Evening star., 1915-10-10
SHOT WIFE AND CHILD,
THEN INTO OWN HEAD
Dead Woman Was Sister Of George
Adams of 600 7th Street
Southwest, Washington.
INSANITY VERDICT RETURNED
Frank n. Grimes Told Minister He
Was Afraid of Himself and Prayed
for Divine Guidance Before En-
acting Tragedy in Home.

BALTIMORE. Nd. October s.-Urged
murder as the result Of mental depres-
sion caused by financial and other trou-
bles, Frank H. Grimes. thirty-nine
years old, a plumber and a Sunday
school secretary. early this morning
crept stealthily into the room in which
his wife and ten-year-old daughter lay
peacefully sleeping and murdered
them by sending a bullet into the brain
calibered revolver upon himself and
fired. The bullet, entering his temple.
killed him instantly. The triple tragedy
occurred in the family's modest but
comfortable little home at 212 South
Highland avenue.
Examination of the bodies Of the
woman, Mrs. Fannie Grimes, and the
girl. Gertrude. showed that death was
instantaneous in both cases. Mrs.
Grimes is survived by brother. George
Adams of sos 7th street southwest.
Washington.
daughter Of a neighbor. who heard the
shots and Investigated. Gertrude
Grimes, her playmate. and Mrs. Grimes.
lay in bed. Blood dyed the bed clothes
ted with clots. The floor was covered
with drying splotches.
Grimes lay crumpled In heap on the
floor at the side of the bed. His stiff
fened fingers still ciutched the weapon.
and the sight appalled, the girl. who
stood staring for probably full min
ute before she was able to rush back
TO her mother. An examination Of the
revolver showed that the trigger had
clicked four times. bullet lodged In
the ceiling explained the extra shot
Was Temporarily Insane.
This afternoon an. inquest was held
and the jury returned formal verdict
that Grimes was temporarily insane.
That Grimes had been possessed of a
compelling impulse to shed human
blood was brought out durinE the tes-
pastor Of Highland Methodist Episcopal
Church. recounted part of conversa-
tion between himself and Grimes re-
Gently, during a visit of the minister
to Grimes home.
''Pastor.">Grimes had said. Il feel as
though I want to kill somebody. I am
fearfully afraid Of myself. 1 don't
know what to do: May God help me-
.iaed at the mans words. He had ever
been an ardent church worker. an ex-
3mple. Mr.. Thompson said. to the men,
oers of the church. The minister ad-
d
light against the impulse and to pray
for strength of resistance.
DR.. Schoield testified that he had been
attending Grimes for nervous break
ing serious.
Had Numerous Reverses.
In addition to numerous business re-
verses, Grimes had other causes for
worry. His father died last May. Re-
>ently his mother. who is aged. became
very i'll. Two months ago he suffered
from blood poisoning, having pierced
Bis hand accidentally with a metal
splinter.
The police searched the home. hoping
POSSIBLY to find a note ascribing a mo-
tive for the deed. What they found.
however, was a torn and crumpled piece
OF paper written in childish scrawl:
Dear Papa:
FIX the furnace and sleep with me-
Bring Phern over tomorrow night.
GERTRUDE"
Before her marriage to Grimes the
slain wife was Miss Fannie Adams of
Anne Arundel county She Is survived
ny two sisters. Mrs. Annie Jones and
Mrs. Sarah Gulick, and the brother.
George Adams. the latter of Washing
ton.
Grimes leaves his mother. a brother.
Robert Grimes. and a sister. Mrs. Sadie
3angum.
Adjacent to the Grimes home on one
f.de is Highland Methodist Episcopal
Church. of the Sunday school of which
Grimes was secretary. His wife was
rlember of the ladies Bible class"
and his daughter was pupil in one of
tae Sunday school classes.
Relative in Southwest Washington.
George Adams of 609 eth street south
vest. this city. was at work when
news of the tragedy reached his home
a,r. Adams is a night watchman for
one of the railroad companies. having
been employed in that capacity for the
last thirty-five years.
No member of the family could as
sign any reason for Grimes act, say
ing that he must have lost his reason.
The two families had not been in COM
h'unication for the last month or more
but when members of the Adams fam
iiy last heard from them the Grimeses
were doing we'll and were apparently
happy.
Both Grimes and his wife were de-
vout church members. SO far as is
known by the Adams family the couple
never had any serious misunderstand-
ing or difficulty.
That Grimes had been well thought
OF by his relatives by marriage was
shown by their references to Uncle
Frank" They declared he had al
ways been an excellent husband and
father.
Mr.. Adams is the only near relative
Mrs. Grimes had living in Washington
Her two surviving sisters are lIrs
6allie Gulick. a native OF Highland
town. Nd. and Mrs. Annie Jones of
Jones Station. Anne Arundel county,
Nd.
Baron Won Wangenheim Killed.
8ERLIN. October 9.-Baron Won Wan
eenheini. q lieutenant Of the Uhlans,
who In wall known or fhA turf haa