The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-21
SHOCKING CRIME
EXTERMINATES HIS FAMILYAND
 THEN SUICIDES.
Roscoe ". Derby, a cleveland Mnchin- ist, Dsspondent Over Low ssate of Parse With Christmas at Hand Takes First tho Life of His wife aud Then Those of His Four chiidren.

Cleveland, O., Dec. 20.--Roscoe w, Derby, machinist forty-five years old. exterminated his family early to-day by shooting his wife, his three children and then himself. The crime is be- Iieved to have been due to dependency over the impoverished condition of the family purse and the near approach of Christmas.
 The crimes were extraordinary in their thoroughness. The wife was kill ed first, while sleeping at her husbands side in bed; two of the children were killed as they ran hither 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 his elder. brother and sister had been killed.
 The dead are: Roscoe W. Derby; his wife, Della; Harold, aged eight: Alice. aged seven; Thomas. aged five.
 Derby had befle down town as late as il o'clock last night, ostensibly shop ping but in all probability securing ann 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 seem ed pale and nervous. Shortly after his arrival at home the neighbor left and the Derby family went to bed
 The crime is believed to have been committed about o'clock this morning. Mrs. Derby was shot to death in bed, two bullets having bene fired into her forehead and third in the back of the neck. Mrs. Derby probably was killed during sleep, the expression on her face showing no sign of a struggle. Two of the children, however, probably had g struggle with their infuriated 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 g 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 father as there was evidence of flight in the manner in which the furnishings Of the kitchen were thrown about. From the location of the bullets in his head the boy evidently was caught by i his father in a strong grasp and held while the weapon was placed against the little fellows forehead and the bull lets sent into his brain.
 There was also evidence of strug- gle on Alice's part. The last of the chill | dren 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 ex- ! traordinary crimes had been commits | ted, the perpetrator of them went into the bedroom where his wife had been killed and lying down at her side, fired a bullet into his own brain and died at his wife's side.
 A number of poolroom race checks were found about the house, showing that Derby had been trying his luck on betting.
 The first knowledge of the crime was Communicated in letter written by Derby yesterday to a friend who lived not far away and which was sent him by special delivery. The letter was to the effect that when 1t had been re- ceived the Derby family would be dead. When the friend hurried to the house | this morning all that had been prom nsed was seen to have been fulfilled.
 Chicago nInchinist Kills Wife and seIf
 Chicago, Dec. 2O.-While crazed with
 liquor to-day Frederick Pfiugradt, a
 machinist shot and killed his wife and
 then committed suicide. Mrs. Pfugradt
 was lying sick in bed with her week old bacy, when without a word of
 warning her husband staggered into
 the room and opened fire. The woman
 was shot twice in the side and lived but
 a few moments. Phuegradt then shot
 himself in the heart. The child was uninjured.