The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-21
ALL DEAD.
Man Kills Wife, Three Children
and Himself
Because He Had No Money for
Christmas Festivities.

Cleveland, Dec. 21.-Roscoe W. Derby,
machinist, about As, eXterminated his
family Sunday by shooting his wife, his
three children and then himself. The
crime is believed to have been due to
despondency over the impoverished con-
dition of the family purse and the near
approach of Christmas.
The crimes were extraordinary in
their thoroughness and evidently there
was no mishap in their enactment. The
wife was killed 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
it's elder brother and sister had been
killed The dead are:
Roscoe W. Derby, his wife, Della;
Harold. aged 8; Alice, aged Z, and
Thomas, aged 5.
Derby had been down town as late as
IL o'clock Saturday night ostens1bly
shopping, but in all probability getting
ammunition 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 crime is believed to have been
committed about o'clock in the morn
ing. Mrs. Derby was shot to death in
bed, two bullets having been fired into
her forehead and a third, probably fired
after the children had been extermi-
mated, in the back of the neck.
Mrs. Derby probably was killed dur
ing sleep. The expression on her face
was calm and peaceful Two of her
children. however, probably had a
struggle with their infuriated parent,
because they had been awakened by
the noise of the revolver being fired,
III :, mt
avail s-
Harold's body was found lying in a
pool of blood in the kitchen and that
of Alice in the dining room. with her
fact to the floor and a bullet in her
breast.
Harold may have been chased by his
father. as there was evidence of flight
in the manner in which the furnish
ings were thrown about. From the
location of the bullets in his head. the
boy evidently was caught by his father
in strong grasp and held while the
weapon was placed against the little
fellows forehead and the bullet fired
into his brain. Also there was evidence
of a struggle on Alice's part
The last of the children to die was
Thomas, aged 5. He had remained in
bed. probably still asleep. and also re-
ceiVed bullets into his head. dying in
stantly.
After the extraordinary crimes had
been committed, the perpetrator of
IneIn went INTO the bedroom Wnere ms
wife had been killed, and lying down at
her side fired a bullet into his own
brain. and died at his wife's side
number of Doolroom 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 a letter written by
Derby yesterday to a. friend who lived
not far awav. and which was sent him
by special delivery. The letter was to
the effect that when it had been re-
ceived the Derby family would be dead
When the friend hurried to the house
this morning. all that had been prom
ised was seen to have been fulfilled.