Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-28
MRS. RAYMOND
ADJUDGED INSANE
WOMAN WHO ASPHYxIATED
SON HAS HEARING
Tells Story of Horrible Deed In Non-
chaIant Manner-Says She Killed
Lad to Save His
Soul

Win u sweet, SdQ lltlle SIIllle anu a
gentle wave of her hand, Mrs. Kath-
crime B. Raymond, formerly of Hol-
lywood. yesterday explained to Judge
Gibbs and the board of insanity COM
missioners in the superior court why
she had killed her 14-year-old boy
Frank, and why, failing in an attempt
to kill herself, she wanted to be sent
to Patton insane asylum. The YER
dict of the board was unanimous and
Mrs. Raymond was granted her wish,
but before she had left the court room
the judges sat speechless with horror
at the story of the murder told by
the mother.
Mrs. Raymond appeared in depart
ment two of the superior court yester-
day afternoon, accompanied by num-
her OF other insane patients and
nurses. She seated herself beside her
husband and spoke in a friendly way
to a number Of her friends who were
present.
Finally her case was called and she
was taken before the commissioners.
Slowly she unwrapped the white veil
from her face and smiled at the men
who were to try her. She gave GER
tain details of her life at the request
of a representative of the district at
torney's office and then she was asked
If she could tell OF certain allegations
against her.
Tells Sad Story
1T killed little Frank, you know, I
Just killed him, that was ALL" said
Mrs. Raymond as she rested her head
on her hands Now that L have sent
his sweet, sinless soul to the protect
ing arms of the Maker, L am willing,
only too willing, that my soul should
be lost forever. L gave UP my hope
of the hereafter in order that he might
be spared, and do you think l am
unhappy that it is so?
"I have been told that I am to be
sent up to the insane asylum at Pat
ton. They have told me that I am in
sane and that I must go there because
when they trusted me with the dear
est possession on earth 1 betrayed the
trust and killed my boy. If that is
so, the verdict will be good. My little
one is safe and for me there is no
future. The bars of an asylum have
no terror for me- for did L not give
my soul for his? Why should 1 now
regret it and seek to escape conse-
quence?
eyes, 1 know 1 could be sent to the
state prison and be put behind the bars
of the penitentiary, but that would do
no good. 1 would go insane there just
the same, so what would be the use?
He was my dear little boy, who had
never committed a wrong, and the
women of the church had accused his
mother of stealing. They condemned
me without a trial. l, who had worked
so hard for the sake of the church,
who had toiled in the good work until
/ was, oh, so tired, just as l am now;
was condemned and ostracised.
Says She Was UnjustIy Condemned
Il had gone to the church to work.
They had a rummage sale and a So
eial and I worked hard at it and sold
lots OF stuff Several days later 1
heard that at meeting of the Ladies'
Aid society they had condemned me
without trial. Several little l1nick
knacks valued at less than dollar had
been missed and the women of that So
ciety had taken it upon themselves to
condemn me. They said / had taken the
stuff, and later when 1 took my proofs
to them they said that it would be all
right but that they wouldn't give me
a note of eXoneration, Because it would
be an admission and because l might
sue them for libel. Their minister, to
whom l appealed in the name Of Chris
tianity, shut the door of his home in
my face and would have nothing to
say to me, even though l had be-
sought him to at least give me
fair hearing.
6rooded Over Trouble
II brooded over that trouble. 1 had
tried so hard and it was an awful
shock to me. Every time I looked at
my boy his innocent little soul seemed
to appeal to me and tell me that the
lads good intentions would be mis-
understood ands that he would fare no
better than myself among a world of
criminals.
81 thought I would send him guilt
less to his Maker. l went to a drug
store and bought some chloroform, but
I tainted before I could leave the place
Then I waited and at last the shame
of what the women of the church had
said of me bore me down beneath its
weight and 1 decided that little Frank
should be spared from the conse-
quences Of any sin I might have COM
mitted 1 waited until he had fallen
asleep and then I went to his room
He was lying on the lounge with his
fair young face turned toward me
and knew that his soul was as beau
tiful as he. 1 then locked the door
and turned on the gas and rested be-
side my boy, he for whom l was not
only dying but for whom 1 was for
feiting my soul
"The next thing I remember I was on
lounge and physician told me that
I would recover and that 1 had mur-
dered my boy.
Now you may send me to the
asylum" continued the woman with
g. pitiful little smile. Her husband,
Frank Raymond of Washington. D.
c., sat next her and it was with a
great effort that the husband and
father kent back his tears.
Husband Gives Testimony
''We were never able to get along
we'll together" said Mr. Raymond yes
terday in answering the questions of
the court my wife was always of a
high strung nature and always wanted
things could not get for her. She had
brilliant mind but her little trouble
in one of the churches here seemed
to worry her. She refused to leave for
the east, saying she would see that
everything was corrected before she
went. She had been In Washington
some months ago and had returned to
her home on Selma street in Hollv-
wood few weeks before she locked
the boy in the room with her and
turned on the gas"
Mrs. Raymond is in a critical con-
ditlon, even now, according to the