize the weapon. Brainerd
turned and met the attack with the re-.
volyer ieveiled ~ the deputy A struggle
followed and the revolver was discharged,
the bullet grazing the officers side
Then another officer dubbed Brainerd
into submission and he was taken 20
the police station. He appeared excited
and ugly and was kept haDdcuffed. Ills
clothing Was saturated With blood and he
paced up ana down the cell.
Baxfom Dead and Lane Barely Aliye.
In the meantime the surgeon had cared
for fhe wounded Wadawofth had bullets
through tha left arm and fhn bowels.
Lane was shot IN the throat and IsuNt0n
had received 4 bullss through the body.
T.hf u4n Hefe taken 20 iha hoeuiiai and
wtsfiss ltuAfNN NlNd mua lane A. haFnty