Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-10
KILLED WIFE AND HIMSELF.
Retired Manufacturer Craxed by His
Money Losses.

East Bridgewater. Sept. 6-That aged
Kimball T. sheldon had for several
months II not for a year. medtated the
murder OF his wife. to be followed by
his own suicide. Is the conclusion of
his many shocked and gr!eved friends
number Of circumstances showing In
sane cunning, that was possessed by the
retired iron menufa cturer IN his aberra-
ton were brought to light by the days
discussion of Friday nights tragedy at
his handsome residence on Union street
In this town. Mr.. Sheldon had been
crazed by repeated financial reverses.
Letters from Mr. sheldon received yes
terday morning by friends Of the cou-
Pile led TO n visit to their Nome and the
discovery OF the double crime.
one of Mr. Sheldon's close business
friends and neiRhbors was seen last
evening by reporter. and he said that
Mr. Sheldon was undoubtedly at the end
OF ll!s rope financially. lie had expended
nearly his last dollar and had been
economizinR for several years past. lie
was proud OF his financial standing and
his recognized business aA'lity, and the
| reverses that he met with in the last
| few years rad unbalanced his mind.
The whole community. in which Mr..
and Mrs sheldon were widely known
and beloved. is IN deep gloom over the
| tragedy.
When the Sheldon home was entered at
about Q yesterday morning Mrs shei-
don. who was q years old lay dead on
her bed having been killed instantly by
. blow on the temple from piece or
Iron This was later found. The body o!
her 70 yaar-old husband was In the bath
room The door was closed. as also the
windows. ind all the cracks had been
| carefully plugged with cloth. Both gas
| Jets were turned or.
Those to whom Mr.. Sheldon wrote let
tiers before CARRYING cut his plnn were
Mrs Henry L. Thomas OF Park avenue
| Whitman. a very warm friend of Mrs
Sheldon; and Or. A. l.. Shirley, the fam
| lily physician. The letter asked the re-
clpients TO come 20 tho house at once.
and gave a hint OF Mr.. sheldon's acts
Or, Shirley was asked to notify several
ether relatives and friends 10 go TO the
house at once also
EXAMINERS FINDING.
Medical Examiner A. J. Paine has
declared the death OF Mrs. Mary Shell
don, the aged wife. was caused by a
fracture OF the skull above the right
temple death being practically instan-
taneous Asphyx.ation was ascrlbed
as the cause OF Kimball f. Sheldon's
death.
DR.. Paine said the woman had been
dead Mt least u hours when found at
nine in the morning. Mr., sheldon had
been dead a shorter time when found.
He could hardly have died before five
O'Clock. for the body was Yet warm,
Mrs Sheldons body had been turn
ed over I'm the bed. and IN accordance
with the old custom the eyelids had
been closed and silver quarters lalo
upon them.
Hidden In clothes closet near Mrs'
Sheldon's room was heavy IRON oo-
ject II inches long shaped like
dumbbell with small ends. tp'h II
were traces OF human blood
sHELDON's CAREER
Mr.. Sheldon came to East Bridgewatet
"A poor lad and entered the employ vi
Frederick Rogers. ar iron manu'a'lur-
or. He was an enterprising SORT OF
young man and was made supe''h'en-
dent and later was admitted 10 '"e
firm, which ran a rolling mill. BEFORE
and during the Civil War the oo"oe'"
was very successful and hi'eu many
large contracts. Money was ac'nmula'-
ed easily and Mr., sheldon was soon NC
counted one Of the wealth'cs' men OF
the Old Colony district, lie spent money
literally and built one OF the handsome
est residences In the county
He enjoyed fast horses and MS large
stable was filled with speed Many OF
his horses were entered nj the Bridge
water track and later at the track In
Brockton. He had a retinue OF servants
and entertained lavish'y. Soon after the
depression In tho iron business ME-
6heldon's concern was burned and 1t -
understood that he lost quite heavily.
This was 20 or more years ago, Then
later business investments did not turn