The Evening Tribune

FAMILY TROUBLE THOUGHT TO BE THE CAUSE OF TERRIBLE ACT.

A Murder and a Suicide at the Home of the Boynton Family in That Town.

Leominster, Mass., Oct. 12.—This town was thrown into a high state of excitement yesterday by a murder and suicide at the home of the Boynton family, 148 Main street. The victim of the murder was Mrs. John F. Boynton, a highly respectable woman, 51 years of age. She was shot and killed by her husband, 58 years old, who then took his own life by another bullet from the same 32-caliber revolver.

The couple had not lived happily together for several years. Early in the morning they had a dispute which ended in the tragedy. A dressmaker living in another part of the house heard Mrs. Boynton scream for help and rushed into the latter's apartment. There she found Boynton pounding his wife on the floor. The dressmaker started to the neighbors for help, and just as she left the house she heard two shots, and then two more in quick succession.

When she returned to the house, in company with several neighbors, Mrs. Boynton was found lying on the floor of the room, her head and face a mass of bruises and two bullet wounds in her forehead. She lay in a pool of blood, fully dressed. Her husband was lying on the bed, his forehead likewise pierced by two bullets, and the revolver was resting upon his breast. Near the bed was an ax, which he had evidently used upon his wife before shooting.

Although Mr. Boynton was not a drinking man, he was not held in high repute by the townspeople. His wife, however, was highly respected and was spoken of as an estimable woman. The couple have four sons, grown up, three of whom lived at home. The family has lived in Leominster for several years. About six years ago Mr. Boynton was committed to an asylum for treatment for a rapid form of insanity. He was discharged in about four months, apparently cured, but during the past five weeks he had again attracted attention by his peculiar hallucinations and strange talk.