Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-29
The Awful Murder In Mains.

The dreadful murder aud robbery Of Mr.
Edward Matthews, has been cause for the
most intense excitement in Maine, and we
have gathered the following details in refer
ence to this painful affair, from the Maine
papers lit appears that during the early
part Of last week, the deceased made appIi-
cation to Mr. p. Soule. OF Clinton, 10 sign q
note with him for 81 500, payable to the
Ticonic Bank, and when asked what he
intended doing with the money, replied that
il was for young friend in Watervile, but
declined giving his name. Mr. s. declined
having any thing 10 do with the transaction.
Matthews then made application to his I'M
Gle 10 sign with him, but received for answer
that unless he was informed what use was
to be made Of the money he would have
nothing TO do with the matter. Matthews
informed him that il was for DR.. Coolidge,
who had received letter from Dr. Potter,
who is now in Cincinnati, stating that il he
would send him 81 500 or 80 900 he could
invest il where he would soon realize a.
900; that Coolidge was 10 give a bonus Of
$500 for the use Of ii ten days, and give
him bill Of sale Of his books and accounts
as collateral security.
Under these representations his uncle and
cousin were induced 10 sign the note
Matthews drew the money from the Bank
on Thursday, aud informed his cousin that
he had made an appointment 10 meet Cool.
idge in the evening and pay the money over
10 him. On Thursday evening Matthews
attended party Of young people at DORIS
tavern, and during the early part Of the
evening DR.. Coolidge came into the room,
looked round few minutes and then relir-
ed. Soon after the DR.. went out, Matthews
cousin, who signed the note with him, re.
minded him Of his engagement with DR.. c.,
who replied, 20 yes, must attend to that"
and excused himself TO the company, saying
that he would return again in half an hour.
lie was next seen in conversation with two
men. who proved to be students Of the
College, upon the side walk. Nothing
more was seen OF him that night The next
morning he was found dead, upon a pile of
wood in Mr. Doolittle's cellar. with three
Commissions upon his head, one Of which
fractured the skull. His money and a gold
watch was gone. Early on Friday morn.
ing DR.. Coolidge received call to visit a
patient in Clinton. and from Clinton he
came TO Skowhegan, and did not return 10
Waterville until 10 or III o'clock, A. NJ
On his return he was informed Of Mr.
Matthews death, at which he expressed
some surprise, aud stated that he had loaned
him, (Malthews) 5000 on the previous eve
ming.
A Jury Of inquest was called, and post
mortem examination was made Of the stom-
acb of the deceased, which was found to
contain large quantity of brandy and some
poisonous ingredient, sufficient, il is said,
TO have caused death. Suspicious were
aroused against DR.. Coolidge, and he was
placed under keepers on Saturday, and the
Jury have continued their investigation up
TO the time Of writing this article. A
thorough search was instituted 10 recover
the money and watch of the deceased and
on Monday portion Of the money was
found secured behind board ia shed be-
longing to Williams tavern; and the watch
was found secreted under the cushion of
DR., Coolidge's sleigh, which was slowed
away in the chamber Of the shed. The
watch, il is said, was done up IN several
thIcknesses Of paper, similar in appearance
to paper made use Of by DIR. Coolidge to do
up medicine in. The search for the re-
mainder Of the money will be continued,
but at present, these are all the particulars
that we have been able to obtain. Appear.
ances, il must be confessed, are strongly
against DR.. Coolidge; aud il he is the gull
~ person, his plans were not very well d.
gested.
II appears that he made application 10
w. b. S. Moore, Esq. and TO MIR George
Gilman for the loan OF the money, before
he applied TO Mr.. Matthews for Il and il
also appears that he requested Matthews not
10 tell who the money was for, and he
probably thought that the request had been
complied with, yet il is evident that an at
Tempt was made TO drug him either with
opium or some other deadly poison, and this
fact will be another strong link in The chain
OF circumsIantial evidence against him. A
post moriem examination by professor Loo.
mis-, says The Yankee Blade, showed the
presence Of sufficient quantity Of prussic
acid IN the stomach 10 have destroyed life
in is seconds
This melancholy aud tragic alfair has
thrown the community in which !, occurred,
into the deepest gloom. The victim was a !