Evening journal., 1908-09-09
HACKS wife, DAUGHTER
And SOM-IN-LAW WITH AN
AXE while They SLEPT
Horrible Crime Committed by PersOn TaIey Who Was Evidently
Siszed With HOmcdaI Mania-Mrs. Emma TaIley and
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew JOhansOn His ViCtms
May Die Of Terrible Wounds

Becoming suddenly insane between
and o'clock this morning, Pearson
Talley, aged 5S years, a respected citi-
zen of this city, living at No. 402 West
Sixth street, procured a broadaxe.
which he used in his trade of cabinet
maker. and attacked the members of
his family with it.
As a result, the mans wife, Mrs.
Emma Talley, and his adopted daugh-
ter, Mrs. Edith n. Johanson, and her
husband. Andrew Johanson, who lived
with him, are all in the Homeopathic
Hospital suffering with fractured
skulls.
There is little hope for the lives of
the two women, but Johanson may re-
over although he has two fractures
If the skull.
Talley is a prisoner at the police
station, and now that he has recov-
cred his senses and has realized the
awful import Of his crime, he wants to
die.
mo two better women lived than
wife and daughter" he moaned, "and
why I committed the awful thing ]
do not know. They were like angels
from heaven. l was crazy. 1 wish
somebody would kill me-"
Was in Good Spirits
Retiring shortly before 10 O'Clock
last night. Talley seemed in the best
of spirits and he gave no indication by
his manner that he contemplated the
serious crime he committed during the
night.
He and his wife occupied the second
story front room and the daughter and
the husband, a room Immediately ad-
joining of No. 402 West Sixth street
When he got out of bed early this
morning. evidently possessed with d
sudden homicidal mania, he went tC
the floor above, an attic. where hi.
tools were, and getting the broad-axe
which has sharp blade eight inches
across, returned to the lower foo
without awakening the other occu
pants of the house.
First he attacked his wife and thei
proceeded to the next room, where tn
murderous blade fell upon his daugh
ter's head.
Johanson was awakened by his wifi
moaning and on looking up saw hi
father-in-law standing above him will
the axe poised ready to strike. H
grappled with the crazy man. but wa
struck in the back Of the head beforl
he could escape the keen edge of tn
weapon.
He and his assailant then struggle,
on the bed beside his mortally wound
ed wife.
Johanson's cries attracted John Far
mar, of No. 404 West Sixth street, anC
the latter jumping over the fence sep
arating the two houses, made his wa,
to the room where the death struggle
was going on. Talley though a mucl
older man than his son-in-law, wa
endowed with the strength of a ma
MAC, and the younger man was nearl,
overcome with exhaustion when Far
mer came to his assistance.
Presented a Gruesome Sight
Johanson ran to the home OF DR.
Frank f. Pierson, on the next corner
and presented a gruesome sight. H
was attired only in his night shirt an'
trousers and blood was streaming
from the wound in the back of hi
head.
DR.. Pierson Immediately proceeded
to the home Of the Talleys and on hi
arrival there found DR. Mitchell
Greenwood, the family physician, al
ready there.
DR.. Pierson telephoned to the polio
station and officers Sherwin, EaSii
and Lewis went to the scene Of tn
tragedy and placed Talley under ar
rest
The latter by this time had recov
cred, and looking about him at hi
work, pleaded to be killed.