The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-18
Shocking Murder at New WOrcesIer-A
VIE shot by her Husband.

At Worcester, last Friday afternoon, James Z.
Sheppard shot hls wife through tue temple
killing her instantly. They had not been living
happily for some time past, and, owing to his
haIsh and brutal treatment OF her, the wife had
lett her home at Lawrence, and taken
up her abode with her father Alexan.
der Weston, who resides in the village OF
New Worcester. When sheppard heard that his
wife had gone to her fathers he followed her,
and learning that she was nursing a netghbOr
who had been recently confined, Mrs. Curtis,
he went there, and some angry words passed
betW cen them. He lett her much inCensed, aud
on his ay 10 the city Of Worcester told a steam
ster whom he met that he was going to the
city 10 buy pistol to shoot his wife. He got
pistol, aud returned to New Worcester. Seeing
Curtis outside his own door, he asked HIM
whether his wife was in the house, and. being
answered in the affirmative, he entered, and
caught her by the nair and presented the pistol
to her bead.
Mrs Sheppard cried for help and Curtis en-
tereC and compelled Sheppard to desist. Mrs.
Sheppard then ran into the adjoining bedroom
where Mrs. Curtis lay sick, aud Sheppard fol-
lowed hec, boiling the door against Curtis. Cur
ts now, fearing that Mrs Shephard's life was in
danger, ran around outside tue house to get
through the window, but meantime Sheppard
had discharged the pistol at his wife. The
ball entered the bureau. The two women nov
iranticaliy screamed, and Sheppard assure Mrs.
Curtis that he should not harm her. He deliDe-
Iatel7 loaded the pistol again, and tired upou
his vile, This time she again escaped, the b all
entering the wall. Batlled so tar, and now
maddeDed, he loaded the pistol the tbird time,
and again delIbef ely took aim for her head.
The ball entered her forehead; she staggered
a few steps, and fell back uead. The murderer
| coollv left the house, and meeting an old man
on the road told him tnat he had killed his wife.
| He eDt TO his sisters aud told her what he
| had done, saying that he would shoot any man
! who might attempt to arrest him. His sister
! prevailed on hun 10 give her the pistol He
! then went 10 one or two stores in the village
! and told what he had done, adding that he
| would shoot the first man that attempted to
! arrest him. 1t is conceded that he murde cred
! his wife without being in any way under the
| influence of liquor, He very soon disappeared
from the neighborbood, and has been traced
only as far as Clappylle about five miles dis
taut from New Worcester.
The murdered woman was only seventeen
years OF age. Her maiden name was Laura
| Weston. Sheppard is about i've feet seven
| inches in height, and weighs 145 pounds. He
| is of French descent, and said TO be rather in
! telgent After serving awhile as a private in
| the var, he returned hone and married French
woman, but she lived with him only short
time. In a few months he privately married
Laura Weston, then only fifteen years OF age.
The first intelligence his parents received OF
| the marriage was the appearance of Sheppard
at his wIle's home, asking for her clothing. He
was then arrested for bigamy, but escaped con-
yictiOn through some nlormaliLy in the previ-
GUS marriage. Alter long solicitation Mr..
Weston consented to Shephards legal marriage
with his deughteT. After being married they
went to live at Lawrence, where Sheppard
work ked in mill; but he was arrested for adul
terry, again mansgiug to escape punishment
N. y. Tribune.