Thomas R. Williams (~1883-1948)

WILLIAMS, PECK

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 7/7/2012 at 14:00:45

Sutherland Courier, 16 Dec 1948, p 1, Col. 3

T. R. Williams Shot By St. Paul Killer

Thomas R. Williams, 65, a native of Sutherland, and brother of John, Charles and Mary Williams, was one of four victims of a madman killer at St. Paul last week. The four men, all employees of the Northern Pacific railroad, were killed by their co-worker as they attempted to enter the company shop, following an argument with the killer over some work to be done. It is reported he went berserk following several weeks of a nervous, distraught condition. He committed suicide following murder of the four men. Mr. Williams was superintendent of the shops.

Charles and Mary William returned from St. Paul Tuesday night after having attended the funeral of their brother on Monday. He is also survived by his wife, the former Amy Peck, and a son Merton of Newark, N. J. The deceased was born at Sutherland in 1883 and graduated from the local high school in 1901. He graduated from the electrical engineering college at Iowa State college, Ames, in 1906 and went to Minneapolis, where he was employed by the Northwestern Telephone company for several years. He worked for the Great Northern railroad at St. Paul for a time, later entering the employ of the Northern Pacific having had continuous 35 years of service with that company at the time of his death.