The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-18
KILLS HIS CHILDREN.
RELIGIOUS MANIA CAUSES HOR-
RIBLE CRIME.
Stays His Son and Married Daughter,
Tried to Kill His Divorced Wife
And Cuts His Own Throat.

At Los Angeles, Cal, driven insane
by religious mania, H. J. Duffy, six
ty years of age, Friday attacked and
Killed his son and daughter with an
axe and then cut his own throat Will,
a razor, inflicting fatal injuries. The
tragedy occurred in the extreme
northwestern part of the city. Duffy
lived at the home of his SON, Fred
Duffy. He had been on the verge
of violent instantly, it is said, for
weeks as result of religious euthu-
siasp. The night before lie attend
ed religious meeting and worked
himself into a frenzy.
When he arose that morning he
was suddenly seized with a desire
to kill. Securing a sharp-bladed axe
he stealthily entered the bed room
of his son while the latter lay
asleep. He crept close to the side
Of the bed and, raising the axe aloft,
brought it down with terrific force
across the neck of the son. The blow
was delivered with such tremendous
force that the head of the victim
was severed completely from the
body. With manieal shout Duffy
rushed from the house and down
the street waving his bloody weapon.
Reaching the house at 461 North
west Lake avenue, where his wife
and daughter resided, he opened the
front door and entered. Mrs. Ada
Lacom, the daughter, with her moth
er, was in rear room. Proceeding.
cautiously to this room the murder
er opened the connecting doors. Mrs.
Lacom stood with her back to hIm.
Without word Of warning he swung
the axe high in the air and cleft
head was crushed in from the blow.
Mrs. Duffy fed through rear
door, closely pursued by the maniac,
striking at her with the axe.
The woman succeeded in eluding
him, but not before she had received
severe cash on the elbow from the
axe swung by Duffy as he chased
her.
Mrs. Dufty's cries finally attract
ed the attention of neighbors who
came to herald.
Duffy then walked to the street,
where he drew a razor from his pock-
ct and slashed his own throat, in
ficting frigntiul injuries, from
which, however, he is likely to re-
cover.
Several weeks ago Duffy went to-
the Evergreen Cemetery and pur-
chased lot, explaining that he want
ed it for himself, son and daughter
Three days ago he purchased cof-
fin for himself.
Fred Duffy, the son, was "a years
of age and unmarried. He was an
automobile machinist.
The daughter lived with her hus--
band. Ferdind Lacom, painter, and
their six-year-old daughter. Mrs.
Duffy and her husband had been
divorced, and she had gone to the
nome OI ueE uduSulCl " Aui 90 hSi
through approaching confinement.
Before entering the Lacom home
Duffy concealed his axe in sack
which ne carried. The old man sat
nervousiy lingering the sack wh'ls'
the woman proceeded to prepare
breakfast. Suddenly he got up,
drew the axe from the sack and
attacked them.
Duffy not only purchased a lot IN
the cemetery for the burial Of his
victims, but had headstones erected
for three graves. Thre plain tomb
stones were put in place on the lot
at his order, bearing tn names.
Henry J. Duffy" Fred. A. Duffy
and "Zaidaih Lacom.
The grave stones for his children
were placed on each side of the one
erected for himself. Duffy paid $6o'
for the headstones and told the sales
man that he was in no great hurry
RI have them erected.