The Dawson news., 1924-02-26
GEORGIA BOY SHOT PARENTS
AND BURNED SISTERS TO
"ATONE FOR SIM"
ADMITS CRIMES in CONFESSION
Death of Members of Family a Sacri-
fee Demanded as Penance FOR His
"Blasphemy, Says Youth Held for
Murder. Tragedies Year Apart.

fce Demanded as romance sor his
"Blasphemy, Says Youth Held for
Murder. Tragedies Year Apart
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-That
Frank Mcdowell will ever pay with
his life for the double murder to which
he confessed here appears very inn
probable. The youth who shot to
death his mother and father Mr.. and
Mrs. J. NJ Mcdowell, as they slept,
will be certain to plead insanity when
he is brought to trial at the next term
of circuit court, even if he is not de-
clared insane before that time and
sent to the asylum, Under the laws
of this state an insane person is not
accountable for crime committed
and an insane person cannot be put
to death even if sane at the tirle of
the crime.
Agnosticism, atheism and advanced
radicalism caused Frank Mcdowell
confessed murderer of his father,
mother and two sisters to commit the
crime of removing them from his
path, and to make plans for the re-
moval of another, Miss Mary Birdsey,
of Forsyth, Ga, a young college girl,
whom he believes stands in his path
and defeats his progress towards be-
coming a world power Mcdowell IS
said to have told the police.
"Egomania."
Mcdowell seems to be suffering
from what the medical profession and
alienists would call egomania. He is
more concerned about himself than
about anything else, and his mental
condition is the same at all times He
appears abnormal all the time, and it
is not a case of periods of insanity.
This was shown by his action before
and after he had confessed that he
shot his father and his mother and
burned to death his two sisters.
Though those closest to him IN hui
man relation were dead he showed no
sorrow. did not even simulate such
feeling, and was much more concern
ed about his own personal appearance
than he was about the deed he had
| done.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdowell were found
dead in bed Both had been shot in
the left temple.
The McDowells moved here from
Decatur. Ga, soon after their two
daughters. aged IS and 10 years, were
burned to death year ago when
trapped in a room in their home,
Young Mcdowell has confessed to
burning his sisters.
Slew to Atone for Sin.
In the story which he repeated
three times Frank said his mind be
came "hazy" at times and that during
these spells he was obsessed with the
hallucination that the members Of his
lfami1v were followers of the anti
| Christ.
i Tracing the origin OF these 'hazy'
spells Frank said that when he was
II years old he blasphemed the Holy
Ghost" and that since that time he
has been trying to eNpiate his sin but
! he did not explain OF what his bias
phemy" consisted. This "blasphemy'
occurred on d Feb 10, he said.
Every year since when the aniyer-
sary of this "blasphemy' approached,
Frank said. his mind became erratic
and he believed his family to be allied
with the anti-Christ These delusions
continued annually until one year ago
he felt that he must kill his sisters in
order to atone for his "blasphemous"
sin.
The bodies OF Mr.. and Mrs. Nc
Dowel1 were shipped to Acworth Ga,
and Inferred in a single grave,
Do Not Believe He Is Insane.
Florida officer do not believe Nc
| Dowell is insane. To back up this
claim officers say that they have wit
nesses who will testify that the youth
is Stimulating insanity.
The prosecution claims that the
real motive behind the death of his
parents was the collection of $4,000
double indemnity insurance policy
which Frank. acting as an insurance
agent. was said to have underwritten
for his father during January last.
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