The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-09-24
The HnIloweIl Murder.

1t seems that Roswell, the murderer Of Mr..
Laffiin, has not been highly esteemed by his
fellow orkmen, on account of his peculiar
disposition, and the foreman OF the depart
ment, Mr.. Hill, had given him notice to leave
his service, before the murder had been COM
mitted. Hoswell came to Augsta from Ames-
bury, Mass, and is workman of no great
skill. He at one time resided in New Jersey
subsequently for longer period in New York
State and afterwards purchased farm in Her
mon, Maine, on which he resided, we have
been informed, about year. He and his wife
quarreled concerning the title of this farm
The farm was subsequently let, and Roswell
resumed his trade. His wife has friends in
Bangor, of which city she is native; her
mother, fol. whom she still retains lively Of
lection, resides in Camel Hoswelrs parents
are both dead, and his marriage has been bar
rem of offspring
The Kennebec Journal has information that
the character acquired by the wife of Hoswell,
since her residence in Augusta and Hallowell,
has been the reverse of enviable. Her husband
has upbraided her many times, and recipro-
Gated her conduct by what she terms cruelty,
&c. He once threw burning kerosene lamp
at her; he has been known to lock her into a
room where she was obliged to stay until his
return from labor in the evening. He has
threatened her life, and on the Monday he met
her in car at the depot id Augusta. he told
her that in certain event the next time she
saw him would be between iron CRATES
She states that she kept lamp burning in a
room adjacent to her sleeping apartment, since
her quarrel with her husband some months
ago, when they separated and he advertised
that he would not be responsible for bills of her
contracting. She testifes at the time of the
murder this lamp was burning dimly, it being
turned down." Consequently the room in
which she and Mr.. Latin were at the moment
the assassin struck Mr.. Latin and then turned
upon her, must have been quite dark. 1t ap-
pears that Mr.. Latin must have been stunned
by the first blow of his assailant, or be would
have escaped while the woman was having her
life and death struggle.
The sleeping apartment of the woman is
small room. To this are two doors, one open-
ing into larger room, where the little boy
slept and where on the table stood the dimly
burning lamp; the other opens into the back
yard, and is the one through which Mr.. Latin
entered the room and at the entrance of which,
as Latin was emerging, the assassin met him.
The ouside of the door opening into the back
yard, showed proof that terrible stream of
blood had spurted against it, and while shut
the oiood ran down the Threshold and gather
Gu III ilttie pools under the door, showing that
the ooor must have been closed at the moment
the crimson stream stru.ls it. The track of
ho viz fnos, l. I 4.
traced the morning after the murder, by the
blood which fell from his wound or wounds.
On the outside of his own door, where the
assassin, after having failed in his desperate
attempt to take the life of his wife, closed the
second time upon his victim, was CHASTITY
show of blood; it must have been at this place
that the fatal thrust was made which severed
the iugular vein and carotid arteries. After
the fatal blow had beeu given and the assassin
felt murderer's exultation at the torrent of
blood which fell about him his victim dropped
the roll of carpeting, which fell upon the
Threshold, and with his feeble strength en-
deavored to still keep off his murderer by
grasping both of his hands within his own but
the strength of the assailant was too much and
he tottered backward few steps, and fell onlv
to breath his last
But at this moment the dying man and his
assassin were in presence of officers of the law.
Had young Knight, who CHANGED to be in the
shop, only known of the terrible tragedy which
was being enacted few feet from him. a few
moments earlier. the fatal blow might have
been averted.
The intelligence of the violent death of Mr..
Latin was conveyed to his wife by Hon. H. x.
Baker. 1t fell upon her with crushing weight
Many hours elapsed before she manifested apv
degree of composure.