The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-09
SHOT BY HIS WIFE.
The Terrible Calamity Which Befel a
Wealthy Baltimore Family.

A Baltimore despatch gives the particulars
OF the shooting OF Mr. Lewis Lawrence Con-
rad, a prominent lawyer of Baltimore, which
was briefly reported yesterday. Mr.. and Mrs.
Conrad we're living at Montmorency, the home
Of Mrs Worthington. Mrs. Conrads moth
er, when the tragedy occurred. Mrs.
Worthington was awakened about o'clock in
the morning by her daughter, who ran into
her room, crying "Mother, have killed my
husband! Oil my God, have killed him!"
Mrs. Worthington sprang to her feet, and
rushing to her daughter, discovered that she
had in cher hand a small revolver. Mrs.
Worthington's shrieks brought her son, John
Tolly Worthington, to the scene, and together
they proceeded to Mr.. Conrad's room. They
found that gentleman lying upon the bed, his
head in pool of blood, and large wound in
the left side Of his head, from which the blood
was slowly oozing. A messenger was dis
patched for DIR. j. N. Dickson, at Bolster
town, who arrived at the house soon after.
The doctor saw that life was extinct and upon
examination found that death had been instan-
taneous. The ball had entered the left side OF
the head, about an inch and half above the
ear and had penetrated to the centre OF the
brain. The news OF the terrible occurrence
spread rapidly, and by daylight a number of
friends and acquaintances had called to ascer-
tain the truth of the report and condole with
the family. Mrs. Conrad had in the mean
tiuie been removed to another room in vio-
lent state of Mysteries. She was perfectly ra-
tional, however, and gave lucid and clear
statement, as far as her excited condition
would permit, going to show that the shooting
may have been accidental The lady has been
suffering since last January with acute neu-
ralgia OF the stomach and bowels which at
stated periods seemed almost to derange her
mind. She stated to the doctors that last
night her suffering was so great that she had
resolved upon suicide as the only method OF
relief and to that end had taken to bed with
her small revolver, and secreted the weapon
beneath her pillow. Between IL and O'Clock
she said, her sufferings became unbearable,
and she seized the pistols, resolved to end her
life. In turning 1t around. however, the
weapon exploded and killed her husband.
She does not remember whether her husband
awoke or not, but from the position OF the
body it is thought that Mr.. Conrad was awsk-
ened by his wife's movements and rose up
and encouraged her to remain quiet The ad-
monition coming suddenly upon her 1t Is
thought startled the lady, and in her excited
and nervous condition the weapon exploded.
A coroner's jury returned verdict that the
death was from accident. This verdict, how
ever, is not in accord with the views OIL many
people Ia the nsighborhood, who believe that
Mrs. Conrad, in a moment OF temporary in
sanity, pointed the pistol at her husbands
head and fred. There is streak of insanity
running through branches of the family, John
Tolly, Johns cousin, having committed suicide
two years ago, and Ned Hansen, another
cousin, having murdered Mr.. Charles White
in fit of insanity a few months ago. Mrs.
Conrad was once a handsome woman, but is
now emaciated by continued sickness. Mr.:
Conrad was born July 3, 1899. 10 the State OF
Mississippi He entered the Confederate
army at the breaking out of the war, aud was
for some time captain on Gen. Buckner's stall.
His father was Charles NJ. Conrad, at one time
Secretary of War under President Fillmore,
Mr.. Conrad's grandfather was a nephew OF
Gen. Washington, and his grandmother was
Nelly Gusts, daughter of Mrs. Washington.
Mr.. Conrad owned large estates in New Or
leans and was very wealthy. He married Miss
Worthington about 13 years ago, the issue OF
which union has been one child, boy about
IL years of age. Their domestic life has always
been happy one. The Worthington family is
one of the most prominent in the county, and
the news OF the tragedy has shocked every one
who has heard it.