Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-30

|
ry him, Porter Smith, who was grad
uated from Dartmouth College last
June, today shot and fatally wounded
Miss Helen Aver Marden of SomerVille,
Mass, member of the Senior class at
Smith College and then, turning the re-
| yolyer on himself, committed suicide.
| Miss Marden was taken to the Dickin-
son hospital, where she died shortly
| before noon. She was the daughter of
| Frank W. Nfarden, Boston oil mer-
chant, who lives at So Boston street,
Somerville.
Smith, whose home was in Chicago.
| had been in Northampton for several
days 1t is said that he had persistent
| Nv followed Miss Marden and tried to
force his attentions on her but she re-
! fused to have anything to do with
| him.
| This forenoon, when the majority OF
| the Smith students We're at chapel,
Miss Mardcn came out OF the students
| building where she roomed. She mad
stayed away from the chapel exercises
because it is understood, she feared sho
! would he further pursued by Smith on
| the way through. When she came out
| on the campus she had gone only q
short distance when she met Smith.
There were no students nearby and 1t
| is not known whether there was any
| conversation between the two.
Suddenly workmen not far distant
heard a shot and a girls scream. Turn
| ing around they saw Smith standing
beside the girl with a smoking revolver
| in his hand. Before they could reach
: h, fl1.AU
revolver and fire two more shots at the
Girl. Miss Marden sank to the ground
and Smith Immediately placed the muz-
| zle of the weapon on his own head anu
fired, falling dead beside the young
woman.
Miss Marden was quickly removed
to the Dickinson hospital, where an
examination by several physicians
showed that two bullets had entered
her back near the neck and the third
which it feared would prove fatal. had
entered the head. The doctors united
in saying that the young woman was
| in a critical condition and that there
was practically no chance that she
| could recover.
| Miss Marden's sister, Louise Marden,
| is a member of the Junior class at
Smith and one of her classmates IS
Smiths sister Miss Emeline p Smith.
Nothing is known here concerning
Smiths family further than that their
home is in Chicago.
Miss N1ardcn died at the hospital
about 11.30 a. NJ. Death was caused
by a bullet wound in the temple. In
tho opinion Of the medical examiner
Dr. H. G. blackwell of Amherst. this
was the first bullet fired by Smith. the
others striking. one in the left shoulder
AMI the other in the right shoulder
Friends of Miss Marden said today
that they believed no real engagement
existed between Smith and the young
woman he killed, although it is be+
lieved that there has been some ly'np
of a matrimonial understanding. Snith
had not seen Miss Marden sipfc last
Christmas. until his recent Vlsls 10
Northanoton. AT Christmas tlme
Miss Marden visited frisnds IN chi
eaco. but il is not kno"n whether she
visited any member II Smiths family
! Miss Louise Maiden. sister OF the
Gc.d girl and {, member of the Junior
c,ass NJ Smith College. said today that
IN hoy, ooinion Smith was temporarily
crazed at her sisters refusal to marry
rio, or p, make any definite plans re-
ear5ie a proposed marriage. Miss
o,,ic Marden spoke in the highest
Il ,,ns OF the young man. 1t is under
s.ood here that Smith had been suffer
ing from a nervous breakdown since
his graduation from Dartmouth College
+, last June.
Miss Marden was very popular
| I, ha Io
soprano soloist of the College Glee Club
and was a member of the Phi Kappa
Isl Society. one of the honor organi-
| <ations OF the college.
Somcrvile, Mass, April 29.-Miss
Helen Aver Marden, who was shot at
Smith College today by Porter Smith,
the Dartmouth graduate, is daughter
OF Frank w. Marden of the firm of
Mardsn, Orth & Hastings. Oil mer-
chants, at 10 High street, Boston, and
lives on Boston street in this city. Mr..
| MarGen left for Northampton this
forenoon and Mrs. Marden was disin-
clined to speak of the affair. but said
that she understood that the wound
was not serious and that her daughter
would recover. Miss Marden is %
years old and this was her last year
in college.
Hanover, N. H, April Exporter
Smith, who shot and fatally wounded
Miss Marden at Northampton today,
and then killed himself, was gradual
ed from Dartmouth College in the class
of 1905. While at college he was prom
inent in his class and was popular
among the other students. While inter-
ested in athletics, he never was men,
Der Of any of the Varsity teams. 1t is