Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-03-12
"A HORRIBLE DEED.
a SWant0n Man Kills His
Mother and Himself.

He was Insane When He Committe
| the Deed. He Crushed Her Skul
| with Hammer, Then Cuts He
II Throat with Razor and Then Hi
i Own.
| Last Friday there was terrible ex
citement over the horrible tragedy en-
acted in Swanton that morning.
/ Chester II. Collins, a Well-to-d,
farmer, in fit of insanity murdered
his mother and then committed sui
eide on the farm OF his father-in-law
d. G. Corliss, four miles from Swan
ton village, onto which he was jus
moving.
! Collins had complained of not feel
ing well for some time and that morn
ing after coming down to breakfas
acted Queerly and everything was done
to cheer him up. AT the farm at thai
time were Collins, his mother, boy
thirteen years old and Miss Wash.
burn, a hired girl.
Before breakfast he said prayers the
same as usual and after breakfast read
from the Bible. Afterwards he went
ont and helped hitch upa team.
When he returned to the house he
had hammer with him and when his
dog came near him he struck it with
the hammer. His mother seeing this
asked him to lie down. which he did.
Then he took hold Of her hand and
commenced to hug and kiss her, say
ing "Mother, there are three of us 60
ing home today" Leon, his son, be-
came frightened and made an excuse
for going out to do the chores. He
then told Miss Washburn to call in the
boy, which she went to do. She had
no more than gone out of the room
when she heard a terrible scream from
Mrs. Collins. Miss Washburn, then
hurried the boy off to neighbours.
Several Of the neighbors came inn
and when they opened the
sitting room door where the deed was
done sickeniDg sight met their eyes.
Mrs. Collins was lying upon the floor
in the center of the room with her
skull crushed and her throat cut from
ear to ear. While beside her was her
son, SO near that their faces touched. |
His throat was cut from ear to ear
and the razor was firmly gripped in
his hand. The floor was covered with
blood, and the walls, table and chairs
we're spattercd with it.
Collins must have committed the
awful deed when his mother was sit
ing in the chair, as the hammer was
broken from the handle and lay beside
he chair. Evidently Mrs. Collins
,ried to leave the room as her foot
'teps were visible in the trail OF the
blood which streamed from her throat
o the floor.
Collins was Al years old and was
noted for his peaceable and affection
tie disposition towards his family.
He was successful and prosperous
armer. He had wife and two chill
lren, aged 16 and ID. He was anx-
Gus that his children should receive
good education and still not be
way from home SO he leased his farm,
! where he formerly lived was six
niles from the schools at st. Adams.
The wife and daughter would prob
bly, have met the same fate il they
ad been at the new place, but owing
. illness they had not left the former
arm.
There is a strain Of insanity in Col
MS family, his father having died
fter being insane several years and
n aunt took her own life. Collins
as since his youth been at times a
tile "off."
There was large crowd Of people
round the place where the deed was
and much excitement pre-
Tiled. Everyone was allowed to
ew the scene as neither body had
zen removed. The regular form OF !,
! inquest was held by the anth0ri- !
rs. Then the remains were turned Z
,er 20 Mr.. Corliss. The funeral was ), :
I'D Sunday. !,