Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-01-31
John KenefiC, Former Hartford Fireman, on
Rampage at COllinSVille.
MAN IS BELIEVED TO BE INSANE
Wife Left Him Two Months After Marriage Because of
His Peculiar Actions First Points Revolver at Baby,
Then Shoots at Everybody Within Range Until Ammu-
milton Gives Out-His Wife in Critical Condition.

Kenefie was on the second floor, tel
ephoned for help. Shortly after Ken
efic went to the second floor his ia
ther-in-law, Arthur Johnson, came
home, and on entering the house found
his daughter living wounded on the
sitting room floor and carried her
out into the yard He then returned
to the house for a rifle which he had
in his bedroom.
The first intimation that residents
of this place had of trouble at the
Johnson home was when call from
the house came into the local tele
phone exchange.
Threatened to Shoot Doctor.
All that one of the operators in
answering the call heard was John
sonl DR.. Cox!" which was followed
by screams. DR.. Cox was communi-
Gated with and accompanied by a
hired man the two went to the John
son home in an automobile, reaching
there just as Kenefic came out of
the house with the baby in his arms.
As Cox advanced Kenefc threatened
to shoot him If he moved step fur
ther. DR.. Cox tried to reason with
him, but was unable to do so and left
to secure weapons, leaving his MIN
DtUlnu q lItE " NdLCu uGNGlOPllltIlLos
Used Baby as a Shield.
After locating DR.. Cox the telephone
operators got in touch with. Deputy
Sheriff Cushing, who hurried to the
scene unarmed. He arrived at the
house soon after DIR. Cox returned
with three revolvers. They arrived
Just in time to prevent Arthur John
sen, who. on securing his rifle, start
ed on hunt for Kenefc, from shoot
ing his son-in law, and it was not
until he had been thrown to the
ground that he was prevented from
carrying out his purpose, With the
baby in his arms as a shield, and part
~ hidden by a tree, Kenef1c stood in
front of the house and def1ed the
officers and their assistants to take
him.
Baby Escapes Unframed.
Hidden behind trees in front of the
house and at the side, with the house
itself rapidly becoming a roaring fur
mace, the FIRE in the ell having COM
municated to the main part, Deputy
Sheriff. Gushing, DIR. Cox and their
three NgsIstants fired at Kenefic now
end thCn. but were afraid Of hitting
the baby, so none Of the bullets was
sent particularly close. Keneflc re-
Piled firing some forty shots, ex-
hausting his ammunition. When his
cartridges failed him he put the gun
10 his own head and pulled the trig-
ger. but the shell had previously been
exploded and finding that he had no
more with him, he placed the baby on
the ground, and lifted his arms in
token Of surrender
Taken After He Surrendered.
In the custody of Cushing and an
assistant he was led to the local lock-
up, refusing to make any statement on
the affair. Mrs. Kenefic was taken to
DR.. Cox's home. where she is being
cared for.
Fire Causes $500 Loss.
As Kenefic was being led away, the
Collinsville fire department arrived on
the scene, but the flames had reached
such headway that il was impossible
to save the house and but little of
the furniture was gotten out. In ad-
dition to the loss of the house, john
son lost S275 in currency, his son $50
and Mrs. Kenefie $40. The total loss
is placed at $500, with insurance Of
$500.
Girl in Hysterieal Condition.
With the excitement of the battle
with Kenefic passed. search was made
for Lavinia, who had disappeared aft
er telephoning for help. Her mother
was found at the foot of a tree in
the rear of the house. and finally the
girl was found in an hysterical condi-
tion hidden away in the barn. Both
were taken care Of by neighbors, and
will soon recover from the shock.