The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-26
"A Dentist Shoots
His Wife And
Kills Child
Are Greatly
Aroused Over
The Deed

ing killed his two year old babe and
probably fatally wounding his wife.
Dr. C. NJ. McCracken. of Cameron.
practicing dentist, after having locked
ed the doors Of his home on High
street, set down on chair and coolly
Ilighted a cigar which he proceeded to
smoke. uneoneernediy. The, murder
was the most brutal in the history Of
the State. and the prompt action OF
the police in arresting McCracken,
probably prevented Iynching. as the
excitement ran high after the shoot
ing. A leader to the mob of 400 an
cry men wac surrounded the Jail i'm
mediately after his arrest was all that
was necessary to start trouble.
Mr.. MoCracken Wus we'll known in
the little oil town where he has lived
for several years. 1t is alleged he
was victim Of the dope" habit and
when under the influence abused his
family. At times, it IS said. he was a
aeayy drinker. Two years ago his
wife's grandfather. Mr.. Roacn = Il
caid. of Cameron. ssnt him 10 3sew
York TO sanitarium. but snortly aft
er returning hcme he fell into his
old habits. When under the influence
of liquor he seemed to be different
man, acting as though insane.
Three years ago he married Mss
Lutte Kincaid, OF Cameron. When
drinking 1t is said that he repeatedly
threatened, to kill his wife, and on
several occasions struck her. THURS.
day afternoon shortly after 2 o'clock
he entered the sitting room in his
hcme where his wife and baby were
packing some Christmas presents in a
basket. Mrs. MeCracken asked her,
husband not to look. that she had a
lreseRt to surprise him with on the
morrow. He was under the influence
af liquor. having been drinking very
heard during the past week, and an
swered his wife in a sneerlng way
that she spent too much money. He
then proceeded to take all the pack.
ages from the basket and rudely
pushed his wife away. after scattering
the presents over the floor ne left the
room. His wife gathered them up
and placed them on table.
Tears were streaming down the
!hPartbroken wdfe's face as she picked
up a bucket of water and started to
The front door, followed by her child.
When in the act of opening the door
%cCracken rushed from his rom and
stated. "You will never scrub that
norcn. Don't do it."
Mrs. Mccracken reniied. "Milt. 1
want the house to look nice for
Christmas"
Becoming insane with rage at his
wtfe's answer, he pulled Ss-caiibre
revolver from his pocket and shot her
N the back as she was In the act of
walking on to the porch. Seeing his
child t1ddling after his mother. Nc
Cracken turned the. still smoking
weapon on his son and after coolly
taking deliberate aim. fired. the shot
taking effect In the child's head. 1t
fell to the floor with a small Christ
mas token in It's hand.
The child was picked up by Mrs.
Wade, the seventy year old house.
keeper Of Mrs. MGCracken.
Wife and Child Flee.
Mrs. McCracken was for moment
stunned by the bullet which entered
her shoulder. but after recovering
herself, she cought her unconscious
child in her arms and started for her
grandsather's home six blocks away.
Screaming at the top of her voice for
some one TO save her darling c1ild,
she fell in faint in the yard # her
husbands sister, Mrs. DR.. Dawson,
after running four squares with the
blood streaming down her back. Sew
eral men on the street gathered the
unconscious woman up and carried
her to her Erandfather's home, where
two physicians were summoned. TIE
child was also carried to Its mothers
side. but the little thing mad breath
ed its last before it could be given
medical attention. The ball had pene-
trated the brain.
Locked Self in House.
Rudeiy pusaing the aged house
keeper from the porch McCracken en-.