The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-31
MURDERED IN THEIR HOME
Florida Community Shocked by
Horrible Outrage,
Tragedy in Polk County just Like That
which Threw the state Of Georgia
Into Turmoil.

Tampa, Fla.-A frenzy Of excitement
has seized upon the farming commun-
ity Of Wauchula, in Polk County, fol-
lowing the discovery Of the mutilated
bodies of John Kirby, his wife and four
children in bedroom in their house,
which had been set on fire and partly
consumed.
What has added to the feeling is the
remarkable verdict of Coroner's Jury,
which found that the entire family
came to their deaths 'by fire or some
other means unknown although there
isn't the shadow of doubt that they
were murdered, and the young wife
assaulted before she was killed.
In all its aspects the crime is like the
StatesborO, Ga, tragedy, which result
ed in the burning of two negroes at the
stake and the calling out of the militia
to quell the mob spirit. 1t was believed
by the people Of Wauchula that band
of negroes murdered Kirby and his
wife and children and then applied the
torch to make it appear that they died
in an accidental fire.
After the verdict was brought in
three or four farmers who were not
satisfied made a search of the half
burned house and found hammer in
the ruins. They then learned from
the physician who had examined the
bodies that the skull of each victim
had been crushed with a blunt instru-
ment. The most pitiful part of it was
the finding of the baby, only year old,
in crib.
She was a chubby little thing, and
in her two fat fists was found clasped
rag doll. The fire had not touched
her, and her dimpIed face was calm
and peaceful The blow that killed
the babe must have been delivered
with great force, for the entire back OF
the skull was broken.
Near by lay the body of the farmers
oldest son, a boy of about twelve. The
knob of the hammer fitted the hole in
the side of the head Beside him, in
the same bed, was the body of
younger boy. His skull too, was bat
tered in near the temple. 1t was evil
dent that both boys had been murdered
while they slept. for there was not
sign of struggle, and the hand OF
each stretched peacefully over his
breast.
IL was To O6tSIluluG nStuCL
Kirby was reused from his sleep by the
murderers after his wife was slain or
whether he was subjected to the I'M
speakable torture of seeing her seized,
assaulted and killed, but the position
of his body indicated that he had arisen
to defend his household against the
invaders.
1t is reasonably certain that at least
IN,
for it is not believed that one or even
two ordinary men could have overcome
John Kirby in q physical encounter,
for he was rawboned and powerful.
He did not have a chance to get his
shotgun, which hung over the mantel
in the room adjoining. He must have
been struck down from behind and
then his brains beaten out with the
hammer.
Mrs. Kirby was in her night dress.
Its condition showed that she struggled
fiercely before she succumbed to her
assailants. The wound on her head
was not as deep nor delivered with
such savage ferocity as the blow which
killed her husband and her children.
II is barely possible that she was not
struck on the head at all, but was
strangled. Her body, as well as that
of her husband had been partly con-
sumed by the fire.
The Kirby family came from Blount
County, Ala, last October. They were
quiet, home loving folk, and enjoyed
the esteem of their neighbors. The
house in which they lived was small
one and it does not seem possible that
at least one member of the family
could not have escaped from an acct
dental Are.