Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-20

THE Boston Globe says: Albert Heysler
of Burkettville, a wel.to=do farmer and
Civil War veteran. killed his wife and
stepdaughter at o'clock Saturday MORN
ing, and then followed his horrible deed
by attempting to commit suicide.
The exact cause of the crime IS I'M
known, but it is openly rumored among
the townspeople that jealousy was the
root of the awful affair.
The scene of the double murder was a
pretentious looking residence in the little
hamlet of Burkettvlle, which is situated
town of Appleton. On either, side are
snow-capped hills, thickly wooded. The
nearest house is quarter of a mile
a arc fe benz IN RI h pdan
been raised for help. It is doubtful If any
thing human would have heard or re-
sponded.
Through 25 miles of almost impossible
travelling. with snow drifts often 6 and
feet deep. interspersed with stretches of
bare. muddy ground Sheriff Timer, Cor
and a correspondent drove from Rockland
in sleghs upon receipt of the news. They
arrived at $50 Saturday night, to find the
northern part OF the county IN q state oI
intense excitement.
Heysier lad upon sofa. breathing
heavily and Unconscious Of all that was
going on around him; The self-iniiicteI
to produce death, and although he mai
followed up this attempt by taking an
enormous quantity of Paris green, he was
still defyinS the grim spectcr
Albert ffeysler is about CD years old,
thickset and rugged. He moved from
Palmer, Me-. to Burkettyilie; about .
mer years and served In the 3D. Maine
Battery. aftcrward merged into the LIST
Maine Heaves, during the Civil War
Me then re- followed LONE sarmS farm an in Bnr
kettvflle. He is illiterate, but man of
strong will, and is NOT given to having
his word opposed. His family consisted
of his wife, daughter and daughter by
Il former marriage.
His wife was 81 years old and was born
in Searsmont. Her maiden name was lsa-
bella Campbell, the daughter of John
Campbell, 4 farmer. She contracted four
marriages. The first was witll.John Ste,
vens II Appleton, but she was divorced
from him The second husband was ;sd nr1Si
tfrum her on the ground of desertion. They
had one child. n daughter named 1'eors,e,
who Is u teacher in the Rockland pubic
schools. The third husband was Cfas ".
Pinkham of Appleton. who died some
some years ago. The fourth husband WIS
Albert Heyser. by whom another child
Is years old.
| Heysler's stepdaughter was one OF three
| children born to Mrs. Pinkham. Her name
was Mary L. and at - she sa araccfsgrze sd
the mother. 1t is alleged that Mrs. Hess.
| Ter was jealous of this daughter. While
the neighbors do not remember 81 Eve,
seeing Heysler and his wife quarrel they
seemed to know that the household haq
not been strictly harmonious one, ana
are not wholly surprised at the Tragedy.
When Heysler retired Friday night ne
| took his little daughter Alice with him,
contrary TO custom. During the early
] hours OF, the morning he arose without
disturbing the little one ana wemt IN mo ,fe
| Law sieeping. When he left the chamber
la few minutes later, his wife Jay IN me
| same position, the right side or her neau
crushed in ana cut vi tie iiShe 'i"e "
| The chamber of the stepdaughter. which
adioins that of Mrs. Heysler. was next
Visited. Heysler from all appearances,
fonnd her in bed and sleeping as her
mother had slept. The same club or
blunt instrument was again prousmt my ot
pay by Heyser nj inc l,rSa pom o awoke
from her sleep to struggle, with her niue
remaining strength. against the murder-
Gus blows ..,.. ,,.o IIov.1or
20 ai hnr from the bed to the floor. where
with the butcher knife ne cut Two ueep
%ashes. one on each side Of her throat.
That the girl did not immediat,eiy a,e Is
d;dant from the fact that she had made
en affnrt with her hand to stop the blood
from flowing. ..,r;,,sd thax, found
~" reother dead her face and head Dat
, tne and bruised The stepdaughter lay
where HeysIer had n drag new h in deaths
bert ny MA nnwerIess % help himself, there
S Is no knowing what do the townspeople in
thelr .;,,g accnmplished his awful deed.
returned aa to hr aee Hsa b sea
founu IN hv his stepdaughters screams
a"d oe her he j Eas A ss
you go a gov, "a come up here. There has
! 49,, trnuhle.
hsh j. old Sna fss so fna Pa hers s
daugn nieEn s. in the family, she could do
Seer he 70 da 20 back er S Ss
then anf sses H cf
sitting on tnS asked Heyser what was
FRY and Hssler a said he hs ssd x Kea
| good deal tx xe and stepdaughter He re-
both both his is T iet Mr. Lght enter then, but
M gSssa he 20 later returned with other neigh