People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1893 — MADE MAD BY FEVER. [ARTICLE]

MADE MAD BY FEVER.

In HU Delirium » St. LoiU Hu Attempts to Kill HU Four Lattie Ones And Cats HU Own Throat. St. Louis, Ang. 9. —John Finn, living, at 2824 Choatean avenue, attempted a quadruple murder and suicide at his residence Tuesday. Finn was formerly a motorman on the LindeU street railway. He has been confined to his house for several days with bilious fever. Early in the morning his condition became worse and his wife left the house to procure some medicine. In her absence, it is believed, Finn became delirious. He jumped from his bed and seizing a heavy flatiron attempted to dash out the brains of his two little boys. He then grasped a carving knife and horribly cut and mangled his two little daughters. The noise of the struggle and the screamingof the children had attracted the attention of neighbors to the house. They knocked on the doors and windows to gain admittance but were ordered away by Finn. When they threatened to break open the doors he went to a shelf in the bedroom and taking a razor in his right hand he drew the blade across his throat, inflicting a wound from which the blood poured in torrents. The neighbors finally succeeded in gaining an entrance to the house and a fearful sight met their gaze. The carpets, wall paper and furniture were spattered with blood and the four little children lay moaning and bleeding in different parts of the house. Surgeons and ambulances were summoned and kind hands ministered to the wounded little ones. Their injuries are as follows: John, aged 11 years, two scalp contusions, cheeks cut and nose broken; may die. Willie, aged 9, tearful gashes In left and right cheeks, lips split, all teeth knocked out and skull fractured; will die. May, aged 7, skull fractured, horribly cut on face, neck and breast; will die. Annie, aged 5, skull fractured, four scalp wounds, face and body cut and bruised; will die. The father, throat badly cut; may recover. In explanation of the fearful “Slaughter of the Innocents” the father says that while laying in bed a sunbeam falling across his bed carried a message from Heaven commanding him to kill his children and he only obeyed the will of God.