The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-24
ENTERED A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
He Had Previously Besa ID.iCied for As
saaIt With latent 10 XIII
THAT INDICTMENT WILL Be OUASHED.
Rasses jealousy cf Ms Vile Was Famed BY
shopmsIes, Kho Tod SiOriss About Her.
Ssjs He Vas Once Insane.

Simon Massell was arraigned before
Judge Saeetland In the Sixth district
court today on the charge OF feloniousiy
killing and Staying his wife Julia.
Stripped of all lega verblage Massell
stands charged with the wilful murder
OF his wife.
This fragedy occurred in the tene-
ment occupied by Israel Greenfield OF
No. 13 Gay street. Greenfield is Mas
sells father-in-law. The date OF the
assault was April 3.
The beginning was not an uncommon
one Massell was unreasonably jealous
OF his wife. and that fault led TO many
quarrels and threats of personal vio-
lence.
The husband was not over and above
bright. and this fact was fully under
stood at the Ostby & Barton jewelry
mandatory where he was employed.
His shopmates played upon his jeal-
ousy and made him the butt OF many
Jokes, none OF which were harmful un-
IN one day he was told. lust for fun"
that his wife had been seen to leave
her house and to enter the cellar OF an
unfinished building near by. where she
remained in company with young men.
Ssyags Reproachss.
Massell went home that uay full OF
ire and he reproached his wife so saw
agely h ttasphe hve&isza mhm mhmm
agely that she packed up her belong
ings and returned to her fathers house.
The husband almost Immediately left
fTUvttpurvy urrd SO far csrff be -festtff--
ed remained I'M Boston nearly "a week.
He returned 10 this city on April 3
and at noon went TO Mr. Greenhelds
house. This he entered unannounced
and found has wife standing near the
fltchsn s.cNa.
He urged her to return and when she
refused TO do so exclaimed: Julia,
can not live without YOU" and threw
his arms around her.
Instantly Mrs. Massell screamed and
dropped 10 the floor. Quicker than the
details can be narrated. Massell had
drawn long and very sharp knife and
had plunged IL into his wife's breast.
Massell ran out OF the house and was
arrested by Patrolman Bowen, of the
Fifth station. He made no resistance.
Mrs. Massell was taken To the Rhode
Island hospital. Her wounds were at
the time considered TO be very serious,
and doubts were expressed by the am
bulance surgeon that he could get her
to the hospital alive.
However she rallied and after few
days began to mend. her 6mprovement
being so marked from day TO day that
when the time came TO present Mas
sells case to the grand jury he was
indicted upon the lesser charge Of as
sault with intent TO kill.
Mrs. kasssIl Dies.
After the grand jury had considered |
his case and had voted indict Massell, |
the wife suddenly began 10 fai1, and |
last Tuesday, the day after the jury |
made their formal return 10 the court |
of their findings, Mrs. Massel died
Attorney General Tanners attention |
was called TO the new phase of the |
case and he directed that on autopsy
be held and placed the matter in the
nands OF Coroner +. III. Lincoln.
The autopsy revealed that one of the
stab wounds had extended TO and into
the aorta This permitted blood to flow
into the yena cava and death had en-
sued because the body had not been
nourished.
Coroner Lincoln swore out a warrant
Tor murder and this morning Warrant
|
HE Providence y 5aal "A writ
II habeas corpus.
On the way In to the city Massell
was very soiicttous as 10 the charge |
which was 10 be preferred against him,
asking II IL would not be one OF man
slaughter. He expressed much concern
rs TO his children.
While Mr.. Jones could not see any
OF mental disturbances,
other than would naturally be noticed
n a person about 90 be charged with
4 capital offense. Massell volunteered
The information that he had been an
innate OF an insane asylum for a year
,r two. That was about Is years ago
Flea Of Not GuIly Entered
There was no delay In bringing the
ixorcide bfore the court. The warrant
Mas couched in the usual terms. At
ne conclusion OF its reading Massell
pleaded not guilty and was held with
,ut bail for preliminary stamina
Ion, which was set down for June 30th
&c wasthen cSaen back TO his cell and
u noon was returned 20 the county Jail
II ..atft |