Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-09-25

peared dissatisfied because his wife would
not allow the management Of the property
to go to any considerable extent into his
hands. He harped continually upon that
subject, and brought his wife into state
of misery and unhappiness that continued
until death came to her relief.
MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.
On Sunday morning the people of the
quiet neighborhood were surprised aud
shocked at the announcement that Mrs.
Pattee had committed suicide. On that
morning Pattee appeared at the house of
his nearest neighbor and asked the family
to assist him to ind his wife, who. he said
was missing. In explanation, he remarked
that, during the previous night. his wife
got up and went into another room. saving
abe would read while. and that was the
last he had seen Of her. rs he soon after
ward fell asleep and did not wake until
morning. When he at length arose. he
went to the room where he supposed Mrs.
Pattee was, and it being fastened he called
to her, but received no answer. He next
partoOk ola breakfast and then immediate
ly set out In search Of his wife.
THE SEARCH.
The neighbors accompanied Mr. Pattee
to the house and diligently set about the
work of finding the missing woman. Two
ladies named Smith and a son of Pattee
went to the room Of which the husband
had spoken, but it was not fastened. They
went Into the room and to closet. the
door of which was fastened. but y broken
place In the wall showed that il might have
been fastened from the outside.
THE BODY FOUND.
The door at length being opened a hor-
rible spectacle was presented. The body
OF Mrs. Pattee WAS found hung to an iron
hook. She was partially dressed. Her
slippers were only partly drawn on. OF
course there were bruises on her meek,
but there were suspicious marks about her
mouth. and two Of her teeth were broken
There was also a fresh bruise upon one
side OF her face. The bed where Pattee
said they had slept, showed no indications
OF having been used at all tn ut night The
whole appearance of the place and body
are such that the spectators at once sus.
pected that foul murder had been com
United. They. however, for the time kept.
that opinion to themselves, and anxiously
awaited further developments.
PArrEE's CONDUCT SUSPICIOUS
On beng called Pattee went in and
viewed the body and assisted to remove it,
during the solemn moments he was to all
appearance utterly unmoved by the sad
sight. During that aud the following day
M" conduct was very suspicious. In order
To draw him nut a neighbor asked him
what would become of the property as the
deceased had no children. Pattee answer
ed chcerfully: "Oh. the farm is mine.
reference was then made to the property
contract, when Pattee further added:
Thai contract don't amount to anything.
I ~ .t,'f ,,,s a..
conversation and conduct of course led to
the open utterancc OF the opinion that Mrs
Patiee had been murdered Measures
were taken for an autopsy and a coroners
inquest and, unknown TO him. Pattee was
under surveillance.
PArrEE ESCAPES.
On Wednesday afternoon Psttee eluded
the vigilance of those who were watching
him, and made his escape. He was seen
to swim Squam river by some persons IN
the vicinity, and il is rumored that he has
since been seen in the town of Campton.
The authorities are in pursuit OF him, aud
he Is so well known Ia this section that
unless he gets long start his speedy
capture is pretty certain.
THE AUTOPSY.
DIR. John A. Dana Of Ashland and DR..
}. b. Thompson OF Tacoma made the
autopsy yesterday. At this writing their
verdict Is not fully public. but 1t Is under
stood that they were agreed in the opinion
that Mrs. Pattee was dead before the bofy
cIs suspended in the closet
THE CORoNER's INQUEST
Is In session to-day before Hon. o. A. J.
vaughan OF Laconia. The jurors are Hon
). W. Rollins OF Meredith, Samuel C.
nj Iii.
New Hampton. The most searching IN
vestigation into the affair is being made
and much testimony is being taken, in
ciudihg that If the medical gentlemen who
o,,a., Iii, 'rnsy. The report OF tn. in
quest VIII probably DE maud Um SATURDAY.
THE THEORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
The most unanimous opinion OF those
VINO nave looked carefully into the affair Is
,hat fattee murdered his wife, and then
hung up her body in the closet in order 10
convey the impression that she committed
suicide. IL Is quite probable that he quar-
relied with Mrs. Pattee on Saturday even
ing, and then choked her TO death. One
opinion is that he smothered her with
pillow, Tor one OF the pillow slips was miss
ing. Those who knew Mrs. Pattee In,i.
mateiy state that she had strong mind
and would not, in their opinion. have fed
from trouble by suicide. a partial investi-
CATION into her affairs shows that her farm
ana other property will amount In value TO
hIteen thousand dollars.
THE PUBLIC FEELING
Is very strong against Pattee. The tragedy
Is the engrossing theme OF conversation in
ms and surrounding towns, and it is many
years since there has been so great a public
excitement in this section of the State