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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Holyoke Daily Transcript
Friday, 4 December 1908


        MURDER AT WESTFIELD
        
        JOHN ARDEN, Released from Northampton
         Insane Asylum but a Month Ago,
          Kills His Wife with a Shotgun
          
        Springfield, Dec. 4. - Released from Northampton
      insane asylum four weeks ago and thought to be cured,
      JOHN ARDEN, 40, living near the Mundale waterworks,
      in Westfield, murdered his wife at 1 o'clock this
      afternoon by firing two shots from a shotgun into
      her side, and then turned the weapon on himself,
      blowing off the lower part of his face. MRS. ARDEN
      was killed almost instantly, the shots opening two
      gaping wounds in her side, and her husband is dying.
      
        For more than two years ARDEN was thought to be
      insane. He acted queerly, and several times he
      threatened the lives of his wife and five children,
      who live in a house about half a mile from the Mun-
      dale waterworks. Six months ago he was taken to the
      Northampton asylum, where he remained until his re-
      lease four weeks ago.
      
        According to the neighbors, ARDEN started an argu-
      ment with his wife this morning, over money matters.
      MRS. ARDEN kept boarders and the husband declared
      that he wanted some of the money she received from
      them. The children screamed and ran out of the house
      when they saw their father pick up his shot gun and
      point it at their mother. The gun went off with a
      blinding crash, filling the room with smoke, and MRS.
      ARDEN sank to the floor with a little moan. Not satis-
      fied with this the crazed man walked close to her 
      still breathing body on the floor and emptied another
      charge into her abdomen. Then he placed the end of 
      the barrel in his mouth, pulled the trigger, blowing
      off the lower part of his face.
      
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