The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-21
THE MASSA cHUSETTS HORROR.
Statement of Sheppard, the wife MUIR
doror.

FFopl ne Worcester Spy Nov 90
James E. Sheppard, who shot his wife in this
ciJy lat week, and who was arrested in Gam
yesterday by the half past two P. M. train from
Norwich. Quite a large crowd of spectators
assembled at the depot to see him. and the
police Office was also crowded. Sheppard an
peared perfectly cool and unconoerned and
bore the scrutiny OF the curious crowd without
he was arralgned before the police court dur
ing the afternoon, M. j. McC8fferty, Esq, ap-
guilty and waived an examination, and was
Inlly committed to await the action of the
Grand Jury on the third Monday in Decembsr.
lie was taken to jatl last evening.
Shephard apSears quiet, and seems perfectly
and does not manifest any particular emotion.
lie says IL Is all the work OF his wife's mother
against him and separated them. He said he
killed her because he loved her more than his
with him, and rather than see her in the pos,
session OF another he killed her. His intention
was, If he had found her alone, to Kill her and
him, and shoot himself but said he, "It would
have done no good; her friends would not let
me sleep In the same grave with her IL l had;
they spite me too much for that, so IL makes no
difference" He expresses regret that he did
did not kill himself Instead of going away after
the murder He says he has never spoken a
hard word to his wife, and has always sup
ported her when he had means, and that she
left him against her own will.
He said, II have done what wanted to to
her, and now suppose the law viii do what it
conversation IN regard to the mother of his
wife, saying that when he is dead he will come
back and haunt her; that she. shall have no
peace on earth. When told that II he Is hung 1t
cannot be for year after he is convicted, he
taid regretfully, "Then she will have year of
peace, but when am dead will haunt her."
He says that on Friday night, after the MUIR
der, he walked to Oxford Plain and slept in a
sawmill just below the plain, near where the
road goes under the railroad. Heate a little on
Saturday morning, at Mr.. Watson's, in Web
ster, and slept that and the next night in barns
he also ate little on Sunday morning, but,
with these two exceptions, he had no food from
Friday morning till on Monday, after he was
arrested. He had no definite end in view In
travelling, but went first one road and then
another, just as 1t happened.
He does not appear like q desperate man, and
those who have known him for years say he is
not smart" He can be easily imposed upon,
and Is usually good.natured, but has q subtle
spirit at bottom, and is inclined to revenge. He
was in the 18th Regiment, and on his return
from the war was married to woman named
Bonzey, from Milbury, but left her almost i'm
mediately, and subsequently obtained
divorce. He has been twice married to his
victim, and, taking all his matrimonial adven-
lures, has had but sorry time of 1t. He is evil
IDENTIFY careless of his future, and has especial
desire to live: but his course after the murder
and his conversation and manner give an i'm .
preston that he has not hrmness enough to
take his own life.