The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-25
BOSTON ELECTRICIAN SHOOTS TWO
MEN FATALLY AND PROBABLY
TWO OTHERS
WANTED TO KILL EVERYBODY
STARTED NUMBERING HIS FELLOW
WORKMEN RIGHT AND LEFT
WITHOUT WARNING
MEN FLED FOR THEIR LIVES
One officer Wounded in Placing the
Murderer Under Arrest-BIoOdy
Afternoon Tragedy for
Portland, Me.

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 buildin
occupied by the New England Telephone
company.
The principal actor IN the affair was
George H. Brainerd, a foreman cleo
trician, who had been employed by the
company for almost twenty years. For
some unkurown reason, and without the
slightest provocation, while chatting with
his fellow workmen, he whipped out a
38-caliber revolver and opened fire on the
party around him. He was evidently an
expert marksnlan, for, IN a brief space
Of time, he killed one man outright, IA
tally wounded another man and probably
fatally wounded two others. Then he
made an attempt to kill Deputy Marshal
w. A. Firth when the officer tried to
put him under arrest. The man VINO was
killed outright was I. H. Farnham, OF
Boston. the electrical engineer Of the
New England Telephone company. Earle
Buxton. another victim, died in the hos
pital tonight Elmer 2. Lame. of Mechanic
Falls, and James Wadsworth, of Lewis
ton, are believed to be fatally injured.
CAUSE A MYSTERY.
The only charitable motive that can
he assigned for the crime is insanity, yet
neither before nor after the tragedy did
Brainerd exhibit any marked evidence Of
mental arrangement.
The men in the tragedy were employees
of the telephone company, and, except
ing MIR. Farnham, were engaged lrh-
stalling a new exchange system on the
upper floor of the building. There were
four men in the crew, and Bralnerd hao
charge of the work Mr.. Farnhan haV-
ing general oversight.
The entire force. which was attached to
the general Office in Boston, has been at
work for two or three months. Mr.. Farm
ham came down from Boston last night
to look over the portion completed Ihls
morning the men went to work as usual
and nothing out Of the ordinary occurred
up to noon time Just before O'Clock
Mr.. Farnllam and Mr.. Brainerd walked
over to one corner Of the room, where
carpenter was AT work. Rrainerd gave
the carpenter a few instructions, ana
then he and Mr.. Farnham walked away
talking in a friendly manner. They pass
ed down by the long switch board TO
the end, where they stopped. Then the
report of a revolver rang out. The work.
men saw Mr. Farnhan fall to the floor
with Brainerd standing over him with a
smoking revolver in his hand.
FLED FOR THEIR LIVES.
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 erdeavored to get under cover to
escape the bullets. which were flying in
every direction. Some attempted to es-
cape through hole in the floor, but
they were unable to push themselves
through, and were obliged to take a
~, tho,
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 Mr. Brainerd shot Mr. Farnham,
Lane and Wadsworth were working to-
gether across the room, and before they
could make the slightest movement,
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 a closet in
the corner of the room.
Buxton was standing at bench at the
head of the stairway, and Brainerd, TAX
ing deliberate aim, sent a bullet straight
through his body. Buxton fell to the
floor, but remained partly conscious. He
saw Brainerd come over to the head of
the stairs, and reload his revolver and
then start for the closet in which Lane
had taken shelter Brainerd went to that
closet apparently with the deliberate IN
tention Of killing Lane, and although he
did not kill him instantly he inflicted
wounds which the physicians believe will
prove fatal Lane made a game fight for
life, but was shot twice. while Buxton
slipped down the stairs and was cared
for.
Brainerd was not satisfied with his VIC
Tins, for he Immediately started toward
the operating room, shouting Send for
the police"
STOOD OFF THE MURDERER.
Stanford at this juncture ran into the (
hall and met Brainerd coming down the I
stairs, revolver in hand, franKcally CALI (
ing for the police. Mr.. Stanford knew |
that Brainerd's revolver was loaded, but |
he barred the way to the crowded oper- !
ating ROOM and demanded that the man |
go back up stairs. go back and we will |
fix it with the police he said, and Brain /
erd went back. A telephone message had |
brought Deputy Firth and officers from
the station The deputy, on the first I
floor met Brainerd who, with self-con-
troll, greeted him, shook hands and then
turned as If to go up stairs. The deputy
saw the revolver in Brainerd's hands and
determined to overpower him. AS Mr..
Firth tried to seize the weapon, Brain
erd turned and met the attack with re-
volver leveled at the deputy A struggle
ensued, and the revolver was discharged,
the bullet passing through the officers
Size. Then another officer dubbed Brain
erd into submission, and he was taken to
the police station. He appeared excited
and ugly. and was kept handcuffed. His
clothing was saturated with blood, and
he paced restlessly up and down the cell.
In the meantime the surgeons had cared
for the wounded. Wadsworth had bui-
let's through the left arm and the bowels.
Lane was shot In the throat, and Buxton
had received a bullet through the body.
The men were taken to the hospital, and
tonight Buxton died and Lane is barely
alive. The police are making inquiry to
determine If Brainerd had shown signs
of insanity at any previous time.