Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-20

BLOODY AND CRUEL TRAGEDY AT LYNN.
THE PARTIES FROM MAINE.

THE PARTIES FROM MAINE.
Seldom have the recorders Of passing
| events been called upon to recite the de-
| tails of a more tragic and bloody occur
| renee than that which transpired on Sat-
urday last in the neighboring city of Lynn.
the citizens of which place were thrown
Tinto the widest state of excitement by
the deliberate and cold blooded murder Of
the reputed wife of desperate, who was
| himself Immediately overtaken by retrib-
| utive justice, and in his attempt to escape
was summarily dispatched by the officers
of the law. The principals in this double
| murder. which had well nigh resulted in
the death of three persons, were man
| named William Vanner. and woman who
was the wife Of one Thomas Jones. who
| have for sometime lived together as man
| and wife. Vanner was born in Washing
ton, Knox county, Maine, and has through
| life born the reputation of dangerous
| character. When young man he attend
ed militia muster, Supplied with a bottle
OF liquor, from which one of his comrades
took drink against his wishes. This so
incensed him that he struck the man on
the head with the bottle, intlicting serious
wounds and disfigured him for life. He
Joined the army during the war OF rebel
yer upon Lieutenant, whereupon he was
knocked down, and with great difiulty
prevented from killing the officer. Van
ner married in Maine, where he has
wife now living, and whom, he aban-
dOned for the woman who has now
fallen victim to his unbridled passions.
He was addicted to strong drink, and
when under the influence of liquor mani
tested murderous disposition. In June
last, during an altercatiosn with his para
| mour, her mother, Mrs. Luce, interfered,
whereupon he stabbed the mother in the
abdomen, and fleeing from justice came
to Lynn, where he obtained employment,
passing under the assumed name of Will
liam Brown. He worked tor Davis Clarke,
moving buildings, and was discharged on
account of his disorderly habits. On the
oath of October last he was arrested on q
charge of drunkenness, and fined. Sub
sequently he left the city and went to Me-,
but returned to Lynn, where he has two
sisters living as wives of WILDER Caswell,
and John c. Sargent. Last Tuesday night
Vanner pursued these men with dagger,
from which Sargent defended himself
with club. During the early part of last
week his reputed wife called at the Office
of the Chief police, complaining that
Vanner had a railroad check for her trunk
which he refused to give her, and desiring
the assistance of the police in obtaining it.
She was subsequently seen at the railway
station in an alteration with Vanner.
Mrs. Vanner was rather comely wo-
man, some eight years the senior Of her
murderer, for whom she forsook the hus-
band of her youth. who, after residing
in California several years, returned, and
finding her faithless, returned to the Pa
cific coast, where, according 10 one ac-
count he died of broken heart; another
report makes him still alive, and undi-
vOrced.
The parties had made their home for
few days, up to Wednesday last, at the
house of Caswell, where unpleasant quar-
rels were of frequent occurrence, and
where on one occasion he threatened the
life of his paramour, and ar officer was
called, who took front Vanner knife.
Last Wednesday night Vanner and his
companion left the house of Caswell. and
took lodgings at a small and unpretending
dwelling house, No. 10, Adams street, oc-
cuped by John Roundy, an aged and re-
spectacle shoemaker, whose shop stands
next door. and his wife, kind-hearted
woman, who has been nurse in the city
for the past twenty years. Matters went
on comparatively pleasant. Vanner assur-
ing his paramour that he had left off drink
ing, after which he obtained from her
about four dollars in money with which he
purchased dirk knife.
On Saturday morning, according to all
accounts, Vanner arose at five o'clock, and
after having built fire went out after
liquor. He returned. and according to the
statement of Mrs. Roundy, drank half a
pint Meanwhile Mrs. Vanner had pre-
pared breakfast, of which they all partook
in the most happy manner.
About nine O'Clock, the couple being in
their own room, the woman picked up q
soiled shirt. saying to Vanner that she
would 90 down stairs and wash it with the
clothes that We're at that time undergoing
similar operation. He replied that he
would hire some one to do it and save her
the trouble. She started down stairs with
the shirt, and he followed a short distance
behind her. On the hall floor the murder
er overlook his victim and there, without
the least warning, seized her by the hair
with one hand, while, in the other he
held the dirk knife. which he plunged into
the neck and body of his unotfending vic
tim, literally butchering her. Leaving her
body at the foot of the staircase in a re-
CutuDcul posture, WITH utr lcet dSdluSt Inc
door, and her head on the stairs, he re-as-
cended to the room in which Mrs. Roundy,
paralyzed with terror, met him with his
hands bathed in blood, which he coolly
proceeded to wash off. Having done this,
he wiped the blood from his knife, which
he put in his poeke, and turning to his
landlady, said "Give my coat and
gloves to my sister; for she (meaning his
victim) is dead and now have got to die"
He then walked down the stairs, stepped
directly over the body of his victim which
lay in his path, with its horrible wounds
gaping, and passed into the street.
His attempt to escape was witnessed oy
a crowd of persons who We're attracted to
the scene of blood by the cries OF those in
the house, and he was pursued through
Adams and Rackaway streets to Rocks
pasture, a large, rugged tract of land be-
tween the city proper and Glenmere viii
lage; but fortunately the alarm was SO
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