The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-12-12
Horrible Tragedy in Charlestown.
MAN MURDERS HIS WIFE AND sTEP-DAUGH-
TER AND THEN COMMITS SUICIDE.

The usual quiet of Charlestown was disturb
ed at an early hour Thursday morning by one
OF the most horrible tragedies we have ever
been called upon to record, in which a man
named George q. Kimball, after numbering his
wife and step-daughter in cold blood. cut his
own throat and died almost instantly.
The Inflated family kept boarding house at
the corner of Park and Common streets, and
from the surrounding circumstances it is judy
ed that the murders were committed some time
after midnight 1t seems that Mr.. Kimball
arose at his usual hour in the morning, and, as
was his custom, proceeded up stairs about six
o'clock to arouse the boarders. Up to this time
no noise had been heard in the house. and per-
sons who must have been passing while the
terrible deeds were being committed, neither
heard nor saw anything to attract their atten-
ton. A few minutes later two of the boarders
went down together, and as they stopped at the
door of the parlor, they discovered Mr. Kimball
standing in the sittiDg-room beyond, off of
which his chamber opened, in his night dress
and with terrible cash in his throat, from
which the blood was streaming, while in his
hand he held an open razor. Mr.. Kimball, on
seeing his boarders, motioned to them with the
razor to keep back, and not caring to attempt
to disarm him, they ran speedily out into the
street to summon the police In a short time
officers Green, Webb and rearsons were found,
and the five quickly returned to the house. On
entering the sittng-rOOm horrible sight met
their gaze. Upon the floor, in pool of blood,
lay the unfortunate man. He was not dead, for
as officer Pearson stepped up to him he at
tempted to get up, at the same time exclaim-
p ib get 0st IF ba nss or will cut
loss of blood. Officers Pearson and Webb at
tempted to staunch the flow of blood, but either
one of the three cuts would have proved fatal,
and in five minutes after the officers arrived he
was dead
On entering the sitting loom the officers no
ticed that Mrs. Kimball was still in bed, ap.
parently asleep. but upon inves tigation she was
found to be dead There were no marks about
her person to show in what manner she had
been murdered. except a slight discoloration
about the throat. From this it is supposed that
she was stranged to death.
The body lay in natural position, with the
hands crossed upon the breast, and the orderly
appearance of the bed clothes showed that the
murderer sprang upon her while she was in a
sound sleep, and that she died with scarcely a
struggle. A handkerchief, covered with blood
stains, was found by the bed side. which had
evidently been used to gag her and prevent her
Outcries.
Search was then made for the daughter, a
young woman of about II years, and on oren-
ing the door to her bedroom, very small apart
ment opening out of the parlor, another hOrri-
BILE sight met the officers gaze, which caused
the stoutest heart among them to quail. The
body OF tne girl was found lying across the bed
with her throat cut from ear to ear the head
being nearly severed from the body. From the
appearance of the bed it is thought that she
was awakened before the deed was accomplish
ed, and struggled to save her life, but without
avail.
Notes found by the police give clue to the
whole affair. The following is a copy of the
most important note, which was written upon
piece OF letter paper and u1stained by blood:
This troubel was all don by Rindy for telling
Her Something's that was not true and my wife
kept scolding every time that was near her
and to night when We Went to Bed She began
again and finely my temper got the best of me.
David nows all about the troubel was out
thare short time ago and told him Kinda is at
the bottom of all this.
GEORGE u. KMBALL''
From the above it appears that after retiring
the seedlings of his wife so enraged him that
he afterwards arose, doubtless after she had
fallen asleep, and set calmly about numbering
both his wife and the daughter, who seems to
have been the cause of the tragedy. Having
accomplished this he writes the above note and
also the following lines to indicate to the corO-
ner what course to pursue in notifying his
friends:
nSeho ior .. ": hlmDal, just over the bridge
In Everett. and for my sister, No. 151 Chslsea
street, and for her brother David L. Staine.
Medfeld. Mass. and for Charlie E. Kimball,
Mount Vernon Village, Me.
l went to work in the Navy Yard Nov. %,
1873. want some one to get what there is due
for work. -
The Traveller says that jealousy on the part
of the wife was doubtless the primal cause of
the murders. The daughter did not like Mr..
Kimball and stirred her mother against him.
By others it is thought that he was insane. A
brother committed suicide few years since.
BRUTAL MURDER OF SAILoRs.-A despatch
dated at Apalachicola, Fla, Dec. 7th, says that