Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-09
MANIAC, ARMED
WITH BON BS, ON
HUNT FOR LIVES
AURORA QLL) PLUMBER KILLS
WOMAN AND SELF AND
WOUNDS TWO OTHERS.
STRAPS GUNS TO HIS BODY.
Wanted to Stay All the Inhabitants of a
City Block and Terrorizes Whole
Community.
SAID GOSSIPS WERE MALICIOUS.

AURORA, H., April S--John Ander-
son, plumber whose mind had been af-
tected, became suddenly violent today
and armed himself with two pistols, a
shotgun and three bombs which he fas-
tened to his person by means of a har-
ness, started out to kill the inha bitants
OF city block in which he said malicious
gossip concerning himself had been cir
cuIated. He killed one woman, narrowly
missed Staying her husband, wounded
another woman, and then committed sui
eide.
The dead:
M'VICKER, MRS JOHN. shot through
heart as she ran toward the room where her
children were playing.
ANDERSON, JOHN. committed suicide
by blowing Oft head with shotgun.
The injured:
Mrs. John Belford flesh wound and brok-
en- arm from pistol bullets.
John McNlcker, scalp grazed by bullet.
Residents Are Terrorized
,Anderson's actions and his armament
OF bombs and revolvers terrorized resi-
dents of the entire square which he had
announced his intention of laying waste.
Doors were locked and barred and wom-
en- and children fled to cellars and at
tics when they saw the maniac walk
ing along the street, Scrutinizing the
different houses as if undecided where
to begin.
His first stop was at the home of Mrs
John McNicker, probably his Oldest and
best friends. Mrs. McNicker and her
husband had repeatedly befriended An
derson who was a widower. They had
received him at their home, and had
nursed him when i'll.
With a pistol in each hand Anderson
began firing. The first bullet grazed Mr..
McNicker's scalp. Mrs. McVicker ran
toward the kitchen where her four chill
dren were playing to protect them. She
| fell dead across the threshold with Il
! bullet through her heart.
Apparently satisfied, Anderson left the
place and proceeded to the home Of John
Bedford, a few doors distant. Anders0n's
resentment was against Bedford, whom
he accused without a shadow of reason,
with circulating slanderOus stories about
him. Mrs. Bedford and her mother, Mrs
Amanda Minton, 80 years old and blind
We're alone in the house
Opens Fire with Pistol.
Anderson opened fire with his pistol
on Mrs. Bedford. One bullet inflicted a
flesh wound, and another shattered her
arm and she fell to the floor. Mrs Min
ton, hearing but not seeing, rose from the
couch on which she had been resting and
began cropping her way across the ROOM
The maniac, however, paid no attention
to her.
By this time the neighborhood had be-
come alarmed and men were gathering in
the street outside. Anderson walked to
the window and peered out. When he
returned to the center of the room,
picked up his shotgun from the table on
which he had placed it and blew off his
own head.
Bombs Fail to Explode
To the fact that he fell across a
couch is due the failure of the bombs
strapped to his person to explode. They
were homemade and it is believed were
carried by Anderson in order to make
sure of his own death in case of accident
TO his other weapons.
1t was an hour before the residents
dared to unlock doors and windows and
the more timid to emerge to the street