Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-09-24
POSSE SEEKS
SLAYER OF -FOUR
Woman and Three Children
Killed, Boarder Missing,
ALL WERE BEATEN TO DEATH
Victims Of Assassin Were Found b,
Father-Cash and Bank Book Cont
Indicate Robbery as Motive.

A quadruple tragedy took place ir
the little town of Byers, about twelve
miles from West Chester. Pa. IL
Chester county. II was one OF the
most horrible murders committed IL
this county for many years.
The victims are the wife and three
children Of John Zoos. Pole. who
works in the graphite mines in that
place. Two children-girls. one three
years old. the other ten months old
are dead. The mother had her heac
crushed in a horrible manner and dice
several hours after the crime was dis
covered.
A boy six years old had his heac
crushed He was found in clump Of
bushes near the house and died on the
way TO the hospital.
The husband and father upon his
return from work was Mortified upor
finding the two children lying dead or
the floor. and ran to the country store
where he gave the alarm.
The motive for the crime Is believed
to have been robbery. as Zoos banb
book and all the money in the house
s45. Is missing.
The police think that the quadruple
crime was committed by former
boarder In the Zoos home, who had
been out of employment for several
weeks, and whom Zoos had repeatedly
refused 10 give money.
Farmers and miners in groups are
securing the country. while special of
ficers are rushing from one town &c
another in automobiles. a score OF
people saw the man hurrying along
the road, across fields and through the
woods. alternating between run anc
"A walk. He was last seen by mar
and a woman to board train at Dow
lngs Forge. about two miles above
Downingtown. and about four milei
from the scene OF the crime. That was
at o'clock Tuesday night and the
train was bound for Lancaster.
This man was recognized by al
least four people who knew him BY
name and knew that he had been 8
boarder at the Zoos home up to few
weeks ago.
Husband and Father Held.
In the meantime John Zoos. husband
and father of the murdered family. 10
in the custody OF the police at West
Chester. For several hours he was
subjected TO a most rigid examination
He was taken to the blood-be. pattereo
kitchen of his little home and ques
toned about several rumors to the eff
feet that he has a wife and children
living in Dudepert and that he intend
ed to return to them. leaving the fam
lily that was murdered in this coun
try.
This. however. Zoos emphatically dc
MED. and he convinced the police that
IL was true. He said that he has &
grown daughter living in Hungary. but
said that his wife. who was murdered
was her mother. He said that he hao
never been married but once.
He had in bank 500. and he sale
that he would have saved $1,000 BY
next September. when he intended
taking his family back TO Hungary
Although little OF any suspicion rests
on the husband and father. he an
nounced that he had nothing TO keel
him here and said that he was going
home to his daughter. He is beine
held as witness.
The fact that he refused to have 8
mass said for his dead wife and chill
dren. and his loud lamentations when
ever reference was made TO the loss
OF the s45. aroused considerable suspi
cion for a time.