Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1901 — Kills Son and Burns Houses. [ARTICLE]

Kills Son and Burns Houses.

Murder, suicide, and wholesale destruction of property were the results of Henry Warn’s insane fury Friday morning. Warn was a German farmer living six miles north of Depison. He became seized with a savage desire to kill and destroy. He killed his son, William, aged 21, burned the house, and then proceeded systematically to set fire to everything he possessed. He destroyed the farm waterworks, fastened his cattle, hogs, and chickens securely, and set fire to every building on the place. While he was at his work neighbors, seeing the smoke, rushed to the place, but he drew a revolver, fired several shots, and drove them away. After firing the remaining buildings he went into the burning barn and his charred body was found among the bodies of the horses.