Evening star., 1935-10-14
GARAGE MAN KILLS
WIFE, DAUGHTER
AND THEN HIMSELF
House on Seventh Street
Pike Transformed Into
Sudden ShambIes.
GIRL, IS, ALSO SHOT;
CONDITION is CRITICAL
Neighbors, Hearing Family Quar-.
rel, Look Through Window
to See Tragedy.
By STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

By STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
WHEATON, Md, October IA
little white frame house on the
Seventh street pike was turned into
shambles today when James H. Pierce,
middle-aged garage proprietor. shot
and killed MS wife, Cassie, and his
stepdaughter, Mrs. Helen Cook, and
then killed himself.
Pierce also shot his l5-year-old
daughter, Clarice. She was taken 70
Montgomery County Hospital in
critical condition, shot three times.
through the groin, the shoulder and
one arm.
The bodies Of the three victims Of
the tragedy were taken to the funeral
home in Rockville of Warner Pum-
phrey.
The shooting was preceded by a
violent argument, police said. Pierce
was said by oeighbors to have been at
odds with his family for several years.
and, according to Chief j. William
Garrett of Montgomery County police,
was a heavy drinker. 1t was reported
his wife had filed charges against him
for non-support and that the arraign-
ment was to take place October 25.
Boy and Mother See Tragedy.
The shooting occurred about $50
m. Nevelle Meeks, jr., 10. who lives
at the house next to Pierces' two
story home, said he and his mother
heard the hubbub of quarelling next
door and locked across to see Pierce,
.3S caliber revolver in hand, start
shooting Neighbors said about seven
shots were fired.
Pierce's stepdaughter, Mrs. Cook,
ran screaming from the door of the
kitchen where the shooting occurred.
and collapsed, face down, on the
lawn between the house and the ga
rage Pierce operated. Behind her
Clarice came tumbling out, stumbled
over a dog house, and plunged into
the front of a parked car, splatterlng
blood on the headlights and grass.
Mrs. Pierce collapsed on the kitchen
floor. apparently killed instantly.
Pierce shot himself through the tenn
pie and died Immediately, police said.
Clarice was taken to the Montgom-
ery County General Hospital in Sandy
Spring by A. W. Saunders Of Glen.
mont. Md; J. N. Atwood. Silver
Spring, and J. A. Smith of Wheaton.
Her only words, they reported. were,
Help me. help me-give me a glass
Of water" Her condition is critical
Earlier Quarrels Recalled.
The Meeks boy, who sGid he saw
the shooting through the Pierces'
kitchen window. said Mrs Cook and
her step-father quarreled violently
almost every time they met in the
Pierce home.
On one occasion. ne said. the garage
man threw dishes at his step-daughter.
From their home next door. the Meeks
often heard their neighbors squabbling.
with Pierce cursing strongly, they
said.
The Pierces had lived in Wheaton
about IS or 18 years, inhabitants said.
Their home is on the southeast side
of the Brookville, or Seventh street,
highway, and is adjoined by the
modest frame garage which Pierce
operated.
The dead couple had three other
children, Clay "Bucky'' Pierce, %;
Mrs. Lena Marvin, 20, of Carroll ave-
nue., Takoma Park, Md, and Bessie,
said to be about Is.
Son Left Home Year Ago.
Clay Pierce boards with Norman
Hull. As. of Lay Hill. Md. He is an
automobile mechanic. Summoned from
his Job at the Kensington garage he
said he was unaware there had been
a family quarrel that might precipltate
such violence. He said he left his
home more than a year ago, when he
reached 81, to take the garage job.
His father. he said, could not afford
to employ him in his small repair
shop
DR.. H. H. Hewlett of Silver Spring,
Md, was the first doctor to reach the
scene of the killings, but there was
little he could do.
Pierce apparently went about his
grisly job with deliberation. He walked
into the Zirkle hardware store in Sill
yer Spring at about 750 am, today
and bought 10 .38-caliber bullets for q
quarter.
DR.. J. w. Bird extracted the three
bullets from the body of Clarice Pierce
shortly after noon, and Montgomery
County Hospital officials gave her o
good chance to live