Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-18
The Butcicry in Thorndike.

Oar Waldo county correspondent sends US
dix.
Itcppears that revenge and hope of gain
instigated the awful deed.
Oar quiet community was startled from ita
sober every. day affairs by the rumor, which
soon was confirmed into horrid reality, that
the family of Mr.. Almon Gordon of Thorn
dixie had been murdered and the house set on
fire, The news spread with rapidly, equaled
only by its sickenins details, and the whole
community was soon aroused. Crowds
gathered at the scene, and the officers and
coroner with his jury were early on The
ground Monday.
1t appears from what we can gather, that
Mr.. John Gordon and his wife, both aged
people, had recently given their son, Almon
Gordon, with whom they live on the old farm,
deed of onc-half of the place. This pro-
voked another son, John Truman Gordon,
and some trouble ensued but nothing serious
Bangor on a visit, leaving Almon, thei7 son,
at home. Almon was married aad had three
children; his wife was daughter of Stephen
Rand Of Thorndike. The children were
about three, i've and seven years of age; the
Oldest was luckily that fatal night away from
home stopping at Mr.. Truman Harmon's, a
neishLor Of theirs. \ young man by the
name of Hunt, who worked on the farm, slept
up stairs Mr.. Almon Gordon and wife with
the two youngest children slept below.
In the night--about three o'clock Monday
morning, the young man Hunt heard noises
below, and became convinced that mischief
was going on. He Quietly and quickly crept
down stairs and aroused the neighbors-Mr.
Harmon and his sons, Mr.. Gates and others.
They quickly repaired to the house and found
smoke issuing from the bedroom, and John
Truman Gordon carrying out furniture, and
! covered with blood, and a bloody axe lying
on the floor where it had been dropped.
John demurred against having the bed
| room door opened, saying the house was on
fire in that place and by opening the door fire
would spread over the house they had better
| save what they could. TO this appeal the men
| were deaf and soon put out the fire, which
was confined to the bed chiefly, when shock
! ing spectacle presented itself Amon Cor
| don, his wife and one child lay dead, their
| skulls fractured by blows OF an axe, blood
spattcred over the floor and wall, the corpses
black and smoked by fire, though not badly
burned. The second child was not dead
though TO hopes can be entertained OF recoy-
cry. This child is burned about the arms.
The parents are about 80 years OF age; John
was few years older.
John was Immediately secured as the au-
thor Of this slaughter This is the most bru-
tai thing cur community was ever called to
witness. God pity the aged parents who
were summoned by telegraph from Bangor,
Monday. Who can picture their dire despair
one son butchered with his wife and babe,
by another, as it would seem.
The reasons assigned for this horrid work
seem insufficient, but are the only ones that
appear. The hope of gaining the property
by butchering his brother and family, and re-
vonge fer suppanting him in the possession
Of the farm.
John, we learn, has not borne q goo(
character, and was not highly thought of.
would also seem that he intended to includ,
the whole under the roof in his bu,chery, 70
the stairs show bloody finger marks where
is supposed he CROPPED his way after killing
those below, in search of whoever might b.
in the chambers. Young Hunt, by his timel
waking and escape eluded the destroyer.
There can be no doubt under all crcum
stantial proof and a confession is expected
that John committed the horrid criTe. W
have read of such wholesale murders,