River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-24
AWFUL DEED OF
DESPONDENT MAN
Roscoe Derby Kills Wife, Three
Children and Self.
CRIME OCCURS IN CLEVELAND
Disheartened Over the Impoverished
Condition of His Family, the Man
Exterminates All - Children
Struggle Against Death.

Cleveland, O., Dec 21-Roscoe W.
Derby, machinist, and about As years
old, exterminated his family early Sun
day by shooting his wife, his three chill
dren and himself. The crime is believed
to have been due to dependency over the
impoverished condition of the family
purse and the near approach of Christ
mas. The crimes were extraordinary in
their thoroughness and there was, evil
IDENTIFY, no mishap in their enactment.
The wife was killed first while sleeping
at her husbands side in bed; two of the
and thither through the house in the
darkness of early morning, endeavoring
to escape their merciless parent. The
third child was killed in it's bed after its
elder brother and sister had been killed.
The victims.
The dead are: Roscoe W. Derby, his
wife Della, Harold, aged eight; Alice,
aged seven, and Thomas, aged five. Der
by had been down town as late as IL
o'clock Saturday night ostensibly shop
ping, but in all probability securing am
munition for his revolver. When he got
home his wife and he talked with a
neighbor who had been calling over the
approaching festival Derby seemed
pale and nervous. Shortly after his ar
rival at home the neighbor left and the
Derby family went to bed.
The Awful Deed.
The crime is believed to have been
committed about four O'Clock Sunday
morning. Mrs. Derby was shot to death
in bed, two bullets having been fired into
her forehead and third, probably fired
after the children had been extermi-
mated, in the back Of the neck. Mrs. Der
by probably was killed during sleep, the
expression on her face showing no sign
of struggle, and it was calm and peace
full. Two of the children, however, prob
ably had struggle with their Infatuated
parent, because they had been awakened
by the noise Of the revolver being fired
and sought to escape him, but without
avail Harold's body was found lying
in pool Of blood in the kitchen and that
of Alice in the dining-room with her face
to the floor and bullet in her breast.
Harold may have been chased by his fa-
Their, as there was evidence of flight in
the manner in which the furnishings OF
the kitchen were thrown about. From
the location of bullets in his head the
boy evidently was caught by his father
in a strong grasp and held while the
weapon was placed against the little fell
lows forehead and the bullets sent into
his brain. There was also evidence OF a
struggle on Alice's part. The last of the
children to die was Thomas, aged five.
He had remained in bed probably still
asleep and also received bullets into his
head, dying instantly. After the extraor-
binary crimes had been committed the
perpetrator of them went into the bed
room where his wife had been killed,
and lying down at her side, fired bull
let into his own brain, and died at his
wife's side.
The first knowledge Of the crime was
communicated in letter written by
Derby Saturday to friend who lived not
far away and which was sent him by
special delivery The letter was to the
effect that when it had been received the
Derby family would be dead. When the
friend hurried to the house Sunday
morning all that had been promised
was seen to have been fulfilled.