The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-13

Joseph Massey Shoots Mary Lafaye and
Then Kills Himse1f-The Girl Was
Coming from Church-The Murderer
and Suicide Was Rejected suitor.
QUINCY, Mass, March 12.-Unrequited
love and jealousy were the causes Of
a probable murder and suicide at Quincy
this morning. The principals were Mary
Victoria Lafave, a comely lass, IS years
old, and Joseph Massey, aged about 80
years.
The girl, who is devout chuoh Imem-
ber, had been to 8 o'clock mass at the st.
Johns church, and was returning home
unattended. When she reached the cor
ner of Hancock and Elm streets, Massey
| who had been waiting for her, followed
her down Elm street toward her home.
Finally he was seen to step up near her
and without any warning draw revolver
and fire three shots in rapid success sion,
which were followed by heart rending
scream from the girl.
The whole affair came SO suddenly
| upon the eye witnesses that they were
| for moment apparently paralyzed and
| paid no attention to Massey, who, after
| doing the shooting did not stop to see
the result but turned and walked leisure
| ly through a private way toward Bigelow
street. He had gone about 200 feetwhen
the crowd which had gathered shouted
"Stop that man. He has shot a girl
| Several men started for him, but before
he could be overtaken he placed the re-
volver to his head and fired, the ball en-
tering just above and back of the right
ear. Without word he fell over on a
bank of snow and expired in about ten
minutes.
Medical Examiner Gilbert soon arrived
and gave the remains in charge of I'm
dertaker Hail. Meanwhile, willing hands
took the girl tenderly and carried her to
her home, a short distance away, where
the doctors made an examination. They
found all three shots had taken effect,
one passing through the left wrist, and
the other two entering the middle of the
back, little to the left of the spinal col
umn, between the ninth and eleventh
ribs, fracturing the ninth rib. One of
the bullets lodged in the left lung, and
one in the abdomen. The patient was
very weak, with scarcely any pulse, and
no attempt was made to probe for the
balls. The physicians pronounced it a
very serious case, and do not have much
hope of her recovery.
The girl was the second Oldest of the
family Of II children of Alexander La
Fave and lived with her parents in q
house on Union street, being employed
in the shoe mandatory of T. A.
Whicher & Co., directly opposite her
home. She was quiet, unassuming
girl and a general favQrite with her
shopmates, who are shocked at the terri
BILE affair.
Massey, the perpetrator of the crime
had, up to within nine months, been
employed at the same factory. He paid
the girl considerable attention and upon
several occasions called upon her at her
home. He was apparently desperately
in love with her and urged her to be-
come his wife.
His love, however, was not reciprocal
ed and the girl in every way possible
discouraged his attentions. Some nine
months ago, Massey went to Marlboro to
work, coming to Quincy frequently Sat-
urday nights and remaining until Mon
day morning. He had made the threat
that if the LaFave girl did not marry
him she should not marry any one else,
as he would shoot her first, which threat
he put into execution this morning He
came to Quincy Saturday night from
Marlboro, and stopped with friend.
This morning, knowing the object of his
affections would attend early morning
mass, he waited for her at the place
above mentioned.
Massey's body is still at Undertaken
Halls and up to late hour had not been
claimed by any friends. although some of
those who called say he has sister liv-
ing in Globe village, Fall River.