Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1908-08-19
ATTACKS WIFE
WHO ESCAPES
WITH AWFUL
WOUND
by Associated press.

l4''~ AN'IlsEf~, AuE' A's NAh''
having dug three graves in Evergreen
Cemetery and caused headstones to be
erected and marked with his own
name. his son Fred, his daughter .Iai-
dab Henry j. Duffy this morning kill
81 both mis- children and attempted toI
kill himself with a butcher knife. An
ehor, 20 kill his wife also failed.
Fred Duffy, aged -. an automobile
nachinist, was behcaded in bed in
the home where he lived alone with his
father. The murder was committed
while the boy was asleep, as there was
no evidence Of struggle, but the ma
niscal parent, after he had severed his
head, gouged out the eyes and mutt
lated the face horribly.
The murderer then took the bloody
axe in sack 10 the home of his wife
and daughter, Mrs. Laeom, and struck
the later two fierce blows in the back
Of the neck as she ran, splitting her
skull with one blow. decapitating her
with the other. A blow was aimed at
the older woman, who threw up her
arm aud saved her head, but her elbow
was terribly gashed.
Duffy returned TO his sons mouse,
where he was hacking at his throat
when the police ran in. In all Duffy
took three lives, as the daughter with
in week was TO have become a moth
er. Tonight Duffy lay writhing in
epilepsy, strapped 20 a cot in the re
eeiving hospital. yet he understood
questions and willingly answered. e.
81 don't remember about hitting my
boy. That part is all blank" he
said.
"Do you remember hitting your
dsughterr
He seemed TO wake up then. "Why
did you kill herr" he was asked.
"Were you angryf'
"No; loved her. Something seem.
ed to overpower me and made me do
it. wish they had let me die. II
they would unloose my hands would
kill myself"
Physicians say that Duffy may not
die Of his self.inhicted injuries but
may die Of combination Of epilepsy
loeomotor ataxia, insanity, and they
fear pneumonia. Dufty's crafty plan
ming is indicative Of a maniac. He has
been on the verge Of violent insanity
from religious frenzy Of late. Last
night he attended an evangelical meet
ing at Pencil Hall and worked himself
up to a frantic fervor over religion.
Mrs. Mary Duffy is being treated al
the hospital for injuries received while
fighting with her husband for posses
sion Of the axe and is in a serious con
dition and may never recover, as hel
reason is detnroned by the awful trag
edy. At intervals she PAGES the floor
wrings her hands, and means. At times
she is rational and recites the story OF
her daughters death and fgh, for her
own life.
She said: "My poor child, she wa.
soon TO become mother. ! shall new.
er forget the terrible experience.
know l am not right mentally and ex
pect IN grow worse. ! can't blot
out the horrible sight and when
close my eyes / seem TO see the tragedy
being enacted and my child lying deaJ
beheaded in a puddle Of her own life
blood
Physicians says Mrs. DUTY suffer
serious mental arrangement and ar,
doubtful if she ever fully RECEIVERS hel
reason. While Duffy has been regard
ed as queer, his murderous intent ha'
never been suspected. He was known
to he crank on religion and apparent
ly had no friends except those inter
ested in religious work. He was iii
voreed from his wife nine years ago
He owns considerable property. 4
son. Clark, is a railroad man in Mon
tana.
Dufty's actions at religious meeting
indicate That he felt divinely called t.
Nil his children. He asked for pray
ors for their souls, fearing they Nigh
le unprcpared for death. He had ap
pcared number Of times at the Lacon
house with AN axe. Neighbors aver h
tried 10 induce his daughter to eat
poisoned apple Wednesday. Beside
digging graves and putting up head
stones, Duffy also said he had purchas
cl three collins few days ago