Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-29
The DeIusions of spiritualism.
A HrsBAsD Consents TO HIS WIFE's SUI
eide AND WATCHES HEB DIE.

Z 4 HUSBAND CONSENTS TO MS w ifE SLi-
eide AND WATCHES HER DIE.
II Is leaking out at Westield that less than
six miles from the town a tragedy was enact
eli last week which in fanaticism and lack Of
moral responsibility resembles the POcasset
child marder when shocked New England a
few wears ago. Just over the Montgomery
line, on a lonely road winding around Iekoa
Mountain, has Tweed for nearly 25 years a
Yankee farmer named Isaac Bronson and his
wife. The small farm has been their chief
support but of late years some of their fam
ily of seven children, ranging IN age from Il
years to two weeks, have fOnnd employment
at the Salmon Falls paper mills. two or three
miles from their home. Bronson and his
wife were firm believers in spiritualism and
he has been "A sort of elder in the sect and an
exp0under ofthe faith at their gatherings. At
his house the believers frequently assembled
Bronson is about 80 years of age, tall, with a
gaunt figure and face which expressed stOlid
reliance on faith and fate. His wife was
some ten years his junior, and, although of a
far more happy turn of mind was a strong
believer in the spiritualistic creed. One night
last week. as the husband calmly tells the
story, she came to his bedside and asked him
If he would fell very bad or consider she was
sight of God if she should free her soul from
its earthly bonds aud go to the spirit land and
oft return to visit him. He told her he could
put no obstacle in her way to higher
life, although he should greatly miss her bod
lily presence. Soon she informed him that, de-
string to be released from the pain and
Affections of this life, she had taken a
quantity of Paris green and in few hours
her spirit would be free. She asked that he
would stay near her until her soul departed,
and all the long night he sat by the bedside
Of the dying woman alone in his grief and
anguish of mind, but upheld by his firm faith.
In few hours the woman was suffering
intensely, but none of the children were
called from their beds. In the gray of the
early morning it became apparent that dis
solution was fast approaching and the
husband fastened to the house of his nearest
neizhbor. nearly mile away, and asked the
woman to come with him to witness the
departure of his wife's spirit As soon as
the state OF affairs was learned the neighbors
hastened to Bronson's house, the children
were aroused and messengers sent for
medical aid, but long before a physician
could reach the spot the woman was dead.
Medical Examiner Waterman made an
autopsy, which showed the woman died from
indicate his belief that it was administered by
her own hand, When the husband was
asked why he did not do something to save
his wife's life. he calmly repeated, "Her
spirit was her own, her spirit was her own"
Only once did the husband show any signs of
emotion, and that was when he was plainly
told some people might look upon him as q
murderer. For an instant fire flashed from
his cold eyes, his face assumed a peculiar
expression, and his form Strengthened up to
its full height. But it was only for a
moment, and then falling back into his usual
calmness he coldly observed "If they think
that, wish they would hang me at once -
The burial took place day or two later and
was attended by many Spirituslists from the
mountain hamlets, who spoke nothing but
praise of the dead wife and mother, although
COMMUNICATING the little two-weeks old
bsbe.-SprIng6eid Republican,.