Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1882 — The Kentucky Tragedy. [ARTICLE]

The Kentucky Tragedy.

Indianapolis Times Jan 20th, The quadruple murder and suicide near Lancaster, Ky,, reported by telegraph in the Times of yesterday, was one of the most horrible affairs ever recorded. The murderer, James B. Wilmot, was a much-respected farmer, in good circumstances, aud abont sixtyfive yean old. He had indorsed for a neighbor to the amount ofs4so.and had been obliged to pay the debt. This loss seems to nave affected him to such an extent that continual brooding upon the aubjoet drove him insane. On Wednesday he arose at an early hour and lighted a fire, then went to the room of his mother, and with an ax, nearly served her head from her body. ‘Next he visited the room occupied by his two daughters, aged, respectively, about twenty aud fifteen, and killed them. By the time this was done his wife entered the room, and a struggle ensued between her aud thecrazy man, ending in her being fearfully cut causing her death almost iustautly. The hired girl, Alice Colvin, being aroused by the noise, came down stairs, and meeting Wilmot, was told that -he had killed his family and meant to kill himself. She ran out of the room, seized the youngest son, aged ten, and escaped to a neighbor’s. Abeut this time tbe oldest son appeared on the sceue, aud the father attempted ta shoot him. He struggled with him for a while, and suooeeded in turning aeide the gun so that it was discharged into the ceiliug, aud then hroke away ami tied for help. On returning, Wilmot was found hanging by the neck in his barn, and quite dead.