The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-15

BENTON HARBOR. Mich, July Ia.
August Gross, a maniac farmer. of
Pipestone township, who yesterday
fatally shot James Kirk. IL. a ped
dler, and who then barricaded him
self In his house with his brother.
Fred. was killed by a posse and his
brother committed suicide after being
wounded
All night long the Gross brothers
resisted a siege against their barri-
oaded house. the bullets flying thick
and fast every now and then between
the men of the posse and the men at
bay. IL was when the deputy sheriffs
\ and farmers made a dash for the
house from all sides that Fred Gross
ian for the open and was shot by mis-
take, the members of the posse think
ing the fleeing man was the maniac
On entering the house. the posse
found August Gross dying on the
floor. There were two cartridges left
unexploded in his Winchester rife.
Gross, 80 years old. was a stenog
rapher Ia a lawyers office in this
city up 10 four years ago. He was
bachelor He was strange in his &C.
tons and appearance and had much
trouble. Finally he betook himself to
the country, to the farm where the
tragedy of yesterday and today was
enacted. During his four years resi-
dence on the farm he was Stunned
by his neighbors. who generally re-
garded him as mailman. II Is a
thickly populated section for farm
ing community, but Gross was LEFT
much to himself
One OF the mans occasional callers
was aged James Kirk, an inoffensive
meat peddler. Kinks custom was to
drive from house to house through
the fruit country with his horse and
wagon. He had sold meat to Gross.
and unlike most people who knew
the former stenographer, had little
fear Of him.
Had Morose spells"
Gross was subject to spells" His
moroseness then became mania, and
the form OF his mania was dislike
for human company. Even the sight
of people driving along the road In
front OF his place would send him In
to seclusion within doors, il Is said.
said.
When the aged meat peddler drove
up before Gross door yesterday and
hailed the house Gross appeared In
the doorway, revolver In hand. With.
out warning. he fired point blank at
Kirk. the bullet entering the old mans
right cheek and embedding Itself In
his head. Today Kirk Is dying.
Neighbors went to the rescue or
Kirk, but they did not attempt to ap-
prehend Gross. who from a window
hurled defiance at them as they bore
the wounded man away. Sheriff Ten
pant and several deputies started for
the place yesterday afternoon. They
armed themselves with rifles and sur
rounded the Gross house. Inside, all
alone, the mailman gave them battle.
firing as often as he thought he saw
any part OF human form near the
outbuildings OF the trees. Once
Gross opened the back door and the
officers began to close In. thinking
that they might be able to rush"
him. But there came volley from
The madman's Winchester that drove
them to cover again.
When dawn came Sheriff Tenant
started for the scene with score OF
deputies.
I'VE will take him dead II we can't
yet him alive" declared Tenant.
Reinforcements Arrive
Shortly after the sheriff's arrival
with reinforcements the rush was
made upon the house y AS the first
officers got into " the sound Of a shot
was heard and Gross was found dead
upstairs with bullet in his head.
Why Gross brother helped him In
the unequal fight against the posse
is not known II might have been
through compulsion, or through broth
erly feeling over the demented mans
peril.