The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-14
From a Special correspondent.)

BENTON HARBOR. Mich, July IA.
August Gross, a maniac farmer. Of
Pipeston township, who yesterday
fatally shot James Kirk, IL. a ped
der, and who then barricaded him
self in his house with his brother
Fred, was killed by posse and his
brother committed suicide after being
wounded
All night long the Gross brothers
resisted siege against their barri-
caded house. the bullets flying thick
and fast every now and then between
the men OF the posse and the men at
bay. 1t was when the deputy sheriffs
and farmers made a dash for the
house from all sides that Fred Gross
ran for the open and was shot by mis-
take. the members Of the posse think
ing the fleeing man was the maniac.
On entering the house. the posse
found August Gross dying on tho
floor. There were two cartridges left
unexploded in his Winchester rife.
| Gross, 35 years old. was stenog
rapher In lawyers office In this
city up to four years ago. He was
a bachelor. He was strange In his ac-
tons and appearance and had much
trouble. Finally he betook himself to
the country, to the farm where the
tragedy of yesterday and today was
enacted. During his four years resi-
dence on the farm he was stunned
by his neighbors, who generally re-
garded him as mailman. Ii Is
thickly populated section for farm
ing community, but Gross was left
much to himself
One OF the mans occasional callers
was aged James Kirk, an inoffensive
meat peddler. Kinks custom was to
drive from house 10 house through
the fruit country with his horse and
wagon. He had sold meat to Gross.
and unlike most people who knew
the former stenographer, had little
fear Of him.
Had Morose spells"
Gross was subject to spells" His
moroseness then became mania. and
the form OF his mania was dislike
for human company. Even the sight
OF people driving along the road In
front OF his place would send him in
TO seclusion within doors, II Is said.
said
When the aged meat peddler drove
I'd before Gross door yesterday and
hailed the house Gross appeared In
the doorway. revolver in hand. With
out warning he fired point blank at
Kirk. the bullet entering the old mans
right cheek and embedding itself In
his head. Today Kirk is dying.
Neighbors went 10 the rescue or
Kirk. but they did not attempt TO APP
prehend Gross. who from a window
hurled defiance at them as they bore
the wounded man away. Sheriff Ten
lnant and several deputies started for
the place yesterday afternoon. they
Harmed themselves with rifles and sur
rounded the Gross house. Inside. all
alone. the mailman gave them battle.
firing as often as he thought he saw
any part OF human form near the
Ioutbulldings or the trees. Once
lCross opened the back door and the
Officers began to close I'm. thinking
THAT they might be able TO rush
him. But there came a volley from
the madman's Winchester that drove
them TO cover again.
When dawn came Sheriff Tenant
started for the scene with score OF
deputies.
I'VE will take him dead II We can't
get him alive" declared Tenant
Reinforcements Arrive
Shortly after the sheriff's arrival
with reinforcements the rush was
made upon the house As the first
officers got into II the sound ~ shot
was heard and Gross was found dead
upstairs with bullet In his head.
why Gross brother helped him In
THE unequal fight against the posse
is not known. II might have been
Through cOmpulsion. or through broth
erly feeling over the demented mans