Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-05
And Suicide, Sunday, at
North Adams, Mass.
Andrew Cutler, Suddenly In
sane, Kills Two Close Friends


North Adams, Mass, Feb. 4.-Sud-
denly becoming insane, it is believed
Andrew Cullen, aged AZ section fore
man of a gang of Heesae tunnel labor
ers, murdered John Balzerini, aged %,
and Edward Williams. aged So, mem
bers of his crew, during the night and
later killed himself by shooting. The
affair occurred at Balzerinis home.
The only witness to the crime was
Mrs. Balzerini, wife of ore of the vic
tins. From her. story to the police, it
is not supposed that the men had en-
gagged in a quarrel, but rather that
Cullen went insane. After killing
Balzerini instantly and wounding Will
liams so that he died soon afterwards,
Cullen left the house and entering the
Hoosae tunnel nearby fatally shot
himself
Shortly after 10 o'clock. last night.
Cullen went to the home of Balzerini,
who was his best friend Cullen was
foreman, Balzerini assistant foreman
and Williams a member of the section
crew employed in the tunnel and all
lived in the neighborhood. When Cui
len arrived at the house. one of a
number of small structures near the
tunnel and occupied by laborers. he
appeared somewhat under the influence
of liquor, according TO information Civ
en- the police, but was not intoxicated.
Balzerini was in bed at the time, but
Cullen persuaded him to arise. The
two men entered a room and engaged
in conversation. After seme time Will
liams came to the house and joined the
other men in the room.
Suddenly and without any word of
explanation Cullen whipped out a 3s-
calibre revolver, such as many of the
section hands often carry, and point
ing it at the other two men said: I'm
going to do some shooting" He pulled
the trigger and the bullet hit Balzerini,
killing him instantly. 1t passed
through his right arm and entered his
lungs. Turning the revolver towards
Williams before the latter had oppor-
tunity to escape Cullen fired three
times. One of the bullets passed
through the fieshy part of Williams
right side and the other two entered
his lungs. Cullen then walked out of
the house and towards the tunnel
When near the entrance he was halted
by Frank Jangero, a track walker. who
attempted to prevent him from enter
ing. Cullen fired shot into the air
and warning Jangero that he followed
him he would Fill his body full of
lead" went through the entrance.
A few seconds later Jangero heard
three shots and going into the tunnel
discovered Cullen lying about so feet from
the entrance.
mo he
fed of the shooting in Balzerinis house.
and upon learning that Cullen had been
seen headed for the tunnel hastened
there to capture him. Lying in a pool
of blood, barely alive, with three bull
let's in his body. he was found by the
officers. A special electric train was Sc
cured and Cullen was rushed to Inc
North Adams hospital. where he died
within a few minutes.
Before he passed away the last rites
of the Catholic church We're administered
by Rev. Father George Welch of St
Francis church. In barely coherent
statement just before he passed away,
Cullen denied shooting anyone An ex-
animation by the physicians disclosed
that one of the bullets which he inflicted
on himself had entered the neck and
lodge in the base o t the skull, another
went through the neck and chin and the
third pierced the right side.
When the police had conducted an in
vestigation at Balxerinfs home they
learned that Williams had also been shot
and officers went to his house TO locate
him. In order TO gain entrance to the
house the police We're forced to break
down door which Williams had barred
firmly.
Williams was discovered lying across a
bed, almost dead and his body nearly
frozen. He was taken to the North Adj
ans hospital, where death occurred with
in short time After the bodies of the
three men had been viewed by Medical
Examiner Brown, it was decided that no
autopsy would be necessary.
Cullen had borne a good reputation
among his acquaintance. He came to
North Adams about Is years ago from
Biddeford, Me. He was unmarried. A
sister resides here. Balzerini, besides a
Wife, had two sons, aged 4 and years.
The other victim, Williams, was unmar-
ried.