DASTARDLY DADS FROM THE ARCHIVES (Norwalk, Ohio - 1908)

Another interesting story from the archive. In this case, a disabled adult son killed his father, WALTER ABBEY, in self-defense. It seems that Dad had been threatening to kill his family for years, and had almost made good on his threats a couple of times. Other than having him hospitalized a few times, the family seemed unable to get free of his violence. This man never seemed to do any serious prison time for his assaults, if he ever did prison time at all. How much has this changed today? Not nearly enough.

From the New York Times, July 5, 1908

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A01E5D8153EE233A25756C0A9619C946997D6CF

KILLS MANIAC FATHER.
Ohio Cripple Used Shotgun Effectively to Save His Life.

Special to the New York Times.

NORWALK, Ohio, July 4.--Facing his insane father, who was armed with an axe and sought his life, Adelbert Abbey, a cripple, 22 years old, killed him with a shotgun and then called in the neighbors. The young man was alone in the house with the maniac at the time. The authorities have investigated, and while young Abbey has been arrested, he has been released on his own recognizance, and is at liberty.

The Abbey family had long feared the father, who at one time had been confined to an asylum. He had often threatened his wife and children.

Several years ago Walter Abbey shot at his own father, but failed to kill him. A few months ago he attacked his daughter with a butcher's knife, but she seized a gun and shot him in the leg.

Yesterday the elder Abbey left the farm two miles from here and came to this city. His wife feared he would return home intoxicated and that bloodshed would follow, so she and her daughter went to the home of a neighbor. She tried to induce Adelbert to go with her, but he refused. The young man was seated in the dining room when his father lurched into the house. They had a quarrel. The father obtained an axe and made a rush for his son. The young man picked up a gun he had obtained and shot his father in the face. He was almost instantly killed.