Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1886 — A MANIAC MURDERER. [ARTICLE]

A MANIAC MURDERER.

He Kills a Brother-in-Law with an Ax— No Motive Known for the Deed. [Des Moines (la.) special.l A shocking tragedy occurred at Runnells, a small town seventeen miles east of Des Moines, at 4 o’clock this morning. Floyd West, a respectable miner, was discovered murdered in his bed, with the probable assassin, the brother-in-law, standing over him with an uplifted ax. West’s two brothers-in-law, William and Henry Furry, have been living with him. The latter has occasionally manifested indications of mental unsoundness, threatening bis relatives, and particularly his brotber-ib law. Tuesday night it was noticed that Henry Furry seemed more restless than usual, dgedining to go to bed. Hrs brother kept watch of him, but did not anticipate serious trouble. During the night Henry went frequently to the bedside of his brother to see if he was asleep. The latter was awakened by a slight noise about 4 o’clock, and rushed into the room of his brother-in-law’, Mr. West, where he saw his brother Henry with an ax raised as if to strike the prostrate man. He grabbed bis brother and took away the weapon, but found his brother-in-law already had his skull smashed. The assassin ran to a neighbor’s, where he was soon captured. Later in the day he was lodged in jail in this city. When' seen to-night he feigned insanity, or was insane, saying that he had been charged by the Lord for several years to do this deed, and had only done it by divine request. His preliminary examination will take place next Friday. The murdered man leaves a wife and four children.