The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-10
IN A FRENZY
She Murdered Her Husband,
Says Mrs. Annie
Walden,
Though She Loved Him Pas
sionateIy-Now at the
Parental Home in
AImedia.

Back to tie old home and the
scenes of her childhood, Mrs. Annie
Walden says she desires to spend the
residue of her life in peace and quiet.
ness. She had served nine years of
life sentence In New York State
Prison for the murder of her hus-
band, James Walden.
To the local correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press on Sunday she
narrated the past fifteen years of her
life as follows:
81 have been annoyed SO much
since my return home by newspaper
reporters, and there having been so
many alleged interviews with me and
false stories of my home, getting into
print, have decided, against the adj
vice of my friends, to give the facts
as they actually occurred.
"When left my home here l was
a simple country girl, II years of age,
and knew nothing of the world. l
went to Philadelphia, where l met and
married my husband, and l want to
state that, Notwithstanding my act,
committed in a moment of Jealous
frenzy, loved him passionately-
adoringly, if you will. i nave moth
ing further to say about him. All the
world knows of my act and its conse-
quences, but no one will ever know
how l suffered for it, nor how deeply
or sincerely l have repented. That
is part OF my history that cannot be
told in words.
"My life in prison was very much
the same as that Of many Others who
have suffered IN a similar manner.
From the officials in charge l received
nothing but kindness.
never gave up hope of being re-
leased, but the news of my pardon
was complete surprise. My remorse
for my act was SO deep, and my re-
pentance SO sincere, that / felt sure
God would not punish me by keeping
me forever shut in from his bright sun
shine and the beauties of the world.
l never despaired, and never forgot to
pray daily for my release and the
chance to once more live with my
loved ones.
81 cannot realize as yet that I am
free, everything seems so strange to
me. 1t seems to be too good to be
true. l intend to remain at home
with my parents and forget my past,
if that ne possible. When left home
I was dissatisfied with my life and its
lowly surroundings, but l now think
this little village of Almedia is the
dearest spot on earth.
"The stories to the effect that there
was jubilee in the village upon my
return, and that l was met at the sta.
zion by large crowd of curious peo-
pie, are utterly false. The people
here are my friends, and have too
much regard for my feelings to act in
the way described. My father and l
arrived on an early morning train,
having come at that time to escape
observation, and | was not seen by
over half dozen people.
"Ths is the only statement l have
made and the last one l shall make.
am not anxious for notoriety, and
trust that will be allowed to live in
peace and quietness in the future"
Mrs. Walden looks the picture of
health and shows no trace of her long
imprisonment. She still retains the
beautiful features for which she was
noted in her girlhood.
Her father, Philip Graham, said
that his daughter would always
have home with him, and tnat he
hopes the public interest in his family
will soon die out"