The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
DOUBLE MURDER HER PLAN
SERVANT USES AN AVE ON MR.. AND
MRS. ALANSON DIXON.
They Lave in stamford and wrre Attacked In
ned by Lizzie Fieinm,nE, Their Servant.
who Was Unaound Ncntniiy-A Daughter
uI.rt In I'm atrnEuIc-Mrs. nlhOn MAY Die.

NhNN sN AN'
STAMFORD. Conn, Oct. l6.-Whilo Mr.. and
Mrs. Alanson C.. Dixon were asleep last night
their servant girl. Lizzie Flemming, who has
mover been quite sound in mind, tried to kill
them both with an axe in n sudden attack OF
murderous mania. Before she was overcome
and disarmcd she had fractured the skulls OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Dixon and slightly wounded their
2o-ycar.old daughter Cynthia. Mrs. Dixon Is
likely to die. The tlomming woman was cap
turcd in hiding this morning, and is now in n
private asylum.
Twelve years ago Lizzie Flcmming came to
live with the Dixons, at 10 Prospect street.
Previously shc had been housekcepcr for Mrs.
Isaac Dean. Mrs. Dixon's aunt, who had taken
her from an institution. She had always been
somewhat queer in her ways; what the village
folk call 4 natural" and was much given to
muttcrinSs TO herself as she worked, but she
was AN efficient servant. and nobody who knew
her supposed that she would ever be any better
or any worse mentally than she had
always been. Years ago she had what the
doctors said were epilcptic attacks, but
these had almost entirely disappeared.
Her one outbreak OF late years was to run away
from her employers house and hide in a swamp
for a day and a night. On being discovered and
brought back home she fell into II sort OF stupor,
in which she remained for several hours. At
that time there was suspicion, however, that
the stupor was n sham. She Is now about 80
years old. short, spare. and very sincwy.
At the first the Dixons took her moro out Of
pity than anything else, and because, in her
fcoble- minded way. she had been devoted to
Mrs. Dean. who was moving out Of town. II
they did not take her in. they thought. no one
else would. and the apparently harmless
creature would have to go to some asylum or in.
stitution. AS soon as she became accustomed
to her new surroundings, however. Lizzie
proved herself OF value. She was strong,
willing. efficient about the house, and much
attached 10 the family, particularly Mrs.
Dixon and Miss Dixon. At the same time
she was set in her ways as she herself
used to say. and took the privileges Of an old
family servant in doing things in her own
manner. II her mnlady progressed, 1t did so
imperceptibly. Beyond her habit of muttering
to herself and her peculiar lacking expression.
there was nothing to indicate that she was not
as sound as others. People who did not know
much about her used to warn the Dlxons. call
ing to their attention the old saying that q
crazy person, no matter how mild. is always
likely to become dangerous without warning.
The pixons took no stock in this,
Lizzie Is as harmless as a lamb" they would
S Body. - sho would never 'A'nk OF hurting any
Yesterday the girl seemed to be particularly
cheerful. She went about her work whist!ing
through her teeth, as her habit was when she
was in good spirits. About 9 o'clock in tho
evening she went up to her room in the tower
of the house. Underneath her room. at the front
OF the second floor, is the room where Mr.. and
room. ami in the rear Lester Dixon. Mr.. Dixon's
nephew. sleeps. The family went to bed about
When the desire of killing first came upon her
will not be known until she is in q condition to
that she was still the weak-minded and harmless
half-wit when she went UPSTAIRS, and that 1t
was while she was preparing for bed that there
came within her brain tho mysterious change
that made her in purpose a murderess.
This would appear from the fashion in which
work. She had half disrobed. Around her
neck she had tied a white apron. for no con-
being spotted with blood. About midnight she
went down to the cellar. got the axe. an old and
done much wood chopin :. she knows how to
handle an axe. She wens TO the front room 80
quietly that neither OF the s!eepers there was
Mr.. Dixon sleeps on the outside 81 the bed. He
f sMSSf n wssn h ihS 'e WiaSS the fna fr "a hf instinct e,o OF o ona
suddenly aroused from sleep he started to raise
S sors Ibis sIG enHcE E III n q be- crushing S,g hing G i" ssTO Onsi the he
he was, he was still sufficiently master Of his
senses to retain the idea of self-iefence. He
threw up his hand Just in time TO fend n second
blow which almost cut his fingers OF. and swing
ing out his arms he caught and ~grappled with a
at him again. But the blow came at too close
quarters to do any harm.
though his head reelcd from the effects OF the first
blow and his right hand WAS useless. he wrapped
t n,s "flh' tho fop hall. .hf As sy yet he had ann NOT Tr recosni 2ei
the wielder OF the axe. and supposed that it was
a burglar who had tried to murder him.
In the hallway the struggle began with re-
newed vigor. The crazy servant had got her
right arrn free, and. shifting her grasp on the
freely. was choppins ut Mr.. Dixon. While he
warded as best he might. catching at her wrist
with his left hand. II was an unequal struggle,
however, in the matter OF endurance, the Grip
PIED and weakened man against the wiry wo-
man % miebt Fave Ws'h ki ieS i hnFy o OBJ %nslH' there nHe S SGt
for the help Of his daughter. who. hearing the
sound OF tho fight; ran out of her room. Her
Keep away. Cynthia" he gasped. you'll be
A chopping drive of the axe barely missed his
shoulder, descending with such force that II
wounded him over the left knee. Cynthia did
the insane woman. Up went the axe again and
came down straight at The girls head but her
stayed it that, though the blunt edge laid open
the scalp, Cynthia was not felled. but seized the
axe helve and wrenchcd at 1t with all hei
MLizzie! Lizzie!" she cried. do you want te
At The sound Of her voice the woman let go Of
her weapon and pushed herself loose. For the
first time then Mr.. DIXON realized with whom h,
Yon, Lizzie!" he cried. What does thi,
meant
confusedly up to her head.
Il don't know" she muttored. 81 didn'
know 1t was you. What did ! do T.
Then there came back to Mr.. Dixon's mint
the sound that had awakened him. All hi
%strugsle had been to force his assailant out Q
sickened with terror al the thought that hi
wife might have been killed before he woke
Pushing, the servant 10 the head of the stairs
he said, hardly knowing what he was saying:
G. downstairs. and stay"
The servant, like a dazed person, slowly de
scende 1 The stairs. ~clinging IT, the balustrade rail
Mr.. Dixon ran back to his room and struck
light: On the bed. not moved from tho position
~ which she had been sleeping, lay Mrs. Dixon
The pillow was soaked with blood. and to tn
husband 1t seemed as II the head that lay on !
was hacked to pieces. He had barely strength
LETT e cry out to his daughter and tell her :
stretched across the bed. BY this time youni
Lester Dixon had awakened. When he cam
into lhe hall and saw the blood -stnincd axe an,
heard his cousins few broken words OF cxplana
give the alarm.
Within "A few minutes Drs. Birch and Hurl
putt were at the house and at work over Mrs
RRixon' who had regained consciousness. MI
Dixon ~ IS also conscious, and refused to pei
mt the physicians to examine him until the