The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-07
CUT NOTHER'S THROAT.
Horrible Deed Of an Insane Man in
Vermont.
A HAMMER AND RAZOR USED TO
COMMIT A MURDER.

Takes His Own Life After His Mad Act
Graphic Story of the Affair by His
Young Son-1Iurderer Evidently Had
Designs Against Him Also-The Deed
st. Albans, VT. March 6.-Chester Il.
Collins, farmer living in Swanton,
killed his own mother and then cut his
throat about eight this morning. In
sanity was undoubtedly the cause of the
deed. A few days ago Collins moved to
his father-in-law's farm and rented his
own place. He took with him his moth
er, Dorothy Collins, aged 73. his SON
Leon. aged 13, q hired man and hired
girl, leaving his wife at the old home TO
care for his 16 year old daughter who
was i'll. He worried considerably about
the change and talked great deal about
it. The matter seemed to weigh on his
mind but no Importance was attached
to his uneasiness. This morning he held
family prayers and read a portion Of the
scriptures. After attending to a few
duties, he returned to the house. No one
saw the deed, but the story is best told
in the words Of his son. who escaped the
slaughter.
Said hei "Just as came in the door I
heard papa say, if Father Corliss should
come here today don't know what l
should do to him.
'He was in the dining room, had
grandma by the hand, and his head in
her lap. He had hammer in the other
hand and he looked awful wild and
was scared. Fila, grandma and / tried
to get him into the sitting room where
he could lie on the lounge. We tried 10
get the hammer away from him. but
could not. Finally we got him to go
into the sitting room. He still kept hold
of grandna's hand and when he sat
down on the lounge he made her sit in
the rocking chair beside him. Then he
called to me to come in and sit down
| beside him.
''I did not dare to. He said to me,
| together this morning When l did not
come he struck the table with the ham
mer, then struck his leg.
| He kept trying to get me into the
| room. | was so afraid did not dare to
go near HIM. His eyes locked awful
wild and knew he was going to kill us
when he said, we are going home togeth-
| er.
II old him had got to go out and
| water my colt and do the chores. !
went out to the barn and left papa and
grandmother in the sitting room. He
was lying down on the lounge and had
hold of grandma's hand While I was
out to the barn Ella, the hired girl came
to the barn door and oalled me. She
said papa wanted me to come right into
the house. While she was speaking, we
heard blow and heard grandma scream.
! l knew something had happened and
started for the neighbors.
they found Collins and his mother lying
in the sitting room. Both had their
throats cut from ear to ear, and Mrs. Col
Inns skull was crushed. Tightly clenched
in Collins right hand was q razor. In
| the corner was the hammer handle,
broken off close to the head. There was
evidence Of only a slight struggle. Col
| lins had evidently struck his mother
| frightful blow on the head with the
hammer while the old lady was sitting
| in the chair.
| That part of the room was splashed
with blood. He evidently cut her throat
there, and laid her down in front of ths
stove. His body was found SO close to his
mothers that their faces almost touched
1t appeared as though he had lain down
| beside her, and then cut his throat. Mr.
| Collins was a church member, and an
| honest industrious man. His father had
| fits of insanity and there is taint of
insanity running back through the
family.