A MURDEROUS MANIAC.

Kumara Times, Issue 2910, 25 February 1886, Page 2

A MURDEROUS MANIAC.

The debails of the horrible triple tragedy at Lynn . Creek, Cameron County, Missouri, have just reached St. Louis. A farmer named David Lyons had a family consisting of a handsome daughter, Kate, aged 18, and a son about 6 years old. A few weeks ago Mr Lyons allowed an imbecile named Nat Wilson to stay at his house and do

odd jobs about the premises. Wilson was a well-known character, and whs considered good-natured and harmless. He had never been known to injure nnyone, and exhibited gratitude for every act of kindness shown him. One day Mr Lyons reprimanded him for carelessness, and thought no more of the matter. Not so with the heretofore harmless madman. He nourished a terrible resentment, and, with all the ingenuity of a maniac, waited for an opportunity. Wilson rose early one morning, and going out to the wood pile secured a heavy axe. Armed thus he crept stealthily to Mr Lyons' room, and opening; the door cautiously saw that his victim whs asleep. He "raised the axe and brought the blade down with crushing forco on the head of the unfortunate man. Death was instantaneous. With the hioody axe in his hand he next proceeded to the room of Miss Kate, and, forcing open the door, dispatched her with two or three blows, the poor girl resisting to the last. He then made a search for the young boy, I>M the lad had heard his sister's screams and saw the madman with the axe. He ran at the top of his speed to his uncle's house, distant about two miles, and notified Dr. Lyons, who, with his two aons, all thoroughly armed, rode to the scene of °the butchery. Arriving there, the madman was found dismembering the bodies in the yard. As soon as he observed Dr. Lyons he fell to his knees and began to plead for mercy. While in this position the physician and his >ons fired a volley and killed the maniac. They re-loaded, and again fired into the body. The bodies of MiLyons and his daughter presented a • horrible spectacle They were beheaded and dismembered and butchered in such a horrible way that the relations could not look upon the sight. Hundreds of people from the surrounding country came in to inspect the scene of the crime.