The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-15
a CRAZED YOUTH
Kills His Mother and Sister and
Beats Others With an AK.

While laboring under mental ALBERTA
tion, the result Of the strain Of perfect
ing an appliance for patents on air
brekes, which are pending in Wash
ington, Charles Cawley, 17-year-old
boy of Homestead. Pa, early Friday
killed his mother and only sister and
seriously injured four other children.
He also tried to kill his two older
brothers, but was detected, ovsrpoWer-
ed and turned over to the police.
The weapon used was an Ak. with
which he crushed and hacked his VIC
Tins beyond recognition. The dead
are: Mrs. Hanna Cawley, aged 40
years, head and upper portion Of body
almost pounded to a jelly; Bell Cawley,
aged II, who slept with her mother,
head frightfully crushed. The injur-
ed are: Joseph, the baby Of the family,
aged Is months, head and chest bat
tered; Adeline, aged 6, skull fractur-
ed; Raymond, aged 6, twin Of Adeline,
head horribly injured; Agnes age 10,
|
head crushed.
Some time about 3 o'clock this
morning Charles quietly arose and
dressed himself, but not putting on
his shoes, crept down into his moth
er's room, where the victims were all
sleeping. After turning up the light
the maniac approached his mothers
bedside, swung the axe high in the
cir and brought it down with such
force that the skull was crushed. The
mother evidently never knew what
struck her, but the crazed son, think
ing that his first blow did not do its
work, pounded the dead mothers head
almost to jelly.
Belle, the oldest daughter, slept
throughout the time. The full sound
Of the axe on her mothers head did
not arouse her. Charles hurried to her
side Of the bed and struck her with
the axe. It is thought that the first
blow slipped and awoke the girl, but
only for a second. She did not have
time to scream, for the next blow
killed her. The fend then turned to
the smaller children and struck each
one over the head with the bloody
weapon.
Believing that he had dispatched
them all, he started for his brothers
room, but James, the eldest had been
awakened by the groans in his moth
er's room and as Charles entered, he
seized a heavy rocking chair and after
fierce struggle overpowered him and
turned him over to the police. On the
way to the station he fought fero-
ciously, but after being placed in a
cell he calmed down, and did not seem
to realize what he had done.
He is now confined in the county
Jail here. He denies emphatically that
he committed the deed. He tells e
fairly connected story, in which ne
reiterates his innocence. He says he
was awakened at an early hour by
sounds On the first floor and went down
stairs to investigate. Returning up
stairs he found his sister lying across
the bed covered with blood, and fed
to give the alarm.
Anna, the four year old sister Of
Cawley, died Friday night at the
South Side hospital. 1t Is reported
that the three others injured will
probably die before morning. After
thorough examination oy the coro-
ner, it was reported that the young
mans story of the robbery has been
disproven and that Cawley did the
deed in fit Of insanity. Raymond
Cawley died at the South Side hospital
Friday night at 11.30, making four
| dead.