Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-22
A CRAZED MOTHER
Murders Six Little Children
and Attempts Suicide.
Horrible Deed of Mrs. Lizzie Nara
more at Barre, Mass.
Cuts Own Throat But Will Recover Tells
Story But Cannot Explain.

about noon, today, when Mrs. Lizzie
Naramore in a wild frenzy, slew with
axe and club, her entire brood of six
little children, the eldest not quite 10
years and the youngest a babe Of 10
crazed mother sought to complete the
bloody work by taking her own life,
but was unsuccessful, although she in
nictcd Il deep cash in her throat.
Each child after yielding up its life
was laid on a bed in the house until
four little blood drenched bodies re-
posed side by side in one room, while
two more rested together on bed in
another. Then it was that the mother.
her deed complete, cut her own throat
and laid down to die beside four of her
little ones. Little wonder that the
husband and father. when he made the
terrible discovery upon his return from
work has become almost crazed with
grief and anguish.
Frank Naramore and his happy fam
lily lived on the Babcock farm, So
called, short distance from the viii
lage OF Coldbrook, just over the town
line of Oakham. but in the town of
Barre, on the road to Hubbardston.
Mr. Naramore left his home at the
usual hour. this morning. to so to
work at the saw mill of the Parker
Lumber Co. in Oakham, and at that
time his wife did not attract his atten
ton by acting strangely.
1t is supposed the crime was COM
mtted shortly after noon. the dis
covery being made by George Thrash
err an employee at Parker's grocery
store in Coldbrook village. Mr..
Thrasher visited the Naramore house
at about PAS o'clock for the purpose of
delivering groceries that had previous
ly been ordered by Mrs. Naramore. He
was unable to get in the house by the
door he usually entered and an eXami-
nation showed him that it was barri-
caded.
He made a noise but was unable to
raise any one about the premises. He
then looked in a window and noticed
blood on the floor, while Mrs. Nara
more was lying on a bed. He was
somewhat surprised also in the alb
sence of the children, whom he was
accustomed to see playing in or about
the house and the circumstances made
had happened He thereupon return
ed to this village and told of what he
had seen and what he had suspected.
A party was made up consisting OF
Clarence r. Parker. Frank Cole. viii
Beaman. Edward Cody, Walter Bull
lard and Byron Butterfield. and has
ty visit was made to the Naramore
house An entrance was made without
Lat tod y,D1 NF ha
six children in two beds We're found.
Mrs. Naramore was alive but was Very
weak from loss of blood. She was
stretched across the bed on which
We're four bodies.
Medical Examiner Walcott of Barre.
was summoned and took charge Of the
bodies. while physicians attended to
the wound of Mrs. Naranore. She vas
removed to the village hotel where an
attempt is being made to save her life.
At late hour. tonight. the attending
physicians were confident that she
would survive.
During the evening number of
net Thbors of the family saw and talk
ed with Mrs. Naramore and to them
she told how she killed her six chill
dren.
At the time the party Of villa gers
found Mrs. Naramore she was asked
how she did the deed and she said that
she took the lives in four different
rooms. and as fast as she killed one
child the body was placed in a bed.
The children were three boys and
three girls. Ethel. 10 years of age. be-
ing the oldest. while the age of Wal
ter Charlie. Chester. Bessie and .-ena
ranged from s years to 10 months,
Lena being the baby.
Mrs. Naramore told her most init
mate friends, tonight, that she first
killed Ethel and then followed with
the five others. each time taking the
eldest Five were killed by being struck
on the head with the back of an axe.
while little Lena was killed with
club.
She says she fully expected the gash
in her throat would cause her death
and that when her husband returned
at night he would find all of the bodies
in the two beds. She appeared ration
a. this evening. and displayed signs
of sorrow for the deed she had COM
mitted, although she is unable to give
any reason why she killed the children.
When Mr.. Naramore reached home
he was Frustrated with grief in the loss
of his family.
Each of the children had evidently
received several blows, as their heads
were terribly bruised and blood was
scattered in all directions about the
rooms The two beds were saturated
with blood from the wounds on the six
children and the self-inilicted cash in
Mrs. Naramore's neck. She had evil
IDENTIFY made preparations for the deed
as the doors We're all locked and barr
ed with sticks of wood
When the men first reached the
house Mrs. Naramore presented all APP
pearances of being dead, but she soon
revived. She has not been sick of late
and while her husband now remembers
that she has not acted just right dur
ing the past few days, he did not en-
terrain any suspicious that she would
do any harm.
The family moved to this section OF
the state from Templeton about -four
years ago and for two years have re-
sided on the Babcock farm. it being
leased from the Clark estate. Mr.
Naramore and his wife have been wei
and favorably known by the residents
of Oakham and Barre, and their 81,
children have been admired by every.