Semi-weekly herald., 1909-04-01
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS


wife of former Governor Mcdonald
this morning shot and fatally Wounds
Miss Sarah Nichols, and then, tui
ing the pistol upon himself commitse,
suicide
The double shooting occurred at III,
home of former GOV, nor Mcdonald
In Logan street, shortly s''-r o'olocl
this morning. Mr.. Collins was 6,
years of age. and the victim of hi
pistol a few years younger Mis-.
Nichols was known as auntie. and hat
made her home with Mrs. Mcdonald
many years. Collins arrived in Den
yer two months ago from Pennsyl
vania on visit to his daughter Just
what led to the tragedy is not known
A number of painters at work in the
house were the only witnesses to the
Ssiempted murder and suicide Accord
inA TO their story Collins and Miss
Nichols were sitting in the kitchen
Of the house, apparently engaged In a
friendly conversation. Suddenly there
Nfit ipuh Nbiuos anu 'DiililS. uiaWllH
ing his revolver, shot the woman in
the head She arose and staggered
from the room, screaming for help,
Collins then. before the painters could
interfere with him, rushed past them
out OF the room and down into the
cellar. There was another shot and
he was found a few minutes later,
dead, with bullet In his breast Miss
Nichols was attended by DIR. Elliott,
who. after temporary treatment, call
ed an ambulance and hurried her 10
St. Luke's hospital There is little
hope for her recovery.
Mrs. Mcdonald was in the house st
the time of the shooting and is pros.
trate as result of the affair. Her
husband. who is former governor. Is
out o. the city. The authorities are
now endeayoring to get an explnna
tion of the horrible affair.
Collins was over 10 years Of age
and had been In Ill health two months
since coming to Denver from his home
in Plattsmouth, n. Y. For weeks he
Ahrely tasted food and last night was
hld by Miss Aida Olander. who made
her home with the McDonald's, that
he had not long TO live. Collins has
been brooding over his III health for
some weeks. He and his victim were
good friends. She is his dead wife's
sister The two made their home with
the MacDonald's for years, both in
Denver and Leadville, and were treat
ed as members of the family, and had
been on the hest of terms.
81 don't know why he shot me-" said
Miss Nichols at the hospital, before
she lapsed into unconsciousness. 'He
came into the room where l was sit
ting and shot the revolver in my
face without woid of warning"
Mrs. Mcdonald can give no explana
tion of the causes of the tragedy, ex
cept that of insanity. She said her
father had been i'll for years and
fering from stomach trouble and his
brain appeared to be affected. Mrs
Mcdonald is of the opinion that mel
anchoIia, induced by his physical all
ments, was responsible for the tragedy.
PTTTSBURG, Mar. 29.-Mrs. Marian
Bergen of Sharpsburg, a suburb, was
burned to death, and her daughter,
Mrs. Lena Young, and son-in-law, Fred
erick Hemie. seriously burned in a
fire which destroyed their home today.
The fire started in Mrs. Bergen's
loom where she was sleeping. When
discovered Hemke and Mrs. Young
rushed in to rescue the older woman,
but while they tried the flames threat.
ened their lives, and they could not
find her. With blistered faces and
clothing afire they gave up the search.
When the firemen reached the scene
the house was in flames and escape
was entirely cut off for those asleep
on the upper floor. who were rescued
with ladders. Mrs. Hemke and two
children were taken from the roof of
porch where they climbed through
a window to escape the flames.
AUBURN, n. Y, Mar. 29.-Appar.
emily indifferent 10, her fate, Mrs.
Mary Farmer died in the electric chair
at sunrise, for the killing of Mrs
Sarah Brennan at Brownsville.
Mrs. Farmer was allowed TO bid
farewell TO her husband yesterday and
was then lodged in cell which ad
joins the execution chamber to await
her final hour. The woman showed
no evidence of collapse up to the fina
hour. After her husband had beer
led away she fell upon her cot ant
wept for a few moments, then begai
TO pray
Mrs. Farmer dressed last night TO
her execution this morning. Thi
morning a woman attendant cut th'
prison gown 10 the knee and slit tn
stocking so that the electrode col
could be applied TO the limb. A loci
or two of her hair was clipped from
the head in order to form perfec
contact with the electrodes.
The march to the death chambe