Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-09
Miseella,,eons.
A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR MURDERS
HIS WIFE.


The English papers give accounts Of an
extraordinary murder committed by the
Rev. L. S. Watson, M. A., for many years
headmaster of the Proprietary Grammar
school, ct Stockwell, England. He lived
with his wife and female servant, named
Ellen Pyne, who has lived with them for
three years. in large house in st. Martins
road at the back of Stockwell crescent.
From the statement of the young woman,
it seems that on Sunday evening last, Oct.
8, she left the house. and did not return
until near 10 o'clock. When she left, Mr..
Watson and his wife were sitting in the
library on the first floor. When she re-
turned her master told her that her mis-
tress had left for the country, and would
be absent five or six days. She was lit
tie surprised at this communication, but
made no comment, and from her state
ment did not seem TO think much about
it. Mr.. Watson retired to rest at the
usual time. No disorder was apparent in
the room. but the next morning the girl
called the attention of her master to
large dark stain on the carpet and floor at
the library door, when he replied with
great GOODNESS, 'Oh, there was an acci-
dent last night l split decanter of port
wine there, and wiped it up as well as |
Couid. All tudS udy uc StcIicu Justly cil-
gagged in putting his books in order and
writing. b
| 1t turned out that, having committed the
murder, the course he had determined
upon was to poison himself with prussic
ascid, and the subsequent inquiries of DIR.
Rugg have resulted in obtaining the in
formation that the object of his walk on
Tuesday was to buy the drug. At the first
chemists shop at which he applied, al
though well known, the proprietor refused
: to serve him, but it appears he must have
obtained some kind of mixture, for on his
. return home he told the girl that if any
thing happened to him in the night she
was to send at once for Dr. Rugg.
: Whether he made any attempt on his life
then is not known, but if he did it did not
succeed, and on the 18th he rose as usual
and wrote some letters, which he left upon
the dressing-table, and which are now in
the possession of the police, one Of them
being addressed ITO the Surgeon" He
then retired to bed again, and about IL
O'Clock the servant, in great haste. came
to summon DR.. Rugg, saying that her
master was in fit of apoplexy. In q
short time DR.. Rugg was at the house, and
on being admitted the servant put letter
into his hand, which was to the following
effect:
''In a fit of fury have killed my wife.
Often and often l have endeayored to re-
strain myself, but my rage oyercame me,
and | struck her down. Her body will be
found in the little room off the library. /
hope that she will be buried as becomes
lady OF birth and position. She is an Irish
lady, and her name is Anne. The key
viii be found in letter on the table,
| And then follows name which has been
erased. but which is apparently a surname.
On seeing this letter DIR. Rugg immediate
ly rushed up stairs to the bedside Of Mr..
Watson. whom he found in very weak
state and speeches., apparently suffering
from violent poison, which had not taken
effect. He administered sedative, and
| proceeded at once to the chamber indcat-
ed, in company with the servant girl.
There II horrible spectacle confronted
| them. IIuddled up in corner, her knees
touching her chest, her hands convulsiye-
| ly clenched, and her head fallen over to
her chest, was the body of the unhappy
lady, her clothes saturated with blood
which still seemed to ooze from the body
in dark. almost purple pool. On exam
lining her DR.. Rugg found her head smash
ed in, and in places beaten almost to a
jelly.
MI NatsoH STduuaIeu ID. a. aC Iflnity
College, Dublin, in 1888; has published
several volumes of translations from the
classical authors, including Lucretius.
Xenophon, Sallust, Quinctilian, Florus,
Justin, &C., and has written Life of
George Fox" published in 1860; 'I4ife
of Richard Person. " and 'Sons of Strength,
Wisdom and Patience" in 1861 Life
of Bishop Warburton-;" 1.-The Story OF
William Wallace !" work on 1.-The Rea-
soning Power in Animals' editions of
Pope's Homer's "Iliad" and Odyssey, in
Bohn's illustrated Library :" and small
annotated editions of Sallusts ''Catiline''
and ..Jugurtha,n and Terrence's "An-
dran 1t is said that he has been for
some time engaged on history of the