Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-12

broke down as result of OVerWOrk
and was taken to a Sanitarium in West
Newton. where she had since been I'M
der treatment for nervous proStratiOn.
While DIT the Sanitarium Miss Weed
| had been subject to severe attacks of
| melancholia.
Tuesday night she escaped from the
Sanittrium and made her way to the
Laurens school. Miss Hardee vclun-
| tccred to care for hcr during the night
and pending her return to the santa
rium.
An attCrIIt WaS made to commune
| cate with the authorities Of the sani
tariuH. Int the teachers at the school
were unable to connect with the phys
clans. Miss Weed behaved in Il pecu-
liar manner, according to the teachers
Wednesday. wandering aimleSSly about
the school building and occasionally
making some strange or inCOhercnt re-
marks
Al length Miss Hardee persuaded Miss
Weed to retire. ana the demented woman
followed her to her own chamber on the
third floor of the school. fve-stOry
structure
When the matron Of the school, Mrs
Page went to Miss Hardee's room
Wednesday morning to awaken her she
was shocked to find both women dead
in bed Miss Hardcc he'd been shot
through the base of the brain. while there
was a bullet wound in Miss Weeds right
temple. A revolver with two chambers
empty was lying on Miss Weeds breast.
10th women were in their night clothes.
Medical Examiner Stedman declared
that Miss Weed had committed suicide
after having killed Miss 1Iard"e. The
tragedy caused great sensation in the
school. The pupils were about 10 in num-
her and We're the daughters of wealthy
parents from all sections of the country.
Miss Hnrdce in addition to her school
work had taken Il great interest III set
tement work in this city, especially
among the Italians Of the North end. She
also has been closely identified with cdu
cptional work in the city as well as in
literary circles.
During her college career she was prom
inent in many branches and extremely
popular serving as president of her class
for five years.
Miss Weeds work since leaving college
has heen confined almost entirely to
teaching and it was entirely due to her
eXertions of getting Tie new school ready
that her health and mind broke down in
the fall.
While in the Sanitarium at West New
ton she was frequently subjected to ex-
trcme paroxysms OF weeping, but never
appeared TO bear any luminosity against
any of her friends.
Medical Examiner Stcdman gave out
a which n declared
that Miss Weed did the shooting dur
ing an attack of temporary mental
alteration He stated that he was
called to the school at about $50 a.
NJ. lie found the two women lying
dead in bed A revolver was in Miss
Weeds hands. Blood was flowing
from a wound in the back of Miss
Hardcc's head and from Miss Weeds
right temple.
DR.. Stcdman said that he understood
that no attempt was made to restrain
Miss Weed at the time she left the
sanitorium in Newton last night. as
no restraint not absolutely necessary
is placed on patients there. After she
arrived at school Miss Hardec quoted
her. the medical examiner said and
assisted her in going to bed in a room
on the fourth floor Miss IIardec then
retired to her own room. About
o'clock this morning Miss Weed came
into Miss IIardoe'S room in very
nervou.; condition. Miss Hardcc calm
ed her by telling her she might remain
with her for the remainder Of tn"
night. Shortly after A. NJ, the matron,
Mrs. Page. heard two shots and gong
to Miss IIardoe'S room, found both
women dead DIR. Stedman said that
both Miss Hardcc and Miss Weed
were well known throughout the coun-
try as educators.
From other sources it was learned
that previous to the shooting Mrs.
Page had gone to Miss Hardec's room
and awakened the two women, saying
that il had been arranged that MISS
Weed should go back to Newton on the
49, train. Mrs. Page thinks the men
ton Of returning to the sanitorium
must have excited and angered Miss
Weed and induced the shooting.