Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-17
A MOST BRUTAL MURDER.
A Woman's Head Horribly Gashed with
an Axe.

an Axe.
DEDHAM, Mass, July l3.-For the sec
ond time within less than two months Ded-
ham has been the scene of brutal murder.
At about 2:30 o'clock this afternoon George
Nage, an lrshman residing in n double
tenement house. corner of Bussey street and
Mill lane, East Dedham, borrowed au axe
of his landlords wife, Catherine Burns, for
the purpose of cutting some kindling wood
He cut the wood and carried it into the
cellar kitchen of his part of tho house and
arranged it neatly in the cooking range
pouring some kerosenco oil over it, He
then came out and engaged in conversation
with Mrs. Burns While he was talking
his wife, Belle returned from Koegan' S
provision market with some purchases and
passed in. A few moments after
Nagle followed his wife in. mo.
ment or two after Mrs. Burns heard the
sound of blows, followed by heavy fall.
She quickly hurried to the open doorway
and looked in There lay before the stove
with her head split open by the blow Of an
axe the unfortunate Mrs. Nuglo. From
tho gaping wound on her head streams of
blood were gushing, forming little rivulets
and pools on the rough board floor.
Nagle was not in sight. After striking the
murderous blow he threw down the axe and
passed up stairs.
Mrs. Burns hurried to the grocery store
of Selectman Thomas Z. Murray, where she
told Of Nage's mad deed. A few minutes
after George Magic, the murderer, came
rushing into the same store. He was bleod-
ing profusely from several wounds on his
head aud his clothing, face and hands wer5
soaking with blood from his own wounds
and the life blood of his wife. He accos ei
Selectnan Murray with II don't know
what is the matter with me. | have killed
my wife. Come down and see her. "
! Murray went with him to the scene OF the
| murder situated about 100 feet from tho
store. On reaching the door Murray urged
Nagle outside. This he refused to do, but
he pushed among the crowd that had at that
time collected about the premises As soon
as Nagle again saw the dead body of his
wife he began to cry and exciam, ooh my
God oh my God why did | do it, oh why
did do it, '
Selectmun Murray imm adiately despatch
ed parties to notify the police and then he
and William ]. Hayes, one Of the crowd,
took Nagle 10 the office of DR.. Babcock
where the wounds on his head were dressed
In explanation of how he received the q
or more cuts on his head Nagle said he madt
them with an axe after he had killed
Belle as he wanted to die too.
After his wounds were dressed Officer
Martin j. Barrett and Special officer jane
j. Gaffney took Nagle to the Dedham lock
up where he will be kept until he has hear
ing
On the head Of the murdered woman ar
five gaping wound, other sufficient to hav,
| killed her. Al, five blows were made will
the sharp edge -.- and each cut through
the skull bone INTO the brain The first o
the blows had evidently been delivered u
she was in the act OF tightening the fire a
her stifTened fingers held partly burne
match.
Nagle was man much addicted to th
Use OF strong drink. only two weeks ag'
his wife paid bis fine and secured his releas
from the Dedham house OF correction, wher
he had been sent for ~ days on a charge o
drunkenness. There is little doubt that tn
drink curse was what caused him to illl hi
wife, although it is laid there is a toint 0
insanity in the family on his mother
side.