28 Sep 1906 - Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York)
Lizzie Halliday Kills Woman at Matteawan Hospital - Crime Outcome of Affection - Halliday Attached to Nurse - Nurse About to Leave Hospital
New York, Sept 27 - Lizzie Halliday killed a nurse in the Matteawan New York Asylum for the Criminal Insane today. Lizzie Halliday has been confined in Matteawan since her conviction for murder.
An insane fondness for Miss Wicks and violent opposition to her impending departure from the hospital was the motive which prompted Mrs. Halliday to kill her. Mrs. Halliday had displayed a great deal of affection for Miss Wicks and the nurse had made her one of her most trusted patients. A few weeks ago Miss Wicks told Mrs. Halliday that she was going to leave the hospital to engage in private nursing.
Mrs. Halliday seemed to be greatly depressed and begged the young woman not to leave, and declared that she would kill her before she would allow her to leave the asylum. Miss Wicks pretended to humor her, but continued her preparations to leave. This morning when Miss Wicks entered the lavatory Mrs. Halliday followed her and locked the door on the inside, leaving the key in the door so that none of the other attendants could open it. Then Mrs. Halliday knocked the young woman down and attacked her with her scissors. Miss Wicks shrieks brought the other attendants to the scene and they forced the door and overcame the insane woman after a desperate struggle. Miss Wicks died two hours later of her wounds.
Miss Wicks’ home was on Long Island, where her parents now reside. The following official statement was issued by the Matteawan asylum officials:
“At 7:45 o’clock this morning Lizzie Halliday made a murderous assault upon Miss Nellie Wicks, an attendant at the hospital. Miss Wicks in the course of her work had occasion to enter the lavatory connected with the ward. She was stealthily followed by Mrs. Halliday, who knocked her down from behind and took her keys. With these she locked the door, leaving the keys in the hole so that the door could not be unlocked from the outside. This prevented the other attendants from aiding Miss Wicks, and Mrs. Halliday deliberately stabbed her attendant with shears and death ensued in less than two hours.
“Miss Wicks came to the hospital from Long Island a little over a year ago. In January of this year she was promoted and made head attendant in her ward.
“Mrs. Halliday had appeared devotedly attached to her and was one of her trusted patients. Lately Miss Wicks had signified her intention of leaving the hospital and take a course of study to prepare herself for a trained nurse. She planned to leave October 1st, and it is learned now that Mrs. Halliday treated that Miss Wicks should not leave her, but as she is constantly making threats, little heed was paid to her. Mrs. Halliday’s insane infatuation for Miss Wicks and the coming separation seem to furnish the only explanation for the crime.”