The midland journal., 1894-01-05
Wife Murder.

murder occurred on sunday morning
last in Media.
During temporary fit OF insanity
produced by the grip, from which be
has been suffering for several weeks.
Professor Swithin G. Sbortlidge of
Media, Pa, shot and killed his wife,
about 10 o'clock Sunday morning.
Professor Shortlidge, who is one
of Media's most prominent and res
pected citizens, had for the past two
weeks been practically confined to
the house with serious attack of
the grip, and DR.. D. + HRine, the
physician, notified the family and
Mrs. Shortldge that the illness had
unbalanced his mind. His condition
was not regarded as dangerous,
however.
At 9.45 O'Clock Sunday morning
Prof Shortlidge dressed himself in
his night garment, together with his
trousers, coat, vest and shoes. and
throwing on an overcoat, left the
Media Academy baildlng with the
intention of killing himself. Mrs.
Shortlidge, realizing his intentions,
hastily dressed herself and followed
her husband Mrs. Shortlidge's
mother, who resided temporarily
with them at the Academy, advised
her daughter not to accompany her
husband, fearing that he might do
her injury during a fit OF mental
weakness.
Notwithstanding this caution of
her mother Mrs. Shnrtidge followed
and overlook her husband. They
walked for some distance through the
town. when suddenly in fit of acute
insanity il is believed he drew re-
volver and fred three balls into his
wife's head. who instantly fell dead
on the pavement.
Two men who were a short dis
tance away, hearing the reports.
turned suddenly and saw Mrs. Short.
lidge lying on the pavement and her
husband standing over her They
ran up and found the husband calling
his wife's name.
"Marie. Marie, speak to me. speak
to me. What have 1 done? What
have done?" He then threw him.
self upon the body of the PROSTATE
woman, and exclaimed: "Come back,
Marie come back to me,' supporting
the dying woman's head with one
arm. Constable James McKniff, was
quick to reach the spot He found
the woman dead and at once took
Professor Shortlidge into custody.
The Professor was married to Miss
Marie Dixon Jones only six weeks
before the tragedy. Mrs. Shortlidge
was SO years old. and the professor
is about 55.
FOUNDER OF MEDIA ACADEMY.
Professor Shortlidge founded the
Media Academy for Young Men 10
1875, which afterwards become
famous as a preparatory institution
for Harvard Yale, Princeton. Uni
versity of Pennsylvania and other
universities throughout the United
States, and also because Of the great
number of athletes, including foot
ball PLAYERS and base ball men who
received their preparatory education
their. Vail and Knipe of the Univer.
sity; Brewer and Wrestling of Har.
yard; Janeway and Holly of Prince
ton; Wells and Robinson of La
fsyette. all wera students at Media
as were Wolf. Stratton and Taylor of
Lewisyille base ball club. In former
years the school has carried as many
as 140 young men and boys, prepar-
ing them for business. classical. poly.
technic and military training Prof
Shortiidge is graduate of Harvard
University. where he received the
degrees of A. B., and A. NJ. He
has an interesting family of FIVE
children. all of whom have been pro.
vided for by relatives. He has three
brothers. William Shortlidge. pre-
sident of the Implement Dealers
Association of Pennsylvania a we'll
known business man of Bellefonte;
Professor Joseph Shortlidge Of Media
and Mayor Evan G., Shortlidge of
Wilmington, Del.
The dead wife's family about 81
wears ago lived in Elkton. 49,
nou,oF tba. .Au many
-, So % we" ..n will remember
''' lie of Quinsey Adams Jones.
Mrs Lewis wife of s. W. Lewis
for many years R. R. ticket agent at
Rising Sun whose maiden name was
Shortlidge. is a cousin of Professor
Shortlidge.