The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-01-01

The Murderer, After His Insane Act,
Throws Himself Upon the Body of His
Victim aud Calls Upon Her to Come
Back to Him.
MEDIA, Pa, Jan t--professor Swithin
c. Shortlidge, principal of the Media
Academy for Boys, shot and instantly
killed his wife yesterday while promen-
aiding on one Of the principal streets of
this city. The couple had been married
but a month, and the only cause that can
be assigned for the deed is temporary in
sanity from the effects of recent attack
of the grip, combined with business re
verses. There were no witnesses TO the
murder who were near enough to hear any
conversation that may have preceded it,,
and Professor Shortlidge has been totally
irrational ever siuce IL occurred.
All that can be learned, until he re
covers his reason, is that the couple went
out for walk during the morning, and
that when mey had reached a point on
jefferson street a few minutes walk from
their home the frenzied man suddenly
drew pistol and fired six shots in rapid
succession into the woman's head. Then
he threw himself upon her PROSTATE form,
and when those who saw the tragedy
| reached the scene she was beyond all
! human aid, and he was frantlcally call
| ing to he to come back to him.
The victim was Marie Dixon Jones be
| fore she married the man who killed her.
| She was about 70 years old, and very
| handsome Professor Shortlidge had been
| married before and has three children by
| his first wife, who died four years ago.
| Within week after his second marriage
| he became seriously i'll with the grip. His
young wife nursed him faithfully, and on
| Saturday he was well enough to go out
| for short walk. Yesterday he started
| out again Something in his manner
caused his wife to volunteer to go with
| him. and arm in arm they left the house
They took up a course toward East Media
which led them through a bit of wood
| land on jefferson street. When in the
midst of this they were seen by several
people to stop suddenly, and what ap
peared to be a brief struggle took place
! Then there was a sharp report, followed
| by another and another.
| Among those who were near enough tt
! see and hear this was Chief of Police Nc
| Kniff, who quickly ran TO the spot Wher
he reached it Mrs, Shortlidge was lying or
her face with the blood flowing in torrents
from six CHASTITY wounds in her head
Across her PROSTATE form lay her hus
band, shrel5ing and crying to her to comG
back and speak to him.
As McKnifr reached his side ShortlidgC
sprang to his feet and ordered him TO &C
away. McKniH attempted to seize the
frantic man. but the latter eluded him
aud again threw himself upon the body
of the woman he had killed. Grasping
- L /. l. I
tim in his hands he rained kiss after kiss
upon the lips of the dying woman, pune
tuating them with terms of endearment
and entreaties that she should speak tc
him. McKnilf first secured the pistol anC
then gently dr.w the murderer away from
his victim, Just as the last breath of hel
young life huttered from her lips.
Tender hands picked up the mutilateC
body and carried it away, while McKnif
took the murderer TO Jail After taking
few steps Professor Shortlidge raeled ant
would have fallen from sheer weakness,
had not the chief of police caught him.
was found necessary to convey him TO iai
in carriage, where he continues 30 ray,
about his victim, and to entreat her tC
come to him.
Professor Shortlidge came to Media il
1874, and founded the school of which ht
is the head He comes from an old Quake
family and is "A graduate of Harvard
| where he was the recipient of houoIg. anC
a noted athlete. Upon leaving Hartar,
he embraced journalism, but gave it VI
to open a boarding school for boys in Ken
nett Square. From there he came to Me
dia. his school here has gained an en-
yiable reputation as preparatory insti
tute, and many a collegiate has passed
through its course OF study. Financially
it has been a success, but its founder hal
been unfortunate in other ways, and be
cause of his financial embarrassments tn,
school has been in the hands of a receiver
for some time past, although Professo
Shortledge remained at the head of thu
educational department He has alway
enjoyed the respect and confidence of tht
people of Media in the highest degree.
Mrs. Shortlidge came here from Brook
lyn about four years ago with her mother
Mrs. Marie Dixon Jones, who attained
great deal of notorety there by reason o.
a suit for libel which she brought agains
the Brooklyn Eagle, and which grew ou
of charges made against her by tina
journal in connection with hospital for
merly conducted by her in Brooklyn. Th
deceased was also the the niece of the Rev
Henry Dixon Jones, who was formerl.
pastor of Christ church in this city