SHOCKING MATRICIDE in AMERICA

Dunstan Times, Issue 634, 12 June 1874, Page 3

SHOCKING MATRICIDE in AMERICA

-At nine o’clock on the nil'll t of the 13th of February the people in the southern section of old Bergen City were startled By the report that an old lady, connected with one of the most respectable families in that neighborhood, had been murdered in cold-blood by her son. Mary E. Freeman, widow of Joseph H. Freeman, who lived on the come l- of Carteret and Clerk streers, avas the victim. Her son, Joseph W. ‘Freeman, has, it is stated, had much difficulty with different members of the family. Same months ago, be charged lii brother-in-law, Alexander Annin, with being a worthh ;s fellow, asd having quarrelled with him, turn id him out of doo"S. During the last four or live weeks, he has been endeavoring to person le his mother to give him 2,0i'0.101, which she refused to accede. Last evening, about nine o’clock, he proceeded to his mother’s sleeping room on the second floor of the house. Having reached the room, he sat down on a chair opposite his mother, mud renewed his re. quest that she would give the money ho had previously asked' She replied that she had not the money at her command, and could not possibly respond to Ins wish. He betrayed signs of excitement, ami drew a four-barrelled revolver from his pocket. His mother, fearing personal harm, rose to flee from the room, when, ac’cording to the fftory of 'one of his sisters who was also in tjie room, he deliberately aimed the pistol at her and tired. 'The hall struck her in the hack, and she fell unconscious over the threshold of the door leading from the room. The son immediately threw the pistol behind <ne of the doors and left the house. An alarm was immediately given, and neighbors rushed into the house. On of them lifted her upon the bed in the room, but she died immediately. After the murderer had left the house he retreated down through Ocean avenue. Kear the Fourth Precinct Station-house he encountered officer C. S. Smith. The officer ■observed that he seemed to be laboring under strong excitement, and asked him what ailed him. He replied that lie was looking for a physician, and admitted, on being pressed by the officer, that he had shot his mother. He was taken to the station-house, and at the sergeant’s desk stated that ho was twenty-seven years of age, a native of New Jersey, ard without occupation. Upon being questioned as to his motive for sh-joting his mother, he said it was accidental; that he intended to shoot himself, and the hall missing the mark, lodged in the body of the unfortunate victim. He was committed to the cells, and several times inquired of the officers who passed his cell as to his mother’s condition. Upon being told that she was dead, he sat <lown and cried bitterly.