The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-03-24
TERRIBLE TRIPLE TRAGEDY.
Amos Walton, Near Marienyille, Ends
Lives of Mau and Wife and Blows
Ton of His Own Head OF.

A tragedy. the like of hich for number
of people slain has perhaps never before
been known in Northwestern Pennsyl-
vsnia, was enacted in the eastern end of
Kingsley township, this county, on FRI
day morning last about 10 o'clock, and as
a result OF which the following persons
are dead:
WARREN BRIGGS, aged about 26
years.
MRS. WARREN BRIGGS, his wife,
aged about % years.
AMOS WALTON, aged about 81 years.
The hsbitstions OF these people are To-
Gated close to and on either side of the
public road on the hill about half mile
beyond Muzette postoffice, and about six
miles from Msrienville. Walton was a
man of ungovernsble temper, especially
so when drinking, but at this time was
sober according to the best evidence.
Some time ago he purchased the house,
hold effects of Briggs and the latter had
gone away, and Walton took the family,
consisting of Mrs. Briggs and three child
rem, ranging in age from five months to
four years, to his own domicile, just
across the road, and was living there with
them. Not long ago Bri gs resppeared
on the scene, and was living in his own
house with his father, G. L. Briggs, and a
brother aged about IA years. On Wednes-
day Briggs accused Walton of abusing
his children, and after some hot words,
went to Marienville and made informa-
tion against Walton. Thursday Consta
BILE Mohney, with deputy, went to Wal
toms house, arrested him and t"ok him
tc Marienville.
Friday morning, on the pi ietense that
he wanted to subpoena some witnesses in
his defense, he was permitted TO return to
his home. Reaching there he found that
Mrs. Briggs had taken the children and
gone back to the home of her husband.
This action seemed to excite his rage. and
after calling at the house and serving the
subpoena on Mrs. Briggs, he left in sui
len mood and went back to his own
house. The elder Briggs, noting the
mans anger and fearing him, lett the
house and started In the direction OF
Marienville. What occurred after that is
gathered from the story oflhe 4year-old
Briggs boy. Walton returned shortly
armed with "A. cslinre Winchester rifle.
A, Warren Briggs was coming out of the
barn leading his horse which had been
harnessed Walton fred on him, the bail
striking him near the center of the breast
aud c"mirg out at the back under the left
shoulder. He dr" pped IN his tracks a d
apparently did not move again. Enter
ing the house Walton called Mrs. Briggs
from the kitcnen INTO another room.
Young Briggs heard the d scharge of the
gun aud he ran out of the house and down
toward Muzette without stopping to see
what had cen done, hut believing that
Walt n had shot Mrs Brigg
On the way he met u young man nauI-d
Daley to whom he rep"i'ed the tragedy.
bailey hurried back to the scene aud
there found the dead body Of Briggs, but
did not enter the house, hut touk the rig
which Walton had brought from Marirn-
Vile, drove to Vowinckel, about thre
miles distant, and telephoned to Marien-
Vile that Walton had killed Mr.. and Mrs.
Briggs, not knowing at the time that the
murder, had also committed suicide.
In the meantime Constable Mohney
was again sent after Walton, seeing he
did not return to Ma ienville as prompt
ly as he sh uld have done. When he
reached the scene, about l2:45 o'c'ock, he
Was not long in discovering the horrible
carnage that had been wrought bv Wal
ton. Briggs WIS lying az he had fallen.
Mrs. Briggs was lying in the room in q
pool of blood, Il hullet h lie through her
breast, and Walton lying near he: with
almost the entire top of his head blown
off. After shooting Mrs. Briggs, Walton
had turned The gun on himself, thus end
ing the whole horrible affair.
Constable Mohney sent message to
Marier Vile to notify the authorities and
Justice c. ii. Wilton, acting coroner, em-
panelIed jury consisting of ID. j. Mur-
| pnN, d. II huesoli, Nha'ioS ih'nPSVh'
David Raifsnyder, A. B. Kline and
George Chadwick, who held an inquest,
/ and upon view of the bodies and from all
the evldenc. gathered, returned verdict
} practically in accordance with the facts
here related.
Amos Walton was man of unsavory
record. Several times he had been before
the courts OF this county on charges which
showed the o, il nature of the man. Once
he was conv cIed of iciously ssSaulting a
fellow workman with an axe, cutting a
f horrible cash in the mans head and
, nearIy ending his life. About four weeks
ago, at his own home, he shot George
Agnew OF Leeper in the side, but luckily
the wound was not serions and Agnew
recovered aud nothing was done about it,.
At this time he had been drinking, aud
~ he told afterward, he shot to kill Ag-
new. Walton's father, who has been
dead nearly thirty years, was respected
resident of jerks township tor many
wears. His name was William and he
came from Philadelphia TO jerks town
ship nearly fifty years ago. he mother,
Mrs. Kate Walton, still lives near the
old homestead, iour miles from Msrien-
vile.
Walton is survived by three sons and
daughter, and wife Ivy second marriage
Warren Briggs was a son of Lyman