Norwich bulletin., 1909-04-30
Smith College
Student Shot
FATALLY WOUNDED WHILE
WALKING ON CAMPUS.
MISS HELEN AVER MARDEN
Member of Senior CIass-Murderer,
a Dartmouth Graduate, Glass of 1908.

Northampton. Mass, April 29.-In
fit of anger on insanity because she
had broken an engagement to marry
him and refused to renew it, Porter
Smith who graduated from Dartmouth
college last year. to day shot and IA
tally wounded Miss Helen Aver Mar
den, member of the senior class at
Smith college and then, turning the
revolver on himself, committed suicide
Miss Marden was taken to the Dick
inson hospital. where she died at noon.
Tried to Force His Attentions on Miss
Marden.
Smith, whose home was in Chicago.
bad been in Northampton for several
days. 1t is said that he had persist
cnly followed Miss Marden and tried
to force his attentions on her but she
refused to have anything to do with
him. This morning, when most of the
students Of Smith were at chapel, Miss
Marden came out of the students
building where she roOmed. She had
stayed away from the chapel exercises
ii is understood because she feared she
would be further pursued by Smith on
the way there. When she came out
on the campus she had gone only a
shot distance when she met Smith
There were no students near. and it
is not known whether there was any
conversation between the two.
A Shot and a Scream.
Suddenly Workmen not far distant
heard a shot and Il scream. Turning
around. they saw Smith standing be-
side the girl with smoking revolver
in his hand. Before they could reach
the couple, they saw Smith raise the
revolver and fire two more shots at
the girl. Miss Marden sank to the
ground, and Smith Immediately placed
the muzzle of the weapon to his own
head and fired. falling dead beside the
young woman
Shooter Temporarily Crazed.
Miss Marden's sister. Lonise Mar
den, is a member of the junior class
81 Smith. and one of her classmates is
Smiths sister. Miss Emelre p. Smith.
Louise AGarden said today that in her
opinion Smith was Temporarily crazed
at her sisters refusal to marry him.
She spoke in the highest terms Of the
young man. 1t is understood here that
Smith had been suffering from a ner-
VOus breakdown since his graduation
from Dartmouth.
Miss Marden was very popular
among her college mates. She was the
soprano soloist of the Smith College
Glee club and was a member of the
Phi Kappa Psi society. one of the hon
Smiths Antecedents.
Hanover, n. H.. Aprfl 2g.-Porter
Smith. who shot and fatally wounded
Miss Marden at Northampton TODAY.
and then killed himself. was graduated
from Dartmouth college in the class of
1908. He entered Dartmouth from the
University high school. Chicago His
father is dead but his mother. Mrs.
Charlotte NJ. Smith. lives at No 5467
Washington avenue ChicaS go. During
his four. years at Dartmouth Smith was
extremely popular. He was a member
os the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and
several societies. He was both athletic
and musical as well as a good student
lie was connected with several musf-
cal clubs of the college had played on
the freshman and sophomore baseball
teams. managing the latter during his
sophomore year and in his senior year
was a member of the college baseball
squad. Since graduation he has been
travelling for the Smith Shoe company
OF Chicago in Nebraska.
Dead Girl Daughter of Boston Oil Mer-
chant.
Somerville Mass. April 29.-Miss
Helen Aver Marden. who was shot at
Smith college today by Porter Smith
is the daughter Of Frank w Marden
of the firm of Marden. Orth and Hast
irgs, oil merchants. at No. 13 High
street, Boston. As far as the family
knew, Miss Marden had never received
attentions from young Smith. and he
lad not called upon her when she was
home from college. Miss Marden was
twenty three years old.