Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-26

/ NNAAO"' <ADOuN IlCOil, liO WIS -GcIl ABOUT
the stores on Cony street, and hat
talked with number Of people, who
say he appeared perfectly rational
About l o'clock he purchased load OF
hay from L. w. Whitehouse's barn or
Malta Hill. There was nothing strang;
about his actions or speech there, the,
say.
But. on his way home he met som,
neighbors, to whom he is stated tc
have said: There's going to be Gel
ebration at our house, tonight
| That is the first indication noted OF
there being anything wrong. On his
| arrival home, shortly after l o'clock
Mrs. Anderson urged him to eat some.
thing 1t was past the dinner hour, but
there still was food on the table. lie
would eat nothing, and engaged him.
self at unloading the hay from tbs
cart. Mrs Anderson, as was her Gus
| tom, assisted him at his work. Shs
| noted while he was cutting the wire
| that bound the hay with an ak, thai
he used that instrument viciously. She
took no particular note of it at the
time, but recalled it afterwards as 4
pronounced display of an unusual irri-
tation.
The AK he left standing by the
-. Il
less fortunate enough that the insane
man did not take it into his head to
use that weapon instead of the re-
volver.
They had just completed the work of
clearing the hay up, and putting awa-
the horse, when the events as narrated
took place. The trace of one of the
bullets was found in heavy joist near
the door. 1t is just about on a level
with Mrs. Anderson's heart Where the
other bullet went, on one has dis
covered.
done no work to speak of. His wife
has borne the burden of the family
affairs He has been under the care of
number of physicians, all of whom
have pronounced him of unsound mind.
One of them got certificate ana
urged Mrs. Anderson to sign it, in order
that steps might be taken to have her
husband properly cared for. But, she
refused.
His type of insanity was a common
one-of melancholy and jealousy. Hc
seemed to realize his condition. and
someone states that he was heard to
say: They ought to put me in the
Insane asylum He had spells OF
thinking that people were plotting to
communicate with his wife. For in
stance: If n neighbor across the way
were to display a call-card in the Win
dow, such as used by grocery dealers,
OH peddlers, etc, he would presume
/ that that was q sign that someone was
about to try to get a letter to Mrs.
Anderson. On every petty occasion, he
used every means to keep her from be-
ing seen by the ineighbors. During last
summer, for some time she says, he
would, have the blinds closed, leaving
| TO have kept her upstairs, he standing
guard at the bottom, lest she escaped.
1t was such peeuliarities as these that
| she was forced to tolerate, and the
wonder is she ever endured them. But
| in every way she says. Il have
humored him, and made things as
smooth as possible
| Anderson's antipathy was specially
directed against one of the neighbors-
a relative of his by marriage, and 4
man with whom he had cause to en-
| terrain only the most friendly feelings.
| once Anderson is said to have lad i'll
waiting for the other and, on the lat
ter's return home. one night, jumped
out at him with q knife in his hand.
Fortunately the one attacked was
strong enough to defend himself.
| Many others of the most absurd hal
fluctuations are told about him, and 1t
| is a wonder that he was permitted to
be at large so long.
| Mrs. Anderson says that her husband
has eaten or slept very little since he
began to show signs of insanity. RE
has been particularly cross of late, she
saws, to all whom he met. She says ne
has never seemed to show threaten
| ing attitude toward her as toward
Others. and it was surprise TO fei
when he turned and shot at her. Sne
thinks that his melancholy had so
preved upon his mind, with the one
great apprehension that someone was
irving to communicate with her. al
Hast urged him to do the deed. He had
often spoken of killing himsel' say
ing he was tired of life.
The unfortunate man has been uhoes
the care of his brothers. OF which ne
has four in Augusta. No arrest mas
been made, as his insanity is IN
doubted.
Anderson was not in the habit OF
i carving firearms about Where ne
lnurchased the revolver is net known
lThe weapon was of the bulldog pat
tern 32-calihre-the name of the maker
mot being imprinted on it. 1t is IN the
: hands of City Marshal Morse.
Il AT last reports. Anderson was getting
lalong as well as could be expected, pu'
the nature of his injury is such thai
1.-The doctors think that his recovery may
prove doubtful.
AroYOu Bilious?