Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-13
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily gennebee gunraal.
The Gordon Murder Trial.

BELFAST, Me-, Nov. IL, 1873.
| Tie proceedings in the Thorndike murder
trial commenced this morning with the iden-
LITIGATION of the axe, which, stained with
blood, caused a marked sensation in court
The first witnesses introduced were John A.
Harmon, cousin of the prisoner, who lived
nearest the premises, and his two sons. They
were the earliest to reach the spo: and assist
ed in extinguishing the fire and rescuing the
;nutiiated bodies from the flames The pris-
| oner was first met in the road and af.erward
went to the house, where he pumped water
and removed furniture. To an inquiry about
his brothers family, he replied that they were
all burning up. lie did not assist in remov-
ing TIE bodies. 1t was not until after they
| had been brought into the yard that foul play
was suspected. When Asbury Harmon one
of the witnesses, exhibited the axe in the
presence Of the prisoner he said, ''Wllat will
my poor mother say?" One of the witnesses
testified that in conversation with the pris-
oner fortnight before the murder about his
leaving the farm, the latter remarked that
matters with his father were all satisfactorily
| arranged, but that perhaps all their plans
would not yet succeed. Elihu c. Bumpus, a
neighbor, saw the prisoner directly after the
murder was committed and noticed blood
upon his wrist and on his vest The vest will
he exhibited to the jury. With the examina-
ton of this witness, the court adjourned I'M
til afternoon.
AFTERNOON.
This afternoon Rosanna Gordon, little
girl nine years old, testified that she lived in
the house with her grandmother, and was
aa akened by the prisoner, who occupied a
room between hers and the entry, and told
| to get UP and 60 to the neighbors. Passing
down stairs she perceived smoke, and open
| ing the bedroom door where the tragedy took
! place, heard voice like her aunt Emma 8
say, 'Oh dear saw the bed in flames. The
prisoner had previously looked into the bed
| room but made no remark. She then went
directly to Mr.. Harmon, who lived near
Samuel NJ. Bumps, who was early on the
spot, noticed the prisoner washing his hands
in water, which afterwards was found tnged
with blood.
Mrs. Bumps swore that before the murder
blcane known, the prisoner in answer to her
inquiries where Emma and Almon were, re-
Piled that they were being burnt up, but that
he did not know how the fire occurred, for he
was not at home and did not know where he
was.
Edward Philbrick, keeper Of the prisoner
the day of his arrest, testified that when il
was stated that the victim had been killed by
violence and not by fire, the prisoner fell for
ward upon his face, and complained that his
nose bled. Witness brought water at his re-
quest but saw no blood. Prisoner being
asked why he did not extinguish the fire and
save his own brother, replied that he could
not, and added, shall answer no more ques-
TONS said when the time comes you shall
have my whole story. Last spring heard
prisoner say that his brother was damned
whelp," that he had better be careful, that he
would RENE mber him.
Here the court adjourned until morning.
| The hall has been crowded to day, the gal
leries being flied with ladies'.