Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1903-12-26
MERCILESS PARENT
STAYS HIS FAMILY
Shoots His Wife, His Three Children
and Then Himself.
CHILDREN STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Wife Was Killed while Sleeping
Children Struggled with Parent
without AyaII-Crfme Due
to Dependency.

Cleveland, O., Dec. 21.-Roscoe w.
Derby a machinist AMI about IS years
old, exterminated his family early
Sunday by shooting his wife, his three
children and then himself The crime
is believed to have been due to his
dependency over the impoverished
condition Of the family purse and the
near approach Of Christmas.
The crimes were extraordinary in
their thoroughness and there was, evil
IDENTIFY, no mishap in their enactment.
The wife was killed first while sleep
ing at her husbands side in bed; tw)
of the children were killed as they ran
hither and thither through the house
in the darkness of the early morning,
endeavoring to escape their merciless
parent. The third child was killed in
its bed after its elder brother and
sister had been killed
wife Shot While Asleep.
The dead are:
Roscoe w. Derby, his wife, Della,
Harold, aged eight, Alice, aged seven,
and Thomas, aged five
Derby had been downtown late Sat
urday night, ostensiJly shopping, but
in all probability securing ammuni-
tion for his revolver When he got
home his wife and he talked with
neighbor who had been calling over
the approaching festival. Derby
seemed 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 four 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, N the back of the
neck
Children Fought For Life.
Mrs Derby probably was killed dur
ing sleep, the expression on her face
showing no sign of a struggle, and it
was clam and peaceful. Two of the
children, however, probably had
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. HaroIds body was found lying
in a pool of blood in the kitchen, and
b5e2Pt face ff AtG"t t6 the h tbs tR6sof 2Hf T"8eY II
her breast. Harold may have been
chased by his father, as there was
evidence of a flight in the manner in
which the furnishings of the kitchen
were thrown about From the location
of the bullet in his head, the boy eY!-
IDENTIFY was caught by his father in a
strong grasp and held while the weap-
on was placed against the little fell
lows forehead and the bullets sent
into his brain. There was no 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.
Deliberately Planned.
After the extraordinary crimes had
been 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 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 a letter written
by Derby Saturday to a friend who
lived not far away. and which was
sent 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 mouse Sunday morning all that
mad been promised was seen to have
been fulfilled