In a fit of mystical madness he killed his entire family

New York, 22. A young man of 19 years old. Frank McDowell, one of the most brilliant students at the University of Washington, where he graduated at the age of 16, was arrested yesterday in St. Petersburg (Florida). He is accused of killing his two sisters, his father and his mother.

He said that a year ago he entered the bedroom of his sisters, aged 16 and 17, while they were sleeping, doused their bed with kerosene and set it on fire. The town of Docatur (Georgia), where the family lived at the time, was deeply shaken by this assassination which was accused. the Negro population. Several Negroes were arrested and others were almost lynched.

After the death of their daughters, Mr. and Mrs. McDowell came to settle with their son in Saint Petersburg. It was there that they were found yesterday in their bed, killed by a gunshot to the head. Their son, who had a serious wound on his forehead, asked for help and first stated that a stranger had entered their house and shot him unconscious. But later he admitted that it was he himself who had taken the plunge to avert suspicion.

Franck Mc Dowell claims to be subject to attacks of religious madness and explains that he killed his sisters to atone for a blasphemy he allegedly uttered at the age of 12 and that he killed his parents to atone for the murder of her sisters.