Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-07
PLOTS AGAINST HIM
Has Been Form in Which Steele's
insanity Has Appeared.

Everett. Mass, Dec. John \.
steele. who shot two men in the Gov
crnor's office in the State House today
has been living recently ut tn" home
OF his nothcr. Mrs. Margaret Steele. 4
widow. at 2o9 Linden street. where his
| brother Fred and Il sister also reside.
| John Steele was released from The Dan
VcrS asylum on parole ahOIL thr6"
weeks ago ana since then had been
living with his mother, who believed.
| him practically cured Of delusions from
which he had at times suffered. Today
Mrs. Steele sent him 10 Boston on an
| crrand and it was while he was in that
city for that purpose that he vent 20
! he State House. 1t has been learned
here that he used the money given him
by his mother to day To purchas6 Il 70
VolVcr ut = Boston store. This revolver
was the one used by him at IN" State
House shooting
Mrs. Steele said that She was unable
to account for his purchase of the re-
ynl,er, tut She added that his visit to
the state House was probably for the
purpose Of interviewing the Governor.
| Mrs. Steele said that as far as she
knew the young man had never had any
relations with the labor leaders whom
he mad, the target of his revolver. and
that he was not acquainted with either
Mr. Cohen or MIR. Driscoli. When ne
left home today Steele expressed the
intention of seeking work at some of
! the Boston newspaper offices.
Steele is So years old and & native of
East Boston. During the Spanish-Amer-
lean war he was a member of Co. L. 5th
Regiment. 1t was while on sentry duty
ut Camp Meade in Pennsylvania that he
first manifested symptoms Of insanity. II
is said Imagining that 4 fellow sentry
was plotting against him, Steele is said
to have fred at the man, but tie shot
fortunately went wild. A court martial
found Steele insane and he was commit
| ted to the National Insane hospital at
Washington. where he remained until 1905
when he was released as apparently
cured.
in December, 1905, he again manifested
signs of insanity and was committed to
the asylum at Westboro. He renamed
there until about 4 year ago. when he
made his escape and went to the home of
his mother who was then living on Ferry
street in Everett.
While there he is said to have tried to
commit suicide by cutting MS throat, III
fiucting, however, only q slight scratch.
Later when he heard that the police
were after him to return him to the asy-
lun, he made sensational run through
Broadway and across the marshes IN an
endeavor to escape. He was recaptured
| and taken back to Westboro, but later
was transferred to Danvers asylum at the
suggestion of his mother. to whom he
had written letters begging that he might
| be removed from WestborO.
| At this time Mrs. Steele went to ;he
governor in her sons behalf and Gov.
Guild, thinking that a transfer TO the
Danvers institution would he a good thing
| for the young man, arranged to have MN
| sent there. He remained at Danvers sew
| eral months until he was released on pa
role three weeks ago.
While at Westboro Steele is said to
have written n number of letters to Gov.
Guild. District Attorney John b. Moran
and other officers, alleging that his COM
mitment to the asylum was illegal and
making complaint regarding his treat
rlent in that institution. His decisions
are said to have taken the form OF a be
| lief that various persons We're plotting
against him.