Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-15
THE NEW ORLEANS MURDER.

The New Orleans papers of the Sth instant
contain full accounts of the murder of Mr..
+. w. Perkins, of the firm of F. w. Perkins
& Co.. shipping merchants, which was before
briefly reported by telegraph. He was found
at b O'Clock on the morning of the 7th in
slant, lying on the floor of his office, welter-
ing in his blood and quite dead. A few feet
from him, lying near the office railing, was
large bore breach-loading Derringer pistol,
and the entire Office presented the appear
ance of having been completely ransacked.
Over the right ear and above the temple was
pistol-shot wound, which had evidently oc-
casioned immediate death if, indeed, the
fearful beating he had received over the head
had not previously produced insensibility.
Inc back part of his head had been beaten to
pulp. The skull was fractured in twenty
places, as if he had been stricken down by
some heavy instrument and pounded until
life was extinct 1t is probable that the pis-
tol shot was fired afterward by the assassin TO
make sure the butchery was complete. His
body had been robbed, his pockets turned in
side out and his watch gone.
The homicide was first discovered by the
porter of the house, a colored man named
Toby, who has been a confidential servant
for years. Entering the office he found the
body of Mr.. Perkins lying on the floor. A
pool of blood was formed near his head, and
the spectacle was CHASTITY and appalling. The
office was scene of utter confusion. Draw
ers were opened and papers scattered on the
floor. The safe in the inner office had been
opened by keys distracted from Mr. Perkins
pocket, and its contents overhauled and ex-
amined. There was also another safe in the
room, which the burglars did not succeed in
opening, The keys which were in Mr.. Per-
kin's pocket, and which were used by him in
opening the door of the office, were found in
the keyhole of one of the drawers. There
was no other outlet except by the front door;
yet that was found locked in the morning by
the porter. The murderer could not have
locked it as he went out, because he had no
key, unless he had stolen one. There had
been several keys lost recently-stolen, in
fact. One of them may have enabled the
murdererto accomplish his purpose. 1t was
probably the deed of no personal enemy. The
object of the assassin was plumber.
Captain Perkins was born in Boston in
1910, and was consequently 81 years of age.
lie graduated at Dartmouth College in 1861,
at the breaking out of the war; and went from
college to the army, joining the second New
Hampshire regiment, and serving with dis
tinction. Subsequently he was appointed
acting sistant-quartermaster, and was with
the army of the Potomac for about half the
war, when he went TO New Orleans. Having
formed many pleasant associations in the city
he returned after the war was over. and
formed copartnership with Mr.. Hersey, son
of General Hersey of Bangor, Me-, for the
transaction of shipping business. .Subse-
quently the firm was changed to f. w. Per-
kins Co., the company being Major w, +.
Perkins, twin brother. The firm has for
several years owned the Alliance line Of
steamships, which has carried the United
States mail from New Orleans to Havana by
the way of the Florida ports. Captain Per-
kins was also just about starting new line
of steamers to carry the mail from New Or
leans to the Florida ports and Havana.
An active, enterprising citizen, he united to
fine business qualifications aremarkably cour-
| teous and elegant manner, which won him
many personal friends in the community in
which he resided, He was a warm friend,
and his nature was gentle and full of charity,
though his good works were never psraded
with ostentation. His brutal murderer has
robbed a mother and two little children Of
their only earthly support and the commu-
nifty of valuable citizen.