The Press., 1909-05-05
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Mrs. Rister Becomes Insane, Murders her Infant
 and cOmmiEs Suicide.


 shot and killed her eighteen months old son, after which she turned thu
 weapon on herself and committed suicide. Previous to this she made { murdsrous assault on Charles E
 Emery, a salesman for a publishing
 house. The cause of Mrs. Rister'
 insanity was grief for the death oi
 her daughter. Elsie, a girl of IA.
 who died about six weeks ago. She
 naturally felt her loss keenly and
 brooded over it, and the event was
 brought to her mind vividly by the
 visit of the salesman, who called to
 deliver a framed memorial in memory
 of the dead girl. The Risters lived
 in farm house about one mile north
 of the borough, on the Hollow road.
 Mir. Emery arrived at the house about
 9 o'clock. having previously met
 Mrs Rister on the road taking two
 of her children to school. He was
 ushered into the house, and noticed
 nothing unusual in the actions or ap-
 pearanoe of the woman. He placed
 the memorial on the table and had
 some talk with Mrs Rister about it
 The child was sitting on the floor
 nearby and started crying. Mrs
 Rister stepped away, and MT. Emery supposed she was going to the child. A moment later he was assaulted from behind. He supposed that a hanging lamp or something had fallen on his head. When the blow was repeated he turned and found Mrs Rister glar- ing at him with blazing eyes, with 8 short axe in her hand. Although somewhat dazed by the force and sud denness of the blows, he grappled with her and finally managed to get the axe away from her, dropping it on the floor. Still trying to over power her he finally got her down. but could do nothing to quell her fury. Both arose and she started for the axe again. He seized it first, getting hold of the handle. She got hold of the other end and tried to strike him with it while he held it. The struggle brought them to the outside door and he, realizing that his strength was nearly gone, took the first opportunity to get out. She fol- lowed, and again they grappled in the yard. The axe having dropped she seized a stone, and again oom- menoed to pound him on his head She would have probably finished him but for the opportune arrival of a team driven by Leon Rounds, and containing besides a travelling man, O E. Olsen. They got out of the team and started toward the house, but stopped in the yard. MT. Emery says that he asked them to take him to doctor. but they told him to stay where he was and they would tele- l phone for a sheriff and doctor. MT. Emery states that he asked them if they were going to leave him to be killed by the woman, but they got | into the team and drove away. AS soon as the team arrived Mrs. Rister glanced toward it and then went into ;he house, locking the door. Before ;he men left there were sounds of shots n the house. Mir. Emery managed 10 stagger out to the highway. A girl came along with a team, and he asked her to take him in and get him to a doctor. She whipped up her horse and got out of the way. MT. Emery says he does not blame her, as he must have been @ horrible sight, with the blood streaming from his A little later Newell Delphia of Wales came along, took him in and drove him to the office of pr. Stretch. where his wounds were dressed. In the meantime Rounds and Olsen had driven to the home of Walter Scott and telephoned in. Deputy Sheriff Helm and MT. Rister went to the house Mir. Rister en- tered through the window and opened the house. It was a gruesome spec 'acle that presented itself. Mrs. Rister lay in the center of the room, and few feet away was the body of inc baby. She had shot him through inc head, and had then shot herself four times in the breast Coroner Fisk and Medical Examiner Newton Grrived soon after and made an exami- nation. The family is one of the best znown and respected of the commun- ty. Mrs. Rister was Miss Emma Nothniok. She was a hard working woman and devoted to her family. 'he had lately acted little strangely It times, especially when the death if her daughter was in her mind, but , ,RVe no sign of the complete mental that finally resulted. She ( lever realized what was occurring md her death and the circumstances connected with it are particularly sad. The was AZ years of age. Her hus. and, two little daughters, Annie and Nellie, her mother, two brothers, Richard and Rudolph, and a sister, dinnie, survive her. Yesterday MT. Emery was resting quietly at the lome of James Bolieau after his
 | xciting experience. He has eight wounds in his head, varying from light wounds to severe gashes. There 8 no fracture of the skull, and the hanoes for his quick recovery seem .ood. Besides the wounds on his lead. his right arm and wrist have eVeral scars where he was bitten uring the struggle. MT. Emery is P years of age, and member of the odge of Odd Fellows at Athens, Me. ince his injury the local Odd Eel ows have given him every attention 
 Michael Domaine has made an un. ortunate break at Rockville. He 7as brought before the court. obaroad ,