The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1911-02-17
WOMAN KILLS
SELF and SON
Carries Out Promise to Husband
on His Death Bed
TRAGEDY IN A MAINE HOME

lKA6EUI IN A MAINE HUME
Quickly Follows Death of Farmer Who
Was Beset by Troubles Which He
Thought Wife and Child Would Be
Unable to Bear-Bodies Will Be
Buried In One casket, In Accord
ance With Request
Oxford, Me-, Feb. 13.-In fulfil
ment of compact made during her
husbands Illness, which was found
yesterday signed by both, Mrs. Lynn
prosperous farmer here, shot her IA
year old son Gerald as he lay in his
bed Sunday morning, and then went
to her own room, which she locked,
and ended her own life.
1t had been agreed between Mr.. and
Mrs. Keene, according to the COM
pact found in her room, that in the
event of Keene's expected death his
wife was to do away with herself
and their child. Keene did Saturday.
Mrs. Keene fulfilled her part Of the
grim contract Sunday.
The boy, Gerald, was still living
when persons in the house, mourning
over the body of the dead father, went
to his room. He had been shot through
the temple, the revolver having been
held so close to the head OF the child
whether while asleep or waking af-
ter some farewell word from his mother
is unknown-that the hair was singed
The child was unconscious when
found, and lived but half an hour af
ter, DR.. H. r. Farris,' who had re-
sponded to the hurry call, being un-
able to maintain life. Gerald never
regained consciousness.
After finding the lad wounded and
dying friends of the family who made
the discovery durried to the room of
his mother in the other side of their
home. Knocks failed of an answer.
Then the door was broken In, and the
room within revealed the body of Mrs.
Keene stretched in the bed, with a
bullet hole through her head. She had
placed the revolver to the roof of her
mouth and fired. AS with the son.
there was only one wound The
weapon used, revolver, was found
on the bed by her side, where it had
been released by her lifeless fingers
The death compact was dated about
a month ago and the document recited
briefly the family's troubles, the re-
suit OF Keene's Illness. In It. mis-
death was predicted, and IT. was
agreed that when this blow came the
little family should all go. II being
stated that Mr.. and Mrs. Keeue
thought it would be wrong to have
their son remain in the world to suf-
fer the troubles they had. So Mrs.
Keene bound herself, in the agree
ment with her dying husband. to do
away" with herself and their son Ger
aid, as soon as possible after the hus-
bands and fathers death.
Then came directions to relatives
and friends. Husband and wife
wished to be buried in double cas-
Bet. and that their sons coffin should
be placed In the same box for final in.
termeDt. So it has been arranged,
and the triple burial will take place
mere next Wednesday, marking the
end OF q tried family which could not
survive misfortune.
When the folk in the village and
the nearby countryside learned OF the
tragedy It was told how happy was the
couple. with their strong, likabls
child. up to a year ago. Then came
an illness upon the husband and faith
er which forced him to forsake his
work on his farm. which he had pur-
chased only a few months before.
Unable to leave his bed, he was I'M
able to add to the family resources.
Soon the end OF their money was
and Mr.. and Mrs. Keene &C
cepted help from relatives, in an effort
to keep their home. But when they
saw this was futile. funds were raised
on the house. This was a great factor
In their despair, say friends. Several
ago Keene said he was certain
the end was near, and. in fact, he
has been expected to die daily for