Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-23

to the type OF literature after which
| the message on the heart is pat
| termed,
Sworn Confession
Mcdowell signed the confession
late Wednesday after he had repeat
ed it orally three times. 1t was
sworn to before a notary public.
In the story, which he repeated
three times to Chief of Police
George M. Coslick and Chief of De,
tectives John Trotter, Frank said
| his mind became "hazy" at times
and that during these spells he WAS
obsessed with the hallucination that
| the members Of his family were fol-
lowers Of the anti-Christ.
Tracing the origin of these
"hazy" spells, Frank said that when
| he was twelve years old he BIAS
phemed the Holy Ghost" and that
since that time he has been trying
to eXpiate his sin, but he did not
explain of what this "blasphemy"
consisted.
This "blasphemy' occurred on
Febrl arv 19, he said. Every year
since when the anniversary of this
'blasphemy' approached, Frank
said, his mind became cratic, and
he believed his family to be allied
with the anti-Christ. These delu-
sions continued annually until one
year ago he felt that he must Kill his
sisters in order to atone for his
"biasphemous" sin.
How He Burned Girls
After he had started the fire in
which his sisters persisted, Frank
said his, mind returned to rational,
ity. and he was appalled, at the
crime he had committed, but did not
reveal it to anyone. When Feb
ruary 10 of this year came near,
he felt that the death of his parents
was a sacrifice demanded as pen.
ance for the killing Of his sisters.
he said.
Explaining the Decatur, Ga, fire
Frank said that he crept into the
room occupied by his sisters, satu-
rated the bed clothing with gasoline,
fired the inflammable mass with
Goals carried from the family hearth
and fled from the house when the
blaze flared up, locking all exits be-
hind him. Although the house did
not burn to the ground, the room
in which the two girls slept was de-
strOyed.
Frank said he went to sleep on his
couch in a room adjoining that Of his
parents Tuesday night without any
definite thought OF violence to Mr..
and Mrs Mcdowell. He dreamed,
he said, that he was commanded to
| accomplish the destruction of his IA
Their and mother. He said the dream
was so compelling that when he
| awoke he arose from his bed went
into the next room and fired five
shots at Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdowell.
The first shot struck Mr.. Nc
Dowell. The bullet penetrated the
left temple and passed out on the
right side of the head. Mrs. Nc
Dowell also was shot through the left
temple and the bullet emerged in the
same manner, imbedding itself in
the pillow where it was found later.
Apparently neither had been
aroused.
Wouldn't Join Church
While under police guard, Frank
appeared highly intelligent for a
youth of his age. He said he had
left high school in his junior year
and passed college examinations. Po-
lice found in the home many books
on religious topics on the fly leafs
on which was written Franks name.
The Mcdowell family was known to
be deeply religious.
The Rev. E. r. PuIson, pastor of
the First Baptist church, which the
oil ATnTO0yIya11e RI
Frank in the past few months had
scoffed at the Christian religion and
refused to accede to parents re-
quest that he join and attend their
church. Frank confirmed this, add
Ing that he had been torn between
conflicting ideas on religion at one
time believing in God, at another
rel citing Christianity.
When questioned by Chief CoslicII
as to whether or not he had COM
| mItted the murder to gain financial
ly, his reply was in the negative,
and he reiterated the statement that
the motive was purely religious, and
he did not realize that the people
he was firing at were his parents.
Rumors that the father was heav-
| lily insured in favor of the boy are
| unfounded, although he had taken
out $4,000 worth Of double indemnity
insurance on January %, in favor
of Mrs. Mcdowell.
Special Clause i'm Policy
This policy contained a double in
demnity clause which provided that
in case of accidental death or murder
$4,000 would be paid to the mother
The policy also provides that if the
mother did not survive the father
| that the money would revert 70 the
| administers of the j. NJ Mcdowell
| estate.
Although Mr.. Mcdowell took out
| $4,000 worth of insurance, it was
taken in two policies, one for $4,000
| and the other for $4,000. Both #
these were handled by Frank, who
| acted as an agent for the Union Cen
| trail Insurance company.
The boy is also insured for $4,000
IN favor of the administrators of his
| estate. 1t is understood that the
three policies, for himself and his
| father are the only ones which he
! had secured While an insurance
| agent.
The boy, however, was so en-
| phat;c in his statements that he had
Ho ueSHe 10 secure any money by
| committing the crime, that police are
| inclined to believe that the motive
was principally his perverted reli-
| sIOuS views
Crime Believed Premeditated
That the boy has been considering
| the crime or a similar one is evil
denced by his statement to Chief
of Detectives Trotter that he escaped
so easily in Decatur when he set
fire to his sisters by merely running
| back to his room that he felt that
he could commit the crime and not
be caught because he was under di
vine guidance.
Mcdowell talked Wednesday after
| noon 10 anNhNHN ANhn 11.aS vii Ii n,