Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30
MANIAC USES HAMMER
Tries to Kill Whole Family and
Three May Die.
DRIVES WOMAN TO WOODS
Makes Her Sing and Pray and
Threatens Death.
MADMAN Is PUT IN CHAINS
Skulls of His Victims Crushed in
With Weapon-Tragedy at
York, Pa.
DRIVES WOMAN TO WOODS
MADMAN Is PUT IN CHAIN

YORK, Pa. August 29-Attacked by a
mailman Thursday night, three residents
Of East Berlin are near death and the
wife Of one Of the injured is suffering so
| from shock that her life is despaired of.
The injured are Cornelius Baker, sew
enty years old. dying: John Bott. forty
years old, fatally hurt: Nathaniel Baker,
farmer. in serious condition; Mrs Nathan
lei Baker. suffering from shock.
The tragedy occurred on the Baker
| farm, near East Berlin. and John Bosser-
man. twenty-six years old, who sudden
| ly became insane and who is responsible
for the occurrence, was captured about
| an hour later, bound in chains and lodged
| in the insane ward of the almshouse at
Gettysburg.
Wanted to Be Baptized.
Bosserman had been working on a
farm of his fathers, close to the Baker
property, but Wednesday night went to
visit his brother. David Bosserman. who
lives still nearer the Bakers. Lewis Bos-
serman. his father. Thursday evening
drove from East Berlin to his sons farm
and upon arrival John expressed de-
sire to be baptized at once, as this rite
had never been administered to him..
Surprised at his sons conduct and de-
sire, the father took him in his carriage
and started for the home Of the nearest
minister. They had driven but short
distance when the young man leaped
from the vehicle and, starting through
nearby woods, made direct for the
Baker farm.
Nathaniel Baker and John Bot were
standing near the barn when the maniac
appeared, the plumber engaged In repair
ing the spouting and Baker watching
him. The latter spoke to the deranged
youth. whom he knew Well, but Bosser-
man stopped to the plumbers kit Of tools.
which he examined and asked the use OF.
Beat Two Men.
Selling the largest hammer, he said:
What are you doing?"
Fixing the spout" replied Bot.
well, you won't be long" said Bos-
serman. and the youth brought the heavy
hammer down upon Bolts head, crushing
the skull and telling him.
In the meantime. Baker ran for club,
but not being in time. seized long rope,
and doubling II into a whip. had only
time to turn. when the crazy man was
upon him. Baker received numerous blows
upon the head and body and fell uncon-
scious while retreating to the house for
a gun.
Cornelius Baker. an aged brother of the
farmer. came from the front porch in
time to be the next victim and receive
the worst injuries, for blow from the
hammer completely crushed his skull. BY
this time Mrs. Baker was on the scene.
and seeing her. Bosserman grasped her
arm and leading her to nearby field
made her sing and pray, with the threat
that her end was near.
A team approached and he left the
woman with the remark:
You see that man? Well, wait until
l kill him first
Maniac in Chains.
Rushing to the vehicle Bossel nan fought
the driver to get on. but before that
could be accomplished the farm of David
maniac terrified the inmates of the house
while he broke windows and did other
damage.
ing of the tragedy. arrived in a carriage,
bent on the capture of the man. Seeing
them. the maniac told his brother David
to write on a piece of paper that he in
tended to kill the newcomers. IrOstle and
Anderson. with the aid of others. finally
with heavy chains took him to Gettys-
burg.
Drs. Hoegst, SPOTS and Miller attend
ed the injured and performed operations
Nine broken pieces of skull were removed
from the head of Cornelius Baker and he
will die.
BOtt is also in a critical condition and
in addition to injury to his head his right
side is paralyZed.
Nathaniel Baker may have conclusion
of the brain. but his recovery is looked
for.
Mrs. Baker lies white and motionless
when not in delirium. She collapsed after
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