The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-10
Another Rum Murder.

We gave last week quite catalogue OF
rum murders, and now aLd another 10 the
list, which occurred last week in our own
State. II is another fact 10 be viewed as
commentary upon the rum trade. The mur.
der occurred at Topsham, and Grips who is
accused of doing the deed has been com.
United TO the jail at Wiscassett 10 await his
trial a, the April term Of The S. ]. Court in
Sagadahoc County. The Bath papers fur.
IRISH the following account Of the circum.
stances OF the case. The Tribune says:
"Thc circumstances of the case, so far as we
have been able TO learn them, were as ioows:-
On the day preceding the murder, Grips was
about moving from the house he was then occupy.
ing 10 another abou, mile and halfdistant, and
had sent to this city and obtained half gallon OF
n. L. Rum TO be used or the occasion. The bust.
ness of moving had progressed without any unus'
nal occurrence till about sunset, when the last load
of movables wcrc placed upon the cart, and Grips
and his wife were both too drunk 10 proceed on
foot, as they had intended, TO their place Of des;i
nation.
The team proceeded on its way, accompanied
by the two sons Of Grips, one l6, and the other
IS years old. When they arrived at the house
they proceeded to unload the furniture and put up
the bctsteads.
Before the boys had got through, the father came
anil stated to them that he could not induce their
mother to accompany him, and wished they would
90 and see what they could do. They at once
wen, back TO tue house and found their mother
living upon the floor almost entirely naked, weller.
ing in her blood, and just gaspine n death.
They took of their coats and covered her up as
well as they could and ran for assistance. In the
mean time their father had been 10 a ncighbor's
by the name of Ward, and told him that his wife
was sick and appeared strangely, and requested
him to go with him and sec her. When Grips
and Ward arrived, Ward at once perceived that
the woman was dead, and seeing her situation,
ran TO alarm the neighbors.
Before any one having sufficient knowledge of
such matters arrived TO prevent II, Grips had Oh.
tanned horse and wagon and with the assistance
Of the boys had taken the corpse from the place Of
the supposed murder to the house where his ftrni'
ture was. When,hc neighborhood had become
thoroughly alarmed, and the corpse had been fol-
lowedt the house 10 which II had been carried,
Grips was found asleep ON one bed with his
clothes on, and the siifTened and bloody remains
of his wife lying M the next room upon another
The boys were awake, crying"
The Mirror says:
lin the room where the body was found by the
children, was piece Of spruce, about foot and
half in length, and two inches in diameter, which
was stained with blood and had locks Of hair
sticking to il. There were also two pieces of board
stained with blood, having the appearance OF hay.
inc been used in the assault. There was also n
niece of sleigh shoe in the room, hut from It's APP
pearance and The appearance ofihe wounds, there
was nothing 10 lead to the supposiion that the
iron had been used. The head was. pounded to u
Jelly, and the general appearance ofiho body was
revolving to look upon.
Grips had four children, three bcys and one
girl. lie is about 40 years Of age. His appear
ance is no, tha, of bad man, and it is said that
when sober, he exhibits good disposition, but is
made ugly aud furious by rum.
He purchased two quarts Of rum in this city the
day before the murder. We have an in,imalion
OF whom he purchased ii, but withhold the name
for the present.