The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-22
ROSCOE w. DERBY SHOOTS HIS
WIFE, HIS THREE CHILDREN
AND HIMSELF.
AcTuATED BY DEsPoNDENcY
LACK OF FUNDS AND NEAR AP.
PRoAcH OF CHRISTMAS THE
CAUSE OF CRIME.

Cleveland, o., Dec. 21.-Roscoe W.
Derby, a machinist, about forty-fve
years old, exterminated his family
Sunday by shooting his wife, his three
children and then himself. The crime
8 IS believed to have been due to de-
%spondency over the impoverished con-
dition of the family purse and the near
approach of Christmas.
The crimes were extraordinary in
their t~horoughness and there was evil
IDENTIFY no mishap in their enactment.
The wife was killed first, while Sleep
ing 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 morn
ing. e~ndeavoring to escape their merci-
less parent. The third child was
killed in it's bed after it's elder broth
er and sister had been killed.
The dead are: Roscoe w. Derby,
his wife. Della, Harold, aged eight,
Alice. aged seven, and Thomas, aged
five.
Derby had been down town as late
as IL o'clock Saturday night ostensi-
bly, shopping, but in all probability OBJ
tanning ammunition for his revolver.
Seemed Pale and Nervous.
When he got home his wife and he
talked with a %neighbor who had been
calling over the approaching festival.
Derby seemed pale and
Shortly after his arrival at home the
noighbor left and the Derby family
went to bed.
The crime is believed to have been
committed about 4 o'clock Sunday
morning. 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 exterminated, in the back of the
neck. Mrs. Derby probably was kill
ed during sleep, the expression on her
face showing no sign of a struggle,
and it was calm and peaceful.
Two Of the children, however, prob
ably had a struggle with their in
furiated parent because they had been
awakened by the noise of the revolt
yer being fired and sought to escape
him, but without avail. Harold's
body was found lying in a pool of
blood in the kitchen, and that of
Alice in the dining room with her face
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
furnishings of the kitchen were thrown
about.
Held His Boy and Shot Him.
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 fellows forehead and the
bullet 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 in his head, dying
instantly.
After the extraordinary crimes had
e committed 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 aud 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 a letter written
by Derby Saturday to a friend who
lived not far away and which was
sent him by special delivery. The let.
ter 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.