The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-14
SEIZED WITH A
! DESIRE TO KILL
Aged Religious Maniac Stays
Son and Daughter and
Attempts Suicide.
BUTCHERY AT LOS ANGELES
AXE USED UPON THE UNFORTU-
NATE VICTIMS.

Los Angeles, Cal, Aug. 19.-Driven
insane by religious mania, II. ]. Duffy
so years old. today attacked and killed
his son and daughter with s-n axe, and
then cut his own throat with a razor
inficting fatal injuries. The tragedy
occurred early this morning in the ex-
treme northwestern part of the city.
Duffy lived at the home of his son,
Fred Duffy. He has been on the verge
of violent insanity. it is said. for weeks
from religious enthusiasm. Last night
he attended a religious meeting and
worked himself into a frantic state of
Religious ardor.
) When he arose this morning he was
suddenly seized with a desire to kill
Securing a sharp-bladed axe. he en-
tered fhe bedroom of his son. where the
latter lay asleep. He crept close 10 the
side of the bed. and raising the weapon
aloft brought 1t 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.
Daughter Struck Down.
With the shout OF maniac. Duffy
rushed from the house and down the
street, waving his bloody weapon.
Reaching the house at Al North West
Lake avenue. where his wife and
daughter resided, he opened the front
door and entered. Mrs. Ada Lacom the
daughter. with her mother. were in a
rear room. Proceeding stealthily to this
room. the murderer opened the connect
ing door. Mrs. Lacom stood with her
back 10 him. Without a sound or word
of warning he swung the axe high in
the air and cleft his dau ghter's skull.
Her whole head was crushed in from
the blow.
Escape of the Wife.
Mrs. Duffy fed through a rear door.
closely pursued by the maniac striking
at her with the axe. She succeeded in
eluding him. her cries attracting the
attention of neighbors. who came to her
aid.
Duffy then walked 10 the street.
where he drew razor from his pocket
and slashed his own throat. inf1icting
frightful injuries. but will recover.
Mrs. Duffy was severely gashed on
the elbow by Blow from the axe as
she was fleeing from the murderer
Had Purchased Cemetery Lot.
Several weeks ago Duffy went to the
Evergreen cemetery. where he pur
chased from the sexton a lot large
enough for the burial of four persons.
explaining that he wanted il for him
self wife. son and daughter. Three
days ago he went to an undertaking
establishment and purchased a coffin
for himself. He selected the coffin with
great care insisting that It be an exact
E. n,,,.,. ,no con No. .. ,...-. .,
age and unmarried. He was an auto
mobile machinist. was evident from
the condition of the sons body and the
room in which both men had slept that
the son had never awakened.
Concealed Axe In a Sack.
When the old man left the house
where he had slain his son he proceed
ed directly TO the house where his
dinand Lasom. a paintar, and their g.
year-old daughter Margaret. Before en-
tering the house Duffy concealed his
axe in a sack which he carried.
Mrs Duffy and her husband had been
divorced some time since and she had
gone TO the home of her daughter 10
nurse her through approaching child
firth When Duffy entered the house
sye asked:
P'sWhere is Fred?"
..Oh. he's gone to work. responded
the old man quietly. who few minutes
before had slain his son as he lay
asleep.
But ne naSn Hau MS DTSdhldSt,
persisted the mother.
"No. but he got up late and thought
he would get something TO eat down
town." replied the murderer
Battle With the Maniac.
The odd man sat nervously lingering
the sack. while the women proceeded TO
prepare breakfast. Suddenly he got up.
drew the bloody axe from the sack and
attacked the women. The elder woman
cried TO her daughter to seize the child.
Margaret. and run while she turned to
battle with her insane husband. The
frrt blow descending struck her on the
elbow, cutting a frightful cash and
breaking the bone. Mrs. Duffy picked |
up the little child In her arms as she
ran. Mrs. Lacom. in her helpless con- !
dition, was unable 10 run and fell. The I
Continued on Page 2.