The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-04-26

HIS LOVED ONES
SLAIN BY FATHER
Who Saw Want Facing
Family of Seven.
DREADED COMING BLINDNESS
Boy Escaped Carnage Mother
Shot Down and Tots
Slaughtered.
OHIO PLUMBERS INSANE ACT

Youngstown, Ohio, April 20.-Six
lives were the toll of the nights
work which Grant G.. Rickert, a
plumber, who feared he was going
blind, performed with ak and hatch
ct when he slaughtered his wife Ce-
celia, aged 40, whom he shot, and
his children, Charlotte, aged IS;
Helen, aged 10; Pearl, aged 10, and
Raymond, aged s, and lastly, him
self.
Edwin c. Rickert, aged II, is liv-
ing because he fought his way to
the top floor, dead or dying.
after he had been struck on the back
of the head with the bloody Ratchet
He escaped to a neigbor's and there
gave the alarm. but too late to save
his mother and his little brothers
and sisters, whom the police found
scattered from the ground floor to
the top floor( dead or dying.
Then the insane man shot him
self and fell dying, the revolver still
in his grasp, the bloody hatcher
scarcely beyond his finger tips.
Rickert started with the babe be-
rec side the mother and fought against
her to accomplish its death, and
then killed the mother herself.
Raymond, the baby, was hit twice
nf xrsffh hn
hatchet, and died at the City Hos
pital this morning, his skull fright
fully crushed.
The mother, shot in the left side
of the head just above the ear, was
killed instantly.
The maniac then proceeded to the
second story, where the other chill
dren slept. He encountered Edwin.
the seventeen-year-old boy, who re-
ceived three scalp wounds from the
hatchet and threw up his hands to
ward off others, throwing his faith
er downstairs and succeeding in es-
Gaping to a neighbors, but in a
frightful condition.
Charlotte and Helen, aged - and
10, respectively. lay in a bed at the
top of the stairs. The former was
struck on the left temple with the
Ratchet and a bullet sent through
her head. The latter died from
blow over the left ear from the
hatchet.
Pearl, aged 10, was in her bed by
herself. A Ratchet blow back of the
head and a bullet. which penetrated
her head through her left cheek,
eneder her life. She lived until this
morning, as did Raymond.
The father was always considered
queer" during the 81 years he had
lived here. He was an able journey
man plumber, but could not keep his
jobs. He went into business for
himself, but was not successful.
His wife, shaving for the family,
baked bread for the neighbors in or
der to keep herself and the children
and send them to school. Three
We're in the high school.
Rickert wrote a note giving the
fear of approaching blindness and
financial worries as the cause for the
deed. Another letter he left on the
kitchen table was addressed to the
Coroner. The first was to his broth
er-in-law, A. NJ. Appel, and con-
tanned an insurance policy for ST.
900, SIS in cash and some few no.
tations. Here is the letter he wrote
10 the Coroner:
"Mr. Coroner: I have a dozen
good reasons for doing such a terri
BILE deed. To sum up, | dread the
future for my wife and children.
For five years I have had liberated
eyes and I dread going blind. My
eldest son has trouble with his ears.
My wife has had dizzy spells and
sometimes becomes unconscious.
Our oldest daughter has coughed up
some hard, offensive matter from
her throat. We have never been
able to pay anything on our home or
to finish it.
up. ST. could write year and
still give more trouble. I know my
wife is as eager to lay down her
burden, and | must do this before I
90 insane. If I am not already so.
Although I have never used intoxi-
eating drinks. can see that the
drinks have been the curse of my
entire life. When will 1t be stop
ped?"
Hnur bahv cries for Chamherlain's