Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-05
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
Shocks the People Of Quiet
Village Of Clayton, Mass.
Edgar Plant Shoots Wife and Slabs
Infant Child, Killing Both.
Oeiies Arrest, But When Escape is impossible
Sends Bullet Through Heart.

Great harrington, Mass, May A.
One of the most horrible tragedies ever
committed in Berkshire county, was
enacted, this forenoon, in the village OF
| Clayton. when Edgar Cecil Plant. aged
20 years, shot and killed his young wife,
| stabbed his infant child, and then,
three hours later, put a bullet through
his own heart.
flant was the son of S. j. Plant.
superintendent Of the CLAYTON White
Brick and Terra Gotta Works, work
ing for his father as a moul,ier The
fiants came from Toronto. Canada
about three years ago
The murdered woman, whose maiden
name WAS Ada j. Sanford came there
with her parents. about two years ago.
and ever since that time she and young
Plant have been on terms of intimacy.
This intimacy eliminated in the birth
of a child. April Il. and the following
day. under pressure brought to bear by
the girls father. Plant was forced to
marry her.
The birth Of the child was displeasing
to Plant, and since that time he has
shown his displcasure in his changed
manner toward his wife His parents
were opposed to the match. and imme-
diatcly after their marriage they went
10 board with the Sanfords, where they
remained nearly two weeks. Then
they removed to the house of Daniel
Condor. where they have boarded
since.
This morning. the girls parents de-
cided that the young couple and baby
could come to live. with them. and sent
their domestic to Condon's house 20 in
form them of the fact Plant. his wife
baby and hired girl, started for Mr.
Sanford's house, taking a short cut
through the woods.
After going a short distance. the
wife discovered that she had left her
shawl behind. and the hired girl was
sent after it, 1t was while the latter
was absent that the fiendish crime was
committed. and no one will ever know
the exact circumstances that led up to
it.
When the servant returned. she was
Mortified to find Mrs. Plant lying on
the ground. with three bullet shots in
her back between the shoulder blades.
and by her side lay the baby. stabbed
four times with dirk
After committing the deed young
Plant. revolver in hand. went to the
factory, told his father what he had
done. and inquired for Harry Lyall. the
ook-keeper. against whom he had
grudge. He was unable to find Lyall.
and went to the bank of the Konkapot
river where he laid down and ate some
food that he induced Il boy to bring
him.
News of the tragedy spread and a
crowd of excited townspeople attempted
to capture the murderer. whose where
abouts had been learned. With his re-
volver he kept the crowd back.
Three Great harrington officers ar
rived. Plant threatened to kill the first
man who attempted to lay a hand on
him. but the officers closed in upon
him. and. seeing that capture was in
evitable. he fired bullet into his left
side. fell to the ground and rolled down
the bank into the river.
Deputy Sheriff Chopper called to him
to come out of the water. to which
Plant replied. II can't. I'm dead and
disappeared beneath the surface When
the deputy sheriff took him out, mo-
ment later. he was dead.
Plants mother is an invalid and all
knowledge of her sons terrible crime
has been carefully kept from her. She
was taken to Toronto. this afternoon.
by her husband, in order that the Sc
cret could be more closely guarded.