Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-26
INSANE MAN SHOOTS
Fred Anderson Tries to Kill
His Wife--Then Himself.
She Escapes Unhurt--He Destroys
Right eye--May Die.
Melancholy and Uniounded Jealousy Was
Probably the Cause.

street. while insane, fired two shots
from a 32-calibre revolver at his wife
Saturday afternoon. He then turned
the weapon at his head, and sent I
bullet from point near the right
temple into the eye. His wife escaped
entirely unhurt, as neither sho,
touched her. He is in a fair way to
recover.
The attending physicians probed for
the bullet on being summoned. but, are
not yet positive whether the bullet
made an escape through the eye. or
whether it is lodged somewhere about
the back part of the nose, near the eye
AT any rate, the right eye is de-
stroyed, and it is possible that the
brain has been injured sufficiently to
later result in his DEATH
Mrs. Anderson's escape is nothing
short of a miracle. The first she knew
of any intention on his part to shoot,
was while they were together in the
barn, Immediately adjacent to the
house, situated on the small street
which extends from Arsenal street
toward the river near the saw mill.
I'VE were very near 'together-per
haps some. six feet apart she said to
a Journal representative, Saturday.
He suddenly faced around at me. and
grasped my right shoulder with his left
hand, saying:
Come; we might as we'll be out OF
the world, and be done with it,
..As he reached out at me with his
left hand, with his other he made n
movement for his hip pocket.
Il tore away from his grasp and ran
| for the open door, a few feet away. As
| :. passed out, he fired. l kept on run
ming in the direction of the street. |
Heard another shot, but, of course.
kept on running. a few seconds after
ward. a third followed. That he must
have directed toward himself
Neighbors heard the. sound of the
shots, and rushed to the yard OF the
Andersons' The first to reach there
| was Mr.. Anderson's sister, Mrs. Albert
E. Hamilton, who lives next door. She
found her brother PROSTATE upon The
ground near the side door of the house
about Is feet from the door of the barn
| The blood was flowing from the wound
| in his head, and he was unconscious
| He was at once taken into the house,
and DR.. r. j. Martin was summoned
| giving what care and attention was
necessary DIR. w. Scott Hill was later
summoned. and a search was made tt
find the bullet, but without success.
| That Anderson fully thought he ha9
ikilled his wife is evident from what he
j. reported to have said, when he hao
| PARTIALLY regained consciousness:
Did l do right to kill her? Was ii
wrong?"
There is no question of Anderson
insanity. For about year he mas
been at times peculiar in his actions
and a disposition to melancholy Whicf
had become quite pronounced in later
wears, became the prominent feature o.
his condition-as, perhaps. was wei
lshown in his last words to his wife be
fore shooting at her.
However that may be, Mrs. Anderson
lsavs he has been a man to MAKE
Mountains out of Mole-hills.' Prev
Gus TO the arrangement which became
Ievident in him about a year ago, Mr.
Anderson had always been a very III
Idustrious man, with an unquestionapl
reputation. He was very generaii!
liked. and all who have known him II
wears past, have a kind word for him
I"He was a good fellow; that's what n
Twas" said one And one of the hard
est working men / ever have known.
, He and his wife, together with thel
son. George, a Swapping boy OF II
lived in the brown house by the river
| And their life was coilPai "'iNe
: happy one. until last June, when it
said. while at work on warm day. i
. a Mace where the sun shone very hot
Mr.. Anderson received sort OF pros
tration. Since that day he has at time
NOT acted like his old self. His condi
|tion was generally known to have bee
insane and Mrs. Anderson was no
only advised but urged to send MN
the Insane Hospital.
With characteristic persistence sh
refused. And when asked her reason
Saturday. after the affair had hap
pened, she replied:
"Oh, well, l suppose | should nav
LET him go. But, / wanted to take car
of him myself. 1 knew that shoul
not he able to IL he were taken away
And. now, while sorry enough
course. for what has happened, 1e'
that / have done my duty. l have
believe. done for him what no one eis
lcould have, and there has been hothiii