Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-09-12
MADMAN HACKS
FAMILY WITH AXE
Splits Skulls Of Wife, Daughter
and Son-in-LaW.
PUTS UP TERRIFIC FIGHT

During Fit Of Insanity Wilmington,
DEL. Man Attacked Family With a
5roadaxe While They Were Asleep
and Fatally Injured Three Of Them.
Fought Like Fiend When He Was
overpowered - Has An Excellent
Reputation and Lived Happily With
His Family.
Wilmington. Del. Sept. l0.-During
q ht Of temporary insanity. Pearson
Talley. aged sixty years. Of 402 West
sixth street. attacked his wife with
broadaxe while she was asleep In bed.
and after splitting her head open went
to the bedroom occupied by his adopt
ed daughter. Edith Johansen and her
husband. Andrew Johansen. and struck
Mrs Johansen in the head with the
axe. splitting her head open and cut.
ting out one OF her eyes. Mr.. Johan-
sen was awakened BY hearing his wife
moaning When he opened his eyes he
saw the aged man standing over him
with the broadaxe raised. just about to
deliver a blow.
He at once grappled with him and
succeeded in knocking OF the first
blow. Talley again struck him. how
ever and inflicted a severe wound In
the back OF the head and slight
wound on the shoulder
The insane man fought like a fiend
when Johansen tried to take the
weapon away from him. They wrestled
all over the bed for some little time.
but Johansen could not get the axe
out of Talley's hands. and when John
Farmer, living next door. who had
been attracted by the noise. arrived on
the scene. Johansen was nearly ex-
hausted. Had Farmer been one min
ute later in arriving there is no doubt
but that Talley would have finished
the work and killed all three persons
outright.
After he was subdued the desper.
ate man seemed to comybo his senses
for a time and begged people around
him to Kill him with the axe.
Talley was arrested and fought hard
with the officers who took him from
the house.
Later he was taken 10 the hospital.
where his wife and adopted daughter
identified him. but could not say II
was he who committed the deed. The
wife. when the husband was taken be.
fore her. told the police that he was q
good. kind husband. and Mrs. Johan.
sen. when confronted by the man.
told the police that she did not want
them to do much with him, as he had
been very good TO her.
Al the police station Talley was ra-
iional and said he could not In any
way account for his desperate act. as
there were no hard feelings between
any OF the members of the family and
they got along well together He was
very despondent and continually ask
ed about the condition OF his victims.
His story about all the members Of
the family getting along well together
is corroborated by the neighbors. who
give him an excellent name and say
that he must have been insane. as he
seemed TO love his wife and adopted
daughter dearly.
MIS-. IaiIeys y neau nuu Deen iuiu
open on the right side for about five
inches The brain was exposed and
the skull fractured. Mrs. Johansen
seemed to be in a more critical condl-
tion than the others. Her head had
been split open down the left side and
across the nose and the left eye was
laying out ON the cheek. Johansen's
wounds consisted OF a deep cash
about one and half inches and the
skull was punctured
TaIley Is confined in one of the po-
lice station cells. He seems TO begin
10 realize what he has done and is In
pitiful condition OF physical and
mental collapse.