Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-07
CUTS WIFE'S THROAT
Horrible Crime Of Thomas J.
Burns at Boston,
J.
Dcspondcnt Over ld'cncss, He Gus
Wife's Throat With Razor.
Also Cul3 Her Neither. Viii, Goon T,r;rc.
Tic Is Arrested.

to.tou. Maah G.-Thum,g / y,tt,u..
G"spondcut, - he SAYS owe, his in
llility to ubtAin steady rurInv,ncnt
t''l"d ms N"uiN wife Hannah, to whom
he had been married lc2s than two
months hy cutting hcr throat with \
razor nj her mothers home. No. .
Washington place, South Ro.ton. about
> O'Clock this afternoon. Twenty min
UtcS later Burns was in custody ana
the police were investigating ono Of the
most brutal crimes which has demand
cd their attention in years.
EurnS is q years Of age ana his wifi,
was one year younger. Burns was
married. Jan %, To Miss Hannah Dool-
OF one of the largest department store
where Burns himself had been employ
ed until he lost his position. something
over a year ago. Sine" that time ho
has been employed as a waiter in differ
cnt places. nut his income Was small
and irregular.
When he first married. the couple
went to live on Harrison avenue but
Feb. %. Mrs. Burns Went to hen
mothers home to keep her sister com
pany, while her mother was in hos
pital.
Last Monday. Burns. who was Their
working in South Boston restaurant
left his place. sold his violin and with
the proceeds went 10 New York to look
for work After reaching there h,
says the thought came over him that
If he remained there he might be ar
rested for non-Support. and so he cam,
back 70 Boston, arriving, this morning
He went to a pawnbroker's shop al
the South end. where ne purchased .
razor. then. about II O'Clock he calleC
at his wife's home. He talked viii
his wife and her mother and at the
latter's invitation. staid to dinner ana
remained during the afternoon.
About ) o'clock while they We're IL
the cntryway of the tenement, Burns
asked his wife to return with him t.
the Harrison avenue house, which she
refused to do. Then, pulling the razor
from his pocket. he made a vicious
slash at her cutting her throat in d
horrible manner.
His wifc'S mother. Mrs. Bridge
Dooley. hearing her daughters cries
sought to protect her. when Burns at
tackled her. inflctinG bad cuts on the
older womans cheek ana forehead
McanNhil Mrs. Burns had run down
stairs and fallen exhausted in the lower
hallway. expiring in few minutes.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Watts. who o.
cupied the lower tenement. We're pow
crlcSS to restrain Burns. who rushed
from the house as soon as he fully
realized the result Of his attack. IL
was. However quickly intercepted by
two officers and placed behind the bars
in Station s Burns did not seem to 10
under the influence of liquor at tnt
time. but had the appearance" Of man
who Was recovering from 4 protraCtcd
spree.
The body of the murdered woman
MAS taken to tn" morCuc, Will" Mrs
Dool"vs wounds We're dressed hy 4
,Ihysi, ian at her home.
The arrest of BurnS 50 quickly vas
an accident. almost. one of the off, crs
saw Buns coming alou" and noticed
blood on his hands. He remarked 10 q
III other officer that he guessed the ma z
had been fighting and il was h"at to
speak to him. Tho officer did 50 1nd
Burns said. rye don" it: | cut my
wifcH throat" The officers then lock
cd m the man