Mower County transcript., 1908-06-17
FLOOD INDICTED FOR MURDER
(From Minneapolis Tribune.)


James R. Flood, the young mur-
derer of Arthur P: Camden, had an
insane desire to kill some one long
before he left his home in Austin,
Mimi, according to Sheriff Nichol-
sen of that city, who visited Flood in
his cell at the county Jail Thursday
morning.
Not only has Flood for long time
had the desire to kill, but he, on two
occasions attempted to end his life,
once by leaping from a train run
ming 40 miles an hour.
Flood was pin boy in a bowling
alley at Austin when he was first
seized by the mania to murder. He
had worked in the alleys for several
months, and during that time, ac-
cording to his story, he often was on
the point of numbering fellow en-
ployees by striking them over the
! heads with the heavy bowling pins.
Finally, after resisting the impulse
that came upon him ~ for several
months, he went to his employer and
resigned.
II am afraid to stay here,' he said,
because I am liable to kill some
one. Every time | see a boy leaning
over picking up pins / am tempted to-
strike him over the head. l have
fought against the strange desire as;
long as | can"
! The boys resignation was accepted
promptly and it was soon after that
he attempted to kill himself by leap
ing from a passenger train. He struck
III pile of gravel, and, although
badly cut and bruised, sustained no
serious Injuries. Recovering from
his bruises, he lived quietly and
seemed as rational as ever When he
lett home with his brother to go to,
White Rock, S. D., he seemed to be:
IN better shape than ever before. ac-.
cording to Sheriff Nicholson.
|, lie has always been peculiar
Doy, said the Sheriff to the Tribune
yesterday. HE studied hard and was
hard worker. Though I considered
MIN peculiar l had no fears ha
would actually harm any one. NV
eyes were opened somewhat when T
heard about his strange desire tn
hlll, nut' l, like many others, mag
lned IL was only a boyish fancy. He
Worked IN a dry goods store after he
leIt the bowling alley and behaved
Well His father before him was no.
cullar and was subject to fits similar
TO those had by the boy, vet the
1atner' as far as I know, never
threatened any one.''
When the sheriff visited Flood in
jail yesterday the latter at first did
not recognize him, or at least he
protessed not to know him. When the
oHcer began discussion of home az
ialrs and asked the prisoner about
MS sisters and brothers, he admitted
remembering the sheriff. The latter
however, did not talk to him about
the crime 'o'
Flood has been indicted on
cnarge OF murder in the first degree
oy the grand jury of Hennepin coun-
ty. 0'un
Sheriff Dreger worried over the
person signing himself Napoleon
M, VINO SENDS messages to the prisoner.
Inc nrst postal card was mailed in
the country and now another has
been received which was mailed in
minneapolis, showing that the writer
has come to this city.
1t is the idea of the sheriff tb,+
the stranger may strive to get into
communication personally with the
prisoner, and from now on the
1a1lers will be careful whom thew
ADMIT to see the jail. The last card
received was unintelligible, contain
ing many signs and jumble Of
words.
Aside from. the communications
received there are hoax postals ar
irving because of the publication Of
the receipt Of the first postal card.
These are readily detected and find
their way into the waste basket.
I &