The Republican journal., 1873-06-26
THE THORNDIKE MURDERS
Further Evidence Against John T. Gordon.
Another Motive for the Crime. He
Threatened both Mr.. and Mrs. AImon
Gordon. Testimony of the Father and
Mother. Verdict of the Coroner's Jury.

Mother. Verdict of the Coroner's jury.
The interest in the Gordon murders
still continues although the immediate ex-
element has died away somewhat The
visitors to the scene of the murder con-
tlnue to be very numerous, so much so
that the house has to be locked, and the
crowd kept out.
THE GORDON FAMILY
As erroneous accounts have been pub
lished concerning the Gordors and their
origin, we have taken pains to obtain the
facts in the case. John Gordon was born
in Lincolnville in 1901, and on reaching
his majority moved to Thorndike and
bought the 100 acres which constitute the
present fam. He built log house and
made ii his residence for many wears.
tie married DruSlla Wingate of Dixmont,
who became the mother of seven children
All boys In time As he prospercd and
circumstances became easier, John Cor
don improved his residence until the
present fine house was built. OF the
children but three re now living, viz
Joseph, who lives in Freedom: Albert.
who works on Sears Island, and John T
the supposed murderer.
THE INQUEST.
The Coroner's Jury reassembled at the
hpuS. on Saturday aooor,1;,,,r T., =, 1:.,..,
mrnt, and proceeded to take additional
testimony. ii will be seen that another
trail was struck which furnished a new
motive for revenge upon Almon's family.
Several reliable witnesses testified that a
Young lady to whom John T. was partial.
received anonymous letters warning her
against him, and one of them, the father
OF John, testified TO threats made by him
against Almon'S wife. Attorney General
Plaisted was present during the dav.
The evidence brought out by Saturday.
session was as follows
ANNA GORDON. recalled.
am eight years old since last October: father
= lead; lived with grandfather since: STAYED Al
Nj. Harmon's since the fire, till two DAYS ago
on night of fire went 70 bed before q heard the
clock strike after going; Went without light ;
lett below Aunt Emma and uncle Almon in
eook room Ira had gone to bed in crib; think
VI 7. ard had gone 10 bed /; don't know where
dn'le John was; saw him about : or : O'Clock
when carried in bread and mix to him; aunt
Emma told me 10 see if he wanted it; in night
was awakened hv uncle John: he told mo Ia
gel mp quick; ne carried Eddy down and led
me: DIDN'T say why he wanted me to get IN ;
the bedroom was full of smoke | went down
iI0nt stars: John got me a dress from front
room aud told me to put it on; put it on in
front entry; he got quilt from grandmas bed.
told me 10 sit IN entry and wrap us iip and
then to 90 to Mr.. Harmons; asked him where
uncle Amon was and he said he didn't know :
John Went TO uncle Almons bedroom door
looked in, and shut it; that was after he GOT the
quilt; heard him go across dining room ana
open bedroom door; after he came back [ came
out, opened door and looked in and they was
all ahIe, came to see what time it was got in
ahalr looked At clock; il was some past three !:
asked to tell what time now and couldn't:
next pushed open bedroom door: told them
ihat John wanted me to go to Mr.. Harmon's
sud they never answered. Some of them was
'ryinG; then went back and told uncle John
they was all burning up in the bed ; he was in
front entry buckling the straps of his trunk: he
SAID he couldn't help it; | went round house to
shed and got Eddy's boots the she'd door was
open; | knew Just where the boots Law because
! LETT them there; il was not very dark; asked
John 10 put some water on the fire. he said if
wouldn't do any good; he was in front entry
putting on pair of rubbers; when left the
bedroom door, ] shut il again: led Eddy when
We went away John ran ahead hallooing fire ;
next saw nm coming back with Peter Harmon: :
hr put trunk in entry and said he was going to
salem Monday; he told grandma so before she
went away; saw baby cudded in its mothers
arms when | looked into bedroom; it was all
2hi; dld not see Ira; saw uncle Amon; he
~. fl1f r.a f~l,4 H. torx
aunt kmma'S face was towards front side:
There were lots OF spots of fire on the bed: that
Aght john wanted Ira to sleep with him. and
h- wouldn't; said he had rather sleep in his
IT'D; when Ira got ready to go to bed John
called him To come to front room. said he
wanted 10 see him; it was then he asked him :
grandma KEPT her candle-stck on mantle-piece
VI her room; she used il to go down cellar:
aunt Emma kept hers in the buttery; grandma
had kerosene lamp besides: used il on the
liable evenings She filled it from little bottle,
ana that was filled from big bottle the small
3ne wa a Johnson'- liniment bottles fbottle
found m the room of the murder shown her
and she said ii WAS the one grandmother used1:
uncle John generally bought the kerosene wit
hess stated that John and Almon quarrelpd
about SAW recently.
ELDEN WARD, recalled
Bld moi assist in bringing ont body of Mr.
tIol3ion until he was got to outer door; after
hode~ We're out saw John at pump: he was NOT
VA inst side of the house, or helping bring out
bodies, while | was; the dog ALWAYS barks if
any one comes round Almon told me he would
allow no one near the house he barked AT me
early one morning, till he saw who I was; he
iid mol bark the night of murder: he used to
sleep either IN shed or cook room on my going
h bed Mrs Gordon said there was candle in
the hnttery; | did not take it; know that John
tired TO get Ira to sleep with him that night;
lhe boys mother gave her leave, but the boy
refused; the shed doors were left open that
light one morning John said he was going to
Bangor, and went from house; and next morn
ing Amon found John in the loft of the old
he'd While hunting for muzzers; Almon SAID
what are you here forT'; John said it was late
when he got home, and he didn't want to wake
family; this was one of the three times I ever
4eaTi them Speak together; they usually passed
each other without speaking; Almon after
wards wondered what John was doing in shed :
and lie might have got into the house. if was
husky IN dining room when came in could
have tuld time Of day bv clock; when | looked
n at bed II was on fire in many places but
most At loot crib had but little if any fire when
! saw axe IN floor, thought there should be
more help, and went for it,
AsHBCRY HARMON, recalled.
Aiter CARRYING out the bodies went into the
rooms up stairs, all on south side, looking for
my brother can't say whether put nv hands
an the door castings or not; John did not assist
M carrying out the bodies. and was not present.
NEWELL HARDING, sworn.
Live IN Unity: know the Gordon family
John about sunset of Sunday near Hsr
mons store; he rode down with me to the
house; said he was going next day to Salem
hal calculated to 20 Monday before. but his
mother wanted him to stay to have his clothes
fixed. my wlte's sister, with whom John had
been riding out had received ANONYMOUS letters
in regard TO him, and he said he know who
wrote them intimated that the author was
Amon's wife; his words were 81 think it i,
An0n's Wife; he appeared the same as usual .
"ne Of the letters | saw; it accused him of get
iug drunk II was apparently woman's writ
ing, after he was under arrest he sent for me.
sud said he wished he could see Julia. and
asked me to get her; told MIN | couldn't
never heard John complain about the property.
MRS. FLORENCE A. HARDING, sworn;
Am wife OF last witness; was in carriage
with my husband and John T. Gordon on Sun
lay; lohn spoke of certain letters; thought he
mad a clue to the writer Of them: said he
thought his brother Almons wife wrote them .
spoke OF going away, and said he hoped to be
-ontented; he never before spoke against AL
mons wife. and never about the property: this
was at night Just before dark he introduced
lax about letters, after he got out of wagon. T
saw TWO OF letters; they said he kept bad com
pany and drank to excess, and was A thief.
three letters OF the kind were received this
>pring; letters were i'll a woman's writing.
Samuel \. Bumps. Was here Monday morn
ing; found here my brother, Harmon and two