Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1911 — TWO FAMILIES KILLED. [ARTICLE]

TWO FAMILIES KILLED.

Six Are Slain with an Axe by Monster —Police in a Quandary. Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 21.—1 n the absence of any clew to substantiate robbery as a motive for the murder of Mrs. Alice Burnham, her daughter Alice, age six years, and her son John, age three years, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry F, Wayne and their infant child, found dead in their homes here yesterday, the au* thorities hold that the crime was committed by a common enemy of both families. The victims, lived in adjoining houses, were murdered with an ax while they were asleep in their beds, indications pointing to the crime having been committed Sunday night. A. J. Burnham, husband of one of the murdered women, who was held by the police, is suffering from tuberculosis and offi- " cials at a hospital where he has been working as a cook say he is not physically strong enough to wield an ax, as was done by the murderer. - Mrs. Wayne was a sister of Mrs. Vernon Shock of Rensselaer. Other relatives here are Mrs. Rachel Scott, the grand" mother of the murdered woman,

and Mrs. Julius Huff, an aunt. Wayne pme to the Modern Woodman sanatorium, where Burnham is employed, about ten months ago from Medaryville, Ind., as a patient. One month ago his term in the institution was up and he brought his wife and children to this city and rented the house in which they were murdered. The bodies will be brought to the old home in Indiana for burial. Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 21. —Tony Donatel, aged 40, a laborer, was arrested this afternoon in connection with the wholesale murder of the Wayne and Burnham families here. It is understood his arrest followed a statement made by Arthur J. Burnham, husband of one of the slain women, who was arrested following the discovery of the crime. Burnham, it is said, admitted that when he returned home unexpectedly Sunday he found Donatel in the house with his wife. The police say Donatel was examined last year as to his sanity. A chemical and miscroscopic examination of spots on Burnham’s shoes and clothing, which resembled dried human blood, will be made by the city chemist.