The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-27
TELEGRAPHIO ITEMS.

Ex-senator Hendricks, who has been in San
Francisco, has returned east He declined a
-serenade by the California democrats.
In the Superieo Court in Litchfeli county,
Conn.,, Frederick Hall, cOlored, has been con-
victed of the murder Of Mrs. Louisa Richard
son, also cOlOred, on the first of March. He
confessed the crime.
Another crime, more sickening in its details,
was also begun; that Of Joel N. Perkins, for
incest and murder. The man was arrested two
months ago, since which time the most shock
ing Developments have come to Light. During
ten years Perkins has been guilty of incest
with six daus hters, using. compulsion in each
case. The eldest daughter is now % years old
and has given birth to five children, the result
of her fathers unnatural crime. Two OF the
children are now living, one having been born
since Perkins arrest; The other 3, it is believ-
ed were murdered Immediately after their
birth; the girl testifying that she never saw
them, but heard their cries before her father
took them from the room. In the case of an.
other daughter one child was born but did not
survive. A third daughter is now enciente.-
The wife of the accused died two or three
weeks ago, Of paralysis. fastened no doubt by
the terrible revelations. Perkins is "a years
old and has always lived in Litchfeld county
and worked as a wheelwright and blacksmith.
Though apparently intelligent and capable of
o'ding good position in the community he
has kept his family aloof from society and de-
MED them the privilege of school and church,
and lived in abject squalOr and poverty. Iso-
lated as they have been from all companion.
ship with Others the life this family have led
has been possible without legal interference,
though suspicion of evil dongs has existed for
q long time.
A reporter from the Hartford Courant inter-
viewed him and he confessed his criminal init
macy with the daughters, but denied having
taken the life of his offspring, and that with
two of his daughters he has had no intimacy.
He asserts that his wife had knowledge of his
crimes and encouraged them and that his
daughters invited them. No one believes these
statements. He has read the scriptures since
be has been in Jail but says he never read the
Bible before, nor much OF anything else. He
has never subscribed to paper, and says that
he did not know there was any law against
such practices as his, nor that there was any,
thing in the scriptures cOndemning them. The
daughters say that their father compelled them
to accede to his wishes under threats that he
would kill them If they refused or divulged
the fact. He begun his practices when they
were each IS years of age. All the daughters
will testify on the trial.
The ceremony of decorating confederate
soldiers graves was performed at Augusta, Ga
| on Thursday, under the auspices of the Ladies'
Memorial Association.
| The jury in the case of Mrs. Fair, at San
Francisco. after and absence OF forty minutes
hrst degree" which is regarded by majority
Oh tne community as eminently Just.
AZ indianapolis on Wednesday. the Odd
teliows celebrated anniversary day by u0veil'
| A. L. Adams of Ind.
A fire at Madison, Ind, on Wednesday
morning destroyed property to the amount Of
1000.
The capitol-removal convention COMMITTEES
at st. Louis will call another convention mex
year, when the Western States have gained
the additional members they are entitled t.
/ under the new census.