Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-05
Drive People to Seek
Shelter in East Boston.
Louis E|Ietsen Makes Desper.
ate Effort 10 Kill His wife,
Is Unsuccessful But Turns Pistol
And Kills Himself.

Boston, April 4-Louis Is. Ellefsen,
Ar years of age, but recently released
from the Bridgewater State farm, at
tempted to kill his wife at 100 Sumner
street, East Boston, last night, and af-
ter firing several shots at persons who
sought to intercept him, finally shot
and killed himself.
The scene Of the tragedy was at the
corner Of Sumner and and London
street, and MANY persons had very mar
row escapes from the flying bullets
Ellefsen, in his effort to kill his wife,
sent q bullet through the window of
the house at 122 Sumner street, where
she lodged, just after she had slammed
the door in his face, and when Fred
ecick Mathison, proprietor of the
house, went in pursuit of him, he was
compelled TO seek shelter behind tree
to escape the bullets that the enraged
husband fired at him.
According to the police F,llefsen and
his wife separated some time ago, af-
ter they had quarrelled. The wife went
with her children to the Sumner street
address, while the husband after his
release from Bridgewater a short time
ago, took UP his residence with his
sister at Sc Paris street
Last night about o'clock he was
seen CT Sumner street, acting strange
~. Persons in the pooiroom of Joseph
Lamey on that thoroughfare say that
he appeared to peer into the face of
every woman who passed.
A short time later Mrs: Ellefsen came
out OF her home and walked up Sumner
street to a store, where she made some
purchases. AS she was returning to the
house, her husband rushed up to her
side, and began to heap reproaches up
on her for leaving him. He uttered
threats that aroused the woman, and
the police state that she struck him
over the head with one of the bundles
that she carried.
The police hold the opinion that he
would have killed the woman then and
there mad it not been for the fact that
men in the pool room, who had kept
him under observation, hurried out OF
the place and Ellefsen took to his heels
He ran down Summer street, turned
into London and was chased by the
group as far as Maverick street, where
they lost sight of him for a time.
About half an hour later he returned
and going directly up the short flight
OF stairs that led to the entrance to
the lodging house where his wife lived,
poered in through the glass in the CEN
ter Of the door. While he was there he
rang the bell and Mrs. Ellefsen re-
spOndcd.
She opened the door cautiously and
was about to look out, when she caught
sight CT his form, and slammed it in
his face.
Ellefsen fired. the bullet shattering
the glass in the door. and narrowly
missing his wife as she sped along the
hallway
Mr.. Mathison, learning of the previ-
Gus encounter with the wife. had been
searching for him and was returning
Just as Ellefsen, with the revolver in
his hand came out of the doorway
Aroused to frenzy, Ellefsen confront
ed Mathison and the latter seeing the
weapon, jumped behind q tree at the
corner of London and Summer streets.
Eliefsen attempted to reach him,
Mathison lodging back and forth. as
he realized that his life depended upon
his agility Finally Ellcfsen fired twice
in rapid succession. the bullets taking
effect III the tree Then he fired a third
one, this time narrowly missing hitting
Mathison's left arm.
People rain from all directions at the
sounds of the SHOTS When Ellefsen
found that he could not get Mathison,
nc backed UP against the building on
the London street side and. rising the
revolver, sent a bullet into his head
ard topplod over on his side.
When Patroiman Driscoll arrived
with the ambulance Ellefsen was dead
Since his return from Bridgewater,
Eliefsen, who was q native of Sweden.
had worked at the Atlantic Works Oh
Border street.