The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-24
INSANE WOMAN
KILLS 6, THEN
ENDS OWN LIFE
Mass Slayer Deranged by
Recent Death of Son,
Is Belief.
DROPS ROLE OF SANTA
Came With Gifts to Spend
Holiday With Family
of Brother.
BgUHitcd Press

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PERRYSVILLE, Pa, Dec "a. -
Mrs Katherine D. SchOck, 49,
stepped from the role of Santa
Claus into that of mass killer. She
killed her sister, her brother. her
brothers four children, and prob
ably fatally wounded his wife. She
then killed herself.
Authorities today ascribed her
act to insanity caused by the recent
death of her child. She left four
vaguely phrased notes. She came
here Saturday loaded with toys to
play Santa Claus for the children,
but the pistol with which she killed
her victims and the poison which
she killed hersSf, we're in her bag
gage.
TWenty-fOur hours earlier she
had killed her sister, Mrs. Ruth
Hughes, with a bullet in the back
as Mrs. Hughes slept in her Dun
kirk. N. Y, apartment. Mrs.
Hughes body was not discovered
until last night.
Mrs. Schock'S brother. Walter F.
Dempsey. 40. and his children, Rob-
ert. IL. Walter Jr.. 8, Thomas, 6,
and David. 18 months. were wound
cd fatally as Mrs. SchOck moved
from bed to bed in the Dempsey's
Perrysville home. loading her six
chambered revolver. firing, reload
ing and firing again. Mr.. Demp-
sey's wife. Mrs. Clara Veith Demp-
sew. Sc. was in a Pittsburgh hos
pital today in critical condition.
Mrs. Schock came to Perrysville
Saturday. Ostensibly for a Christmas
visit with her brothers family. In
an upstairs rOOOm-one of the two
where the family later was shot
Christmas presents were stacked on
a dresser
Mrs. Schock had bought some OF
them for her son Jimmy, but when
he died six weeks ago, she sent them
to Mr.. Dempsey and asked him 70
give them to his own children. When
she arrived Saturday, the Oemp-
sevs thought she would take part IN
tra Christmas festivities. They were
glad of the chance TO help aSSuage
her sorrow, and though their house
was crowded made a place for heI
by taking Walter into their own bed
Talk of Santa'S Visit
They talked all they could OF
cheerv things. of Christmas anC
Santa Claus impending visit. Mrs
Schock suggested a ginger ala
treat" for the children, and she
went herself to a nearby drug store
and brought home several bottles
She also bought sleeping powder;
and dropped them into the glasses
when she poured the drinks.
The family drank. Then, drowsy
all but Mrs. Schock went to bed
She explained she had to write
some letters.
She wrote four of them. ito whom
it may concern Sketching he
preparations for killing the family.
The four notes written, Mrs
Schock. fully clothed, loaded her re
vOlver and shot Robert and Thomas
Sl/eping in the room she was Il
have shared. She reloaded, walked
into the adjoining bedroom. anC
shot Mr.. Dempsey. Mrs Dempsey
Walter IT.. and David. Then, stand
ing By the dresser. where the Christ
mas presents lay she swallowed thl
poison and fell at the foot ofshel
brothers bed. ~
Woman Twice Divorced
Mrs. Dempsey regalned conscious
ness about 3 a. nj. arose and stag
gered TO William Holds home near
BY. Mr.. Held took her to a doctor
and summoned Joseph Kunz;, hel
brother-in-law who. with other
neighborS. found the bodies. 50
Mr.. Dempsey was employed n
Pittsburgh in the state emergency
relief service. working on veterans
affairs. -
Mrs. Schock. twice marrieds Il
Donald Schock of Dubois. Pa, hac
twice been divorced from him.
POPE Plus DELIVERS
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