Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-24
Horrible Murder i'm Maine.

Inc LeWistown Falls (Maine) journal gives
lengthy account OF a horrible murder perpetratcd
in the town of Poland, in that State, from which
VIC condensc the following particulars
In our last issue we alluded to the fact that Mrs
Mary, wife of George Knight of Poland, was found
dead in her bed on Tuesday morning Of last week
with her throat cut and that suspicion rested upon
her husband as the perpetrator of the hor,il deed
Since then he has been arrested and after lengthy
examination, has been committed to iail, without
ball. to await his trial on the charge of murder at
the Supreme judicial Court, TO be holden in this
place on the fourth Tuesday of January next
The facts which have been elected 20 to show
that most horrible and cold-blooded murder has
been committed by some person, and that there
are sufficient circumstances to warrant the holding
of Mr.. George Knight to answer to the charge,
Mr.. Knight is farmer about forty, and his wife
was not far from sixty years efage. So far as any
thing thatwas publicly known before this tragedy,
they had lived together peaceably. Mrs. f. was
the widow Of an older brother Of Mr. K. and has
large family by her former husband, all of whom
are men and women grown. She had been mar.
ried to Knight thirteen years. Mr.. Knight has no
children.
The facts, SO fur as elected, are as follows
On Monday evening, about seven o'clock, Mr..
George Knight yoked up his oxen, loaded few
shingles, which were at the door, on his cart and
gave his family to understand that he was going
to a neighbor's, (Mr. Herrick's,l about mile dis
tant, TO complete bis load preparatory to going TO
Grays Corner early the next morning. sst
The road to Mr.. Herrick's was very circuitous,
and Mr. knight, to save distance, had made pri-
vatc way over his own land, which passed through
a piece Of woods and entered the main road lead
ing to Grays Corner short distance below Mr..
Herrick's house, and between his house and Grays
Corner. Mr. Knight soon after o'clock, on Moli-
day evening was seen with his team on this pri-
vate way.
Mrs. Knight expected her husband home, and
consequently the porch door was. left unfastened
Previous to going to bed, little girl went down
to the cellar and brought up some candles, and
laid them in the cellar-way. At the usual timo,
the family went to bed-Mrs. X. in o room in the
front part Of the house, which was connected with
the porch and with the front entry by DOORS The
mother of Mr.. Knight an old lady about eighty
years of age, and quite deaf went to bed alone in
back room off from the parlor; a little girl, ian
adopted child, some thirteen years of age, slept
in another back room adjoining, and a little boy
about ten in still another back room. These three
rooms opened into each other. About II O'Clock
the old lady was awoke by Mrs. Knight coming
into her room and saying that she desired to get
into bed with her. She did 80, taking the back
part OF the bed.
In the middle Of the night the children heard
groans proceeding from the chamber and being
alarmed, they procured the aid of a neighbor and
Mre. Knight was there found with her throat cut
frsm ear to car, and pillow thrown over her face
as IL to smother her cries.
When Mr.. Knight was informed that his wife
had committed suicide, he appeared unconcerned,
and evinced no desire to return home. Subse-
quenlly signs were discovered that left no doubt
Mrs. Knight had becn murdered. knight acted
suspiciously, and was taken into custody. The
circumstances arc very strong against him,