Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-30
W. H. AUSTIN TELLS
OF XMAS SHOOTING
AFFAIR, ENFIELD, n. H.
Escape of Daughter, Mrs. w. D.
Laramie, Considered Miracu-
lous-Shot Twice in Head but
Expected to Recover

William H. Austin, who was called
last Saturday to Enfield, N. L, by the
shooting Friday evening, Dec. 25, Of
his daughter, Mrs. Annabel Laramie.
by her husband, Walter d. Laramie,
returned Tuesday morning to his
home In this city and reported that
his daughter, who Is in a hospital at
Hanover. N. H, was doing well at the
time he left for home and is expected
to recoGer. Laramie. who attempted
suicide after having shot his wife, and
who is at the same hospital, is reported
to have about an even chance.
In speaking Tuesday Of the shoot
ing Mr.. Austin said that the motive Oh
the part Of Laramie was without doubt
jealousy. The two people had not been
living together for some time. Mrs.
Laramie had been working in a WOOL
en- mill in Enfield and living with her
grandfather, A. A. Nickson, at Enfield
Centre, where were also her two chill
dren, one aged four years and the
other two years. Mr.. Nickson carried
her back and forth to her work in
his team. Laramie also lived at Enfield
Centre with some of his relatives.
Laramie had on different occasions
tried to induce his wife to return to
him. but she had refused. Christmas
afternoon Laramie was at the Dick
son home and when Mr.. Dickson har-
messed his horse. which was a young
animal, preparatory to taking Mrs.
Laramie back to Enfield, Laramie sug-
gested that he drive her over. Mr..
Dickson asked his granddaughter rela
tive to the plan and as she did not
object Laramie was allowed to take
the team.
Continuing, Mr.. Austin said that
Laramie in starting for Enfield did
not take the road usually followed but
chose another and that when they hal
gone about two miles he told his wife
that if she did not go back to live
with him he should kill himself. In
order probably to avoid trouble she
told him that she would, whereupon
he turned the team around and start
ed back to Enfield Centre, and when
after they had gone some distance he,
without warning, pulled .38-caliber
revolver from his pocket and pointing
4
bullet striking the right side of her
head well up toward the top and pass
ing around to the forehead lodged
there. crushing in small portion OF
the skull in its passage.
The report of the revolver startled
the colt so that he ran and it was
some little time before Laramie re-
gained control Of the animal. When
he did so, however. he pulled the re-
volver again from his pocket, saying
at the same time: I mean youi" or
some remark of that nature. Mrs. Lar
annie aware this time of his intention,
tried to wrest the revolver from hin
but during the struggle the weapon
vas discharged, the bullet striking her
near the top of the left side of the
head and passing down along the skull
lodged in the neck near the windpipe.
At the sound of the second shot tho
colt ran again and did not stop until
he reached the Nickson dooryard.
Notwithstanding the seriousness OF
her wounds, Mrs. Laramie did not lose
consciousness and was able when the
colt stopped to get out of the sleigh
and make her way into the house, and
also to superintend the work of wash
ing the blood from her face.
AS she entered the house, she told
her father afterward at the hospital
at Hanover. she heard another shot
and supposed at the time that Lara
mie had tried again to shoot her. but
failed. 1t was ascertained. however,
that after getting out of the sleigh
Laramie had placed the muzzle OF the
revolver to the right side of his head
and fired, the bullet striking over the
right ear and blowing its way forward,
tore out the right eve and buried 1t
self in the forehead over the eye.
Mr.. Austin expressed himself Tues
day as much encouraged at the at
tending physicians report regarding
his daughters condition and hopes FOR
her recovery.