Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-05
KILLS OFFICER.
Murder by Boston Wo-
man Suddenly Insane.
Then Holds 10 POLICEMAN at Eay
Barricading Her Room.
Finally Overcome by Germicide Fumes
and Locked Up.

Eoston. Sept. An a sudden fit or in
sanity. today, Mrs. Minnie Mckenzie
urea to XIII her husband at her home
~ FALCON street. East Boston. shot and
fatally wounded patrolman Alfred NJ
Hturdlvant and barricading herself III
Inc 'front.' room of her tenement for sew
er'l hours, stood off squad of 10 DO
llcemen.
1t was not until 9 o'clock that the po-
nee We're able to capture the woman.
fih'iinS all efforts to invade the room
futile, supply of sermicide was
brought to the house and Mrs. McKen-
sic was stupaicd by the fumes. ON her
person We're found two revolvers Of
heaFy caliEre and a large quantity OF
cartridges.
II is said that Mrs. Mckenzie, who is
"a years of age ana of powerful frame,
mad been an inmate of an insane asy-
l'iin. She became violently insane
about 80 o'clock, this afternoon, and
drawing revolver of n heavy Calibre
began shooting at her husband, but
none of the shots took effect. McKen-
zie notified the police and four patrol
mon were sent to the house. When they
arrived they found Mrs. Mckenzie had
retired to a front room where she had
locked the door and barricaded it with
a large bureau.
The officers succeeded in getting III
door partially open. but not wide
enough to enter. The woman then
pushed the muzzel of her revolver
through the door and fired four shots
three of the bullets striking Patrolman
Sturdivant, one of them lodging in the
left thigh. one in the abdomen and the
third in the left temple. Studivant was
removed to the Relief hospital where he
died at 7.20 o'clock, tonight.
After attending to the removal OF
Sturdivant to the hospital the othel
three officers telephoned to the police
station for assistance and seven more
men were sent to the house. The Off
GERS were ordered to capture the woman
without injuring her. Mrs. Mckenzie
after shooting Sturdivant, barricaded
the door again and strengthened her de-
fences. The police made repeated at
tempts to dislorge her, but every sound
OF a voice or footsteps in the hall was
the signal for a fusilade of shots from
the front ROOM the bullets passing
through the barricaded door.
The news of the shooting of PATROL
man Sturdivant spread rapidly and
during the entire afternoon and even-
ing the street in the vicinity of Mrs.
McKenzie's home was crowded with
people.
Patrolnlan Sturdivant was Al years
old and married. He had been connect
ed with the Boston police department
since 1883.
Early IN the evening, Police Inspec-
tor William Rooney tried to parley with
the woman. but she thrust revolver
through crack in the door and fired
The bullet passed between Inspector
Itooney's fingers, but did not wound
him. although his hand was burned by
the explosion.
After hiring at Inspector Rooney. the
crowd which blocked the street. be-
came the object of Mrs. Mckenzie's
frenzy. 1t is estimated that nearly 5000
We're in the vicinity of the house. Rails
ing the windows she fired several shots
into the crowd and then turned her at
tention TO the police once more. At in
tervals she would shoot into the crowd,
but so far as is known no one in the
street Was wounded.
Finding that all attempts to induce
tie woman to surrender were futile, the
police brought quantity of germiclde
to the house shortly before O'Clock.
Fumes of the turpentine were directed
irto the room which Mrs Mckenzie oc-
cupIcd and a few moments later the
fronzied woman sank to the floor in
=tupor The officers then rushed In ana
seized her. Two large revolvers and a
quantity of cartridges were concealed
in her clothing. She was locked up in
the East BOSTON police station. |
Mrs Mckenzie Is the wife OF Edward |
cII enzie who is employed in box FAC
tory. She is the mother. She Is tn" |
mother of three children. the youngest an |
infant daughter. Her insanity made II
self manifest. today. when she tried to
drown the infant in wash tub. Inc
husband and neighbors interfer"d and
Mckenzie took the child away from the
mousse Mrs. Mckenzie then began hrih2
her revolver promiscuously ard shortly
,fter the first squad OF policemen made
Is appearance.