- Helen S. Shaw 1926
Helen S. Shaw 1926 Murder / Suicide
James Ebenezer Norton Shaw, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1901 with a law degree. He opened a law office in New Bedford and purchased a large colonial style home in Mattapoisett from his parents. Eight (8) months later, in 1909, James and Helen Macomber Sherman were married. Helen was a schoolteacher in Mattapoisett.
On November 21, 1926, Attorney James Shaw (50) shot and killed his wife, Helen M. Shaw (46), them committed suicide in their home at 8 North Street. Both are buried in the Cushing Cemetery.
George Taber Russell Jr. (1840-1921)
George was a schoolteacher in Acushnet, Fairhaven and New Bedford for 22 years. George left education and entered into the banking business.
In 1880, George married Abbie Pilling (1840-1926), they later divorced and had no children.
George developed a friendly relationship with a younger woman, Rebecca C. (Maud) Holmes. George referred to her as his "sweetheart" and proposed marriage, to which she declined.
Rebecca later married Wallace Holmes. When Rebecca became pregnant, George offered $40,000 to name the child after him if it was a boy. Rebecca accepted his offer and named the baby boy after him, however the baby didn't survive.
James Shaw Appointed Executor of George Taber Russell Jr. Estate
Before George died in 1921; he hired Attorney Shaw to be the executor of his will. George instructed Rebecca and Attorney Shaw to invest the $40,000 in bonds for her.
George left an estate worth $140,000. He bequeathed a large amount of his estate to the Town of Acushnet. The money was to fund a new library, upkeep of the town’s cemeteries and for other projects.
The Town of Acushnet questioned the nearly $40,000 paid to Rebecca and two payments made to Attorney Shaw of $2,200 and $1,700. The money had come from Mr. Russell’s estate. Attorney Shaw filed with Probate Court a document showing a $42,000 withdrawal, signed by George a few days prior to his death.
George Russell's physician was scheduled to testify George's feeble mental and physical condition for the three (3) months before his death. Judge Mayhew Hitch found that George was incompetent of the time he gave Rebecca $40,000. Rebecca was charged with maladministration and Attorney Shaw was charged with fraud. Attorney Shaw and Rebecca were later charged with conspiracy to deplete the George Russell estate. This resulted in damaging the reputation of Attorney Shaw.
Rebecca and Attorney Shaw were scheduled for a hearing November 29, 1926, in this matter.
The hearing would never happen.
Attorney Shaw Kills Wife and Himself.
Attorney Shaw spent the day with his friends and family. The Friday after Thanksgiving, Attorney Shaw went to his office as usual and left at the end of the day, leaving the papers related to the estate and court hearing on his desk in preparation for Monday’s hearing.
At 3:30PM Attorney Shaw arrived at home, changed his clothes and grabbed his shotgun. He told his housekeeper, Catherine Sherman, he saw a rat in the yard on the way in and he was going out to shoot it. At 4:45PM Attorney Shaw he came back in the house and said the rat had got away. He went upstairs where his wife was getting dressed for her evening walk. A shot rang out.
“My God, I’ve shot my wife! The gun went off! Call Dr. Tilden, quick!”
Ms. Sherman ran to the phone and called Dr. Tilden who said he would be right over. Putting down the phone she turned to hurry up the stairs when she heard the second shot.
After Dr. Tilden arrived, he called for Dr. Raymond Baxter of Marion a medical examiner.
Mrs. Shaw died from a gunshot wound to the chin and neck, Attorney Shaw with a gunshot wound to the head. Dr. Baxter ruled the shooting an accidental homicide and suicide.
James Ebenezer Norton Shaw, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1901 with a law degree. He opened a law office in New Bedford and purchased a large colonial style home in Mattapoisett from his parents. Eight (8) months later, in 1909, James and Helen Macomber Sherman were married. Helen was a schoolteacher in Mattapoisett.
On November 21, 1926, Attorney James Shaw (50) shot and killed his wife, Helen M. Shaw (46), them committed suicide in their home at 8 North Street. Both are buried in the Cushing Cemetery.
George Taber Russell Jr. (1840-1921)
George was a schoolteacher in Acushnet, Fairhaven and New Bedford for 22 years. George left education and entered into the banking business.
In 1880, George married Abbie Pilling (1840-1926), they later divorced and had no children.
George developed a friendly relationship with a younger woman, Rebecca C. (Maud) Holmes. George referred to her as his "sweetheart" and proposed marriage, to which she declined.
Rebecca later married Wallace Holmes. When Rebecca became pregnant, George offered $40,000 to name the child after him if it was a boy. Rebecca accepted his offer and named the baby boy after him, however the baby didn't survive.
James Shaw Appointed Executor of George Taber Russell Jr. Estate
Before George died in 1921; he hired Attorney Shaw to be the executor of his will. George instructed Rebecca and Attorney Shaw to invest the $40,000 in bonds for her.
George left an estate worth $140,000. He bequeathed a large amount of his estate to the Town of Acushnet. The money was to fund a new library, upkeep of the town’s cemeteries and for other projects.
The Town of Acushnet questioned the nearly $40,000 paid to Rebecca and two payments made to Attorney Shaw of $2,200 and $1,700. The money had come from Mr. Russell’s estate. Attorney Shaw filed with Probate Court a document showing a $42,000 withdrawal, signed by George a few days prior to his death.
George Russell's physician was scheduled to testify George's feeble mental and physical condition for the three (3) months before his death. Judge Mayhew Hitch found that George was incompetent of the time he gave Rebecca $40,000. Rebecca was charged with maladministration and Attorney Shaw was charged with fraud. Attorney Shaw and Rebecca were later charged with conspiracy to deplete the George Russell estate. This resulted in damaging the reputation of Attorney Shaw.
Rebecca and Attorney Shaw were scheduled for a hearing November 29, 1926, in this matter.
The hearing would never happen.
Attorney Shaw Kills Wife and Himself.
Attorney Shaw spent the day with his friends and family. The Friday after Thanksgiving, Attorney Shaw went to his office as usual and left at the end of the day, leaving the papers related to the estate and court hearing on his desk in preparation for Monday’s hearing.
At 3:30PM Attorney Shaw arrived at home, changed his clothes and grabbed his shotgun. He told his housekeeper, Catherine Sherman, he saw a rat in the yard on the way in and he was going out to shoot it. At 4:45PM Attorney Shaw he came back in the house and said the rat had got away. He went upstairs where his wife was getting dressed for her evening walk. A shot rang out.
“My God, I’ve shot my wife! The gun went off! Call Dr. Tilden, quick!”
Ms. Sherman ran to the phone and called Dr. Tilden who said he would be right over. Putting down the phone she turned to hurry up the stairs when she heard the second shot.
After Dr. Tilden arrived, he called for Dr. Raymond Baxter of Marion a medical examiner.
Mrs. Shaw died from a gunshot wound to the chin and neck, Attorney Shaw with a gunshot wound to the head. Dr. Baxter ruled the shooting an accidental homicide and suicide.
Cushing Cemetery, Mattapoisett
- Shirley Battistelli 2009
Shirley Battistelli 2009 Murder / Suicide
On November 12, 2009, Mattapoisett Police were called to 6 Tallman Street from a family member reporting the discovery of two (2) deceased individuals. Police arrived and located the victims as Shirley Battistelli (74) and Joseph Battistelli (78). It was determined Shirley was strangled and Joseph took his own life. Both were buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Bedford.
On November 12, 2009, Mattapoisett Police were called to 6 Tallman Street from a family member reporting the discovery of two (2) deceased individuals. Police arrived and located the victims as Shirley Battistelli (74) and Joseph Battistelli (78). It was determined Shirley was strangled and Joseph took his own life. Both were buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Bedford.