New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-28
THE MADNESS or A JEALOUS NAN.
SHOOTING HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF.
he CRIME OF RICHARD PUTNAM Al MERl
NEW-YORK.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRUSr.l


lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIRUHE.l
SYRACUSE, April 27.-Oscar }. Putnam shot
his wife near Maudan early last evening and then shot
himself Both dead. The couple had reached jordan
a village a few miles west Of here in the after
noon. Putnam hired horse aud wagon
aud started with his wife for Mundan'
village in Cayuga County only few miles away MIS-
Putnam appeared nervous and III at ease Arfer nuDg
few miles she evidently became frightened at her nus
bands conduct and stopped Mr.. and Mrs sturge' VINO
who were riding the opposite direction she SAID that
she was afraid OF her husband and she wished theh
to protect her. Putnam allowed Mrs. surge
10 get his conveyance and occupy the seat pet"ee
himself and wife, while Mr. Surge followed Dehlhu VII"
his horse and wagon. After they had gone short aus
tance Putnam stood up in his wagon, rhreW DIS
arms around his wife's neck. and fired
three times in quick succession. One bah lodged
in the elbow another the left caycle and the thd
behind the left The last was the fatal shot Put
nam then stopped his horse and told Mrs sturge TO
agh he had no further for her and advised MT
Sturge not advance He then turned his horse and
wagon about took paper containing powder from his
pocket, swallowed It's contents, and then re-
loaded his revolver He fired at hilnsel
three times Either shot fatal Mrs. Putnam hVed
a short time after her husbands death.
The horse became frightened and ran some distance
before he was stopped. Both bodies taken to Maui
dian where the inquest will be held. Upon Putnams
body was found among other papers. the following:
To whom It may concern: We wishtO be sent 10 Adrian
Michigan to sister, Mrs s. b. Smith, for burial where
our expenses will surely be paid We wish to be laid out
in these clothes This horse belongs to Mites
This was signed Oscar and wife.
In October 1882. Miss Watson met Putnam
in jamestown, where she canvassng,
He was clerk in the express office
fn the village and was receiving salary of $50 month
lie represented himself to Miss Watson worth $4,000
or S., 600 He was of passionate nature and his will
being much stronger than hers he exered powerful in
nuence over her. Before her marriage he
said that she did not love him.
but that he made violent prOtestatOns OF his love and
swore that would himself constantly TO make
her love him after their marriage that she consented 10
the wedding Believing that she would learn to love
him and would at any rate live happily with him, they
were married on July 90 1898
While they their wedding trip Mrs Putnam
chanced meet at way station gentleman
words Putnam witnessed the conversation, ana ater
The gentleman left used violent and abusive language TO
his wife From this dated the beginning OF that wretcned
existence which ended in the tragedy OF Saturday
night.
Things went from bad 10 till December, when
Putnam went to Adrian, Mich, where his sister,
widow, lives Mrs. Putnam then sought work as a bOok
canv and began business III Utca as Marian Gray
Haghts He threatened TO shoot her II she dd not wle
to friend then the house that she must leave
the place at once. The note written The couple
left Utica and to this city From here they went 10
Jordan on Saturday
Putnam was about thirty-siX, AMI I'm the West was
known as something OF desperate He Is sad To nave
been married before. Mrs Putnam was about thirty
three. and school teacher in former years
Her remains will he buried in Fulton, while those
OF the husband will rot disposed Of till his sister
rives from the West.