Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-19
More About the Thorndike Slaughter.


The farm of the Gordon's lies on the road
between Nelson llarmon's Corner and Thorn
dixie station distant less than half mile from
each. It is pleasantly located with two story
house, nice barn and convenient out build
ings connecting the two. In this once happy
home desolation reigns, and three lie cold in
DEATH their mutilated bodies TO be consigned
TO one common grave to-day at 10 O clock.
Crowds OF people continue to visit the scene
OF the murder, and the funeral will be largely
attended from adjoining towns, and the people
OF lboTndlke will turn out en- nlGSSe,
Almon Gordon was 2G years old, his wife
%, and the child killed outright was / ! months
cid, farhaired, curly-headed innocent,
which certainly none but fend incarnate
could strike-especially with such bludgeon
as an axe. The Oldest a boy years old lay
in crib in the same bedroom with its par
ents-the other child being in bed with them,
and this received blow from the edge of the
axe, across the forehead cutting deep cash
clear across above the eyes mid way to roots
Of the hair, and from this cut, fractures of the
skull extend transversely. Doubtless the
murderer struck a glancing blow at this inno
cent as he lay in the sweet sleep of child
hood, and seeing the bloody cash made sup
The child was alive yesterday.
Almon Gordon has bruise made by poll
Of the axe on his forehead near the hair, and
deep cut in top Of the head made by the
blade, where in his horrid earnestness for de-
structiOn, the wretch turned the instrument
after stunning his victim and drove the blade
into the brain, several minor bruises are also
found upon his head, which shows the deter
mination Of the fend who operated here.
Mrs. Gordon received blow from the poll
Of the axe in the center of the forehead,
which crashed in upon the brain, the whole
poll of the heavy axe tearing through the
skull.
The little child which was in the same bed
has several bruises upon it, and is the most
disfgured by fire of any OF the bodies, being
the last one rescued from the burning beds.
1t appears that the. beds and bodies were
sprinkled with kerosene oil, previous to set
ting on fire.
The young man who worked on the farm,
and who slept above, was by name, Ward,
not Hunt as stated in my letter yesterday.
There was also sleeping above girl, a con-
nection of the family, of some or 10 years of
age. The other child of the family aged
was sleeping with her. Ward, hearing
strange noises below went down, and went to
the bedroom door where the groaning issued,
axe lay partly over the threshold, but in the
dim light of the night he could make out
nothing definitely; he saw nothing of John,
who has since been arrested, and being aware
of something dreadful, hardly knowing what,
he took from the house like frightened deer.
When he had got some twenty rods John
called to him to come back; luckily, perhaps,
for him he kept on, and perhaps thus escaped
being another victim. Seeing that alarm was
about to be given, John called up the two
girls, and sent them to the neighbors in haste
to arouse them, as the house was on fire, he
said.
Its supposed he was after kerosene or
something else when Ward made the discov-
cry Of something wrong. The theory would
seem TO be good, that seeing alarm was rails
ing he would send the girls, carry out furni-
turc, and appear to be doing all possible to
save things, thereby to avert suspicion. That
if Ward had not awakened, the whole house
hold would have Been victims of one grand
butchery.
Almou has lived at home some six years
carving on the farm with his fathers help,
and having no interest in it beyond per-
centage of the crops. This spring he became
dissatisfied and went down to Brigadier's
Island to work, remaining there but short
| time, leaving his family with his parents on
| tIle IaTlH. he latueI tiSl u tiau0 WIN
John, when Almon left, to carry on the farm.
John was expecting to be married soon.
When Almon came back, few weeks after
going away, the father made trade with him,
giving him deed of half the farm, upon
conditions to be fulfilled by Almon. John,
who is considered dangerous fellow by the
neighbors, was informed of the new order of
things, and that he had better get a chance to
work out the remainder of the season. He
brooded over this, and his disappointment
and desire for revenge, it is supposed has
eliminated in this unheard of crime. John
is % years old. He had been stopping about
home since Almon came back, not doing
much, but loating his time away down at the
Il. II. station, and about the vicinity. He is
now safely lodged in Belfast Jail. There is
no shadow Of doubt in the minds of the
neighbors but that John committed the horrid
deed. ITEM.