Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-11-18
ANEW ENGLAND TRAGEDY.
Ls.e, Bissny s.d Msrs.r-Ths Msrd-r.,

ANEW ENGLAND TRAGEDY.
Lsve, Bigsmy ssd Nsrd~r-Ths Msrd.r.r
>uii at Large.
II ON the Worcester MSS Spy, Nov, Is
lie most desperate. cold -blood-d and shoes-
nf ca.e q uurder that has ever traBspir-d ,n
this eopny ocenrrsd IN THIS city y-sserds,
sierneon az the house Of Mr.. Edward Cnrts,
steat about three miles from the civ Han
on ne oid turnpike road 20 OlappvtIle aad
near Jspesviile. Tue relations Of the parsies
seo me particulars of ne horrible affair.
tsnered from eye witnesses aud from a visif
To the scene Of the tragedy, are as follows.
Ihe parties we're james Shepard. a youus
nan soo a. twenty nye years OF ace who "a
s'r.,s sats eosrepetsole = name % this W.
en- ~, and his wife. seed asOut . ighteen years
hef naoee name vas Laura Wesson Some
hIe y.hs aso, hen sue was onIy hneea
ytsrs ol sts, she wss enticed away from her
nome Nitn ner parents IN this city by Shepard
and marriage ceremony was performed. but
during the same day she was rescued fro,n
him And restored to her friends lie was ar
rested for ogamv, re having a wife AZ ne
time: tut THIS lssi marriage was decIs-e1 nnt1
and void. Some six months aftarxa-as sne
~ nj of with him az sin, and remained awhiI.
when they separated. They were aftaruara.
married sgan, and again separated His treas.
ment to her was hsrsh and brutal. but IN snt,e
OF 10 her IN nfatusiion was snch that sha vgoatd
Al has solicitations. connect nerseIf with MIN
Two weeks ago he was arrested for hsytns
fortso he signature OF her parents % a psrrrif
Tor her TO be married. by winch ne ootaieea a
marriage license. she being under are: but
when the case came into the police court an
declared that she should rersis: in living WITH
BIN, and abandoned her friends 20 70 win
rim The case was accordingly placed on
nle, and she went with him % lave In Lowell
She Was there but few days when ne rot on
OF money and refused 20 support her longer
turning her out Of ihe bouse. she cane eacs
10 this city 10 her parents and declared that
tbe would never 60 with him Shspard f,l
lowed her here And eDdeavored 10 D@rsuase
ner 70 1--we Win him again, bnt she refused.
and renamed with her parents, who read.
only short distance from the scene @, IN.
NJ uroer. -
Yesterday mornirg abe went 10 Mr.. curu.,
house. 10 assist 90 dong the house WORK 81.
had been there but q short time when Sn.oars
came ana hsd q conversation with her en-
deavorlps 70 persuade her 10 90 svay win
him. She refused aud be became angry. The
vie Ell son OF Mr.. Curtis living IN the house
hsd been confined the n ient previous, ana ner
nurse came ont Of the SICK room aud reproyed
him for loud talking. He made abusive AND
threat mig remarks and lefl saying he vss
going to the city 10 cry his wife DO gn in the
papers. A
he came to the city and purchased a small
.IheIr-oa oarrslIed pistol and quantity OF car
uloees, ana while returning met an acq ga nj
ance, u whom ne said he was going up 10
Curtis ieSkili his wife; that he had iust ssen
AFTER pistol 70 do it with. He arrived at ,ne
house between two and three O'CLOCK IN ths
yard be inquired OF James, a son OF Mr. l,ar.
us young man, which room Laura Uas in
and was told she was IN the kitchen washing
dishes. He then sked James 10 "a IN wi,e
him. and started towards the door. Lama.
followed slowly, and ne entered IN. door
ne heard Mrs. Shepard cry out, ssOh, dom
jim, and saw her struggling with her hu.
band, who had a pistol IN his hand. Youns
Curtis seized him and tired 10 hoId him. and
In The struggle the pistol was DISCHARGED. do,ns
no harm Mrs. Shepard and Mrs. Green wood,
tne nurse, than ran across the entry into the
sick room. Shepard followed, having reloa6ea
ms pistol, and was again seized by Curtis. and
ms second shot was Intellectual. shepard
sicr ,oeceeoso forcing open tie door OF TIE
Cprtis, who then ran 10 call for his brother
VINO was near by. As soon as shepard enter
s9 s1 .he S om ne nred another Intellectual shot
MRS Shepard then threw herself upon tue
bed with the sick woman, and he fired TWO
more sb ox al her. Mrs. Curtis the sIck voroan
ss,io saio "D9ni shoot NE" TO which Shepard re-
pneo. "Dont fret L wonf hurt you: but I Am
gong 10 sbeot Laura His wife then got outof
tne room ana as she crossed the en- try tovafds
me kitchen, he fired again, the bullet taking
enect In her right temple, and sbe fell dead
across the threshold. The two brothers came
IN Just in season 70 see her fall and 10 see hIrn
20 out at the front door
Shepard Immediately took TO the fields ana
woods, going in the direction ofCherry Na;l.y
the spec tators of this raurderous work be,ne
TOO much excited and frightened 10 prevent AZ
! s,or saoi aIon was sent at once TO the police
SIX or eight officers, and Coroner g Marcns
hice hurried 70 the spot, aud arrived thera
acout An nour dltr the deed committed
i ne body was found lying where IL fell. the
FAMILY supposing n improper 70 move AZ till
the arrival OF the coroner.
The ofhcers were At once despatched In dtf
u rent directions IN search Of the uurderer
Those who went 10 Cherry Valley soon goton
MS track, and followed him TO several houses.
stores and factories, at each OF which places
told what he had eone, and threatened tne ltfe
OF any omcer who should ATTEMPT 10 arrest
him AT the house Of his sister, In the ss1e
village, ne gave up bis pistol and cartridges
On the arrival OF the ofhcers there she vas
not inclined 10 give information, ana thev
were DELAYED in searching for him They A.
terwards found that he had been zone onlv
tye minutes when they arrived.
AT all the places where he stopped be b>ds
his acQuaintancee good-bye, saving they
would never see him again: tbs he would tare
mis- own life rather than be arrested Ar one
place he gave away his tobacco. savins he
should have no further use for n The oficers
followed him in the direction of HenshaU
pond, where n is evident be took TO the fields
going towards the water By this time IL vns
DARK, and impossible 10 continue the seayro
ano the ohcers returned HIS conduct when
last seen gives rise TO suspicion that be med
stated self destruction. Coroner RICE snm.
moned Jury during the a,,erpoop for the
purpose Of holding an in Iuest A post NOR.
tenn examinauen will ,e held this noruinr.
and the inquett will continue It's inysstira.
ton.