Date of 1905 penciled on top of article
GEORGE FORD KILLS HIS FAMILY AND BURNS
HIS HOME
Thursday morning our town was in a fever of excitement over the report
that George Ford, aged about 50 years, a farmer living on Bethel Ridge
about two miles from here, had murdered his wife, age 45, and three
children, Ruby, aged 6; Ernes, 10; and Everett, 12, and then set fire
to his house to hide all evidence of his horrible crime. The fire was
discovered about 3 o'clock in the morning by Silas Scudder, a
neighbor. He ran to the house, a brick cottage of several rooms, and
on his way he met Ford in a field with nothing on but his
underclothes. When they reached the house it was one mass of flames.
Ford appeared to be insane and it was only by the greatest effort that
Scudder could restrain him from rushing into the fiery furnace.
Scudder could see Mrs. Ford lying on the bed and could have secured
the body at one time, but had to hold the husband back. After the
fire had subsided Ford was taken to the home of his father Eastman
Ford where it was necessary to strap him to a bed to prevent him doing
himself injury. During the burning of the building he said to
Scudder: "If it is a just God I don't see why he permitted me to do
what I have done." For a time it was feared his neighbors would take
the law in their own hands and hang Ford then and there, but cooler
heads deterred them from their purpose. As soon as possible the
charred trunks of Mrs. Ford and her three children were taken from the
ruins. The head of his wife was missing and could not be found, being
consummed by the flames. Coroner J---- Knox held an inquest over the
remains and returned a verdict of death by burning. Deputy Sheriff
George Reeves arrested Ford and took him to Vevay where he was placed
in jail. On the way there it was necessary to tie Ford in the wagon
as he became unmanageable. On arriving at the jail he was given drugs
and put asleep. After awakening he was asked if he had killed his
family and he answered, "yes, I killed them all with a hatchet which I
had under the bed. The two boys were in one room and my wife and
little daughter in another. After killing them I then set fire to the
house." He is unquestionable insane according to the physician's
testimony who examined him and he expressed a desire to die.
Neighbors say he has been placing a hatchet under the bed for some
time. He was married about fifteen years ago to Miss Emma Miller
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Miller and was always a loving
father and kind husbank, sober and industrious and in good
circumstances. He often complained that he could not do more for his
family, although they enjoyed all the necssaries of life. The remains
of his wife and three children were buried at Florence yesterday.
Some say that ever since his marriage Ford has exhibited evidence of
insanity, while others state thay have noticed his pecularities only
for the past three or founr years. It is a horrible affair and has
appalled the whole community. Ford will in all probability be tried
immediately and sent to the State insane asylum.
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