Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-13
Maniac in Frenzy
Tries to Kill
Relatives
Is Not Snbdued Until
Five Men Beat Him
Unconscious
Woman Victim of Lunatic's Bullet
May Dle-GirI and Man but
Slightly Injured In
the Fray

MT' ana Mrs. George Stancliffe and
their daughter Ruth were shot by a
madman at their home one and one
half miles north of Burbank early last
night after frantic struggle in which
their assailant was beaten into uncon-
seriousness The perpetrator of the
shocking crime is a brother of Mrs
Stancliffe named Taylor, a laborer who
Is said to live in Los Angeles. Mr..
Stancliffe and his daughter are but
slightly injured, but Mrs Stancliffe.
who was shot in the forehead, may die
as the result of her injuries. The in
sane man finally was overpowered by
William Stancliffe, son of Mr.. STAN
cliffe, with the aid of several neighbors
who rushed to the scene. The elder
Stancliffe received a slight wound in
the forehead and Miss Ruth was shot
in the thigh.
The pleasantest relations were known
TO nave existed between the Stancliffe
family and Taylor and nothing but
lunacy can be adduced as an explana-
ton of the crime. Taylor had not been
seen at the Stancliffe home for months
and the members of the family were
pleased and surprised as they saw him
enter the lane which leads up to the
cottage from the road.
Acts Strangely
The father and mother and the three
children had gathered for dinner and
Mrs Stancliffe awaited her brother on
the veranda as he went up the path.
AS the man neared the house he hesi-
tated, glancing about him in a fright
ened manner and retreated toward the
gate several times before ascending the
steps. His sister descended to meet
him, saying:
whats the matter, John? Are you
ILL.,"
"They are after me-the detectives
are on my TRAIL" Taylor replied. Get
me out of the way"
By this time Mr.. Stancliffe and Will
liam had noticed the strange actions of
the man and Joined Mrs. Stancliffe on
the veranda. Unkempt and wild eyed
he glared at them suspiciously before
he would enter the house, and after he
followed them in he insisted on remain
ing in the hall.
Shoots Without Provocation
AT loss to explain their relatives
action the family went into the living
room to decide upon plan of action,
and Mrs. Stancliffe decided to step out
and question him. The front door had
been left standing open and the light
fell full upon her as she went into the
hall and the mailman leveled his re-
volver at her. Before she chould
scream he sent q sLJt into her temple
Rushing into the hall and catching her
mother in her arms, Ruth received a
bullet in the thigh.
AS the elder Stancliffe leaped at the
maniac, followed closely by William,
the man ran through the front door and
took refuge behind tree in the front
yard. From his position he fired three
shots at the men as they emerged from
the house, one of which grazed Mr.
Stancliffe's forehead. William retreated
into the house and returned with a %
rifle. Crouching in the shelter of the
Veranda he sent several shots at the
madman, one of Whic,l took effect and
drove him from his position. Having
seized a stout club the elder Stancliffe
Joined his son in the pursuit and the
man was overtaken as he reached the
road. Turning he sent his last re-
naming shot between his two pursuers
and as William lunCed at him with the
rifle he felled the youth with blow
from his revolver.
Fights Two Men
MT, SIdHclllIe lealeu upon the maniac
as his son fell, but in his insane fury
the man seemed almost a match for
the two, and as William rose and
rushed to his fathers aid both men
We're compelled to fight for their lives
in the clutches of the lunatic.
The sound of the shots and screams
had attracted the attention of several
neighbors, and headed by j. d. Pierce,
they rushed to the aid of the Stancliffes.
With five men upon him the maniac
was subdued, but not until he had lost
consciousness and had been beaten in
to an almost unrecognizable mass of
flesh.
Sheriff Catlin of Burbank was sent for |
and arrived soon after with DR.. Thorn
as, also of Burbank. The injuries of
the wounded women were attended to
and their assailant was brought to Los
Angeles and placed in the county hos
pital. At AN early hour this morning
little could be learned of the mans past
in Los Angeles, or whether he really is |
a resident Of the city. He was shot
twice in the abdomen with the small |
rifle used by William Stancliffe, but
neither wound is dangerous. His most |
severe injuries are about the head and
chest, where he was beaten and cut in |
his frightful struggle with the Stand
cliffes.
Romance in Horror
A touch Of romance was thrown into |
the horror of the crime by the presence |
after the shooting of three |
young women, who were on the way to |