Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 3, Number 5, DeMotte, Jasper County, 15 June 1933 — TRAGEDY OCCURS NEAR AINSWORTH [ARTICLE]

TRAGEDY OCCURS NEAR AINSWORTH

DEMENTED WAR VETERAN ATTACKS TWO WOMEN, IS KILLED.

Affected by his experiences during the world war, as a poison gas victim, Frank Booty, a brother of George Chester, of Chester’s camp, ran amuck Monday morning and attacked Mrs. Chester and her mother. He struck the mother with a short length of pipe breaking her arm and inflicting other serious injuries. The two women then escaped him and barricaded themselves in the Chester home. Procuring an axe the demented man then proceeded to break his way into the door. Realizing that he meant serious harm to both of them should he succeed in gaining an enerance into the house, Mrs. Chester procured her husband’s twelve guage shot gun, as Booty succeeded in smashing the door and was about to enter the room, swinging the ax madly about him, she fired point blank at him. The charge of shot entered his stomach causing a gaping wound that ended his life within a few moments. Terror stricken, and fearful that her mother’s injuries would cause death, Mrs. Chester finally succeeded in summoning assistance and the injured woman was rushed to Hobart where her wounds were dressed. Word was sent to Sheriff Holley and Deputies Carroll Holley, Rogers and Kennedy rushed to the scene of the tragedy and took charge. A deputy coroner from Hobart was summoned who after taking the statements of the two women and carefully investigating the facts, exonerated them from blame. Booty, who is said to be a full brother of George Chester, although bearing a different name, had been in ill health ever since his return from service, and this had preyed upon his mind and caused him to act queerly at times.