davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS IN MAINE.
MOST SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A Family Murdered i'm ThOrndike.
Three Persons Killed in Their
Beds.
A Relative Arrested ON Suspicion
Further Particular. Of the Crime.

Further Particulars Of the Crime.
Special to the Pressl
BELFAST, June 16.-Our citizens were horri-
fled this morning by report of brutal mur.
der of an entire family, committed last night
Sunday In the town of Thorndike, in this
(Waldo) county. The facts so far as can be
learned are that Almon NJ. Gordon. and his
wife and child, were murdered in cold blood in
their beds some time during Sunday night.
Two other children were also shockingly mutt
lated, and probably left for dead. The house
was then set on fire to conceal the hellish deed.
but fortunately it was discovered in time to put
it out and the bodies were found before they
were destroyed Coroner Poor of this city.
summoned posse and jury and Immediately
started for the scene of the butchery.
Loter.-Furtber partic ulars of this horrible
tragedy have been received. The deed was
committed about 3 o'clock this morning. or the
fire was discovered at that hour, burning the
bed upon which the bodies lay dead.
1t seems there were seven persons in the
house; Almon NJ. Gordon and wife, and .hree
children aged about seven. five and ore years
respectively, little niece about ten years old,
JOnn Irue UOruOE, an eluer DrOUner or the
murdered man, and one Ward, a young man
about eighteen years old, who was at work on
the farm. John T. Gordon is about % years
DID, and Almon was about 25 years old. The
condition of things were first discovered by
Ward, who heard the children cry, which
a"oke him and he smelling smoke went down
I,a'is n and found the bed in tho room on fire.
.,s immediately reused the brother, who also
s,1ps na;.s, upstairs and gave the alarm to the
usnoois' and after severely burning his hands
Sugueeuea ~, IN extinguishing the flames
Inc sight that met his view was horrible
one. In the bed lay Almon Gordon h;s w;fe
and Youngest child, welterina in b,nod u. Mr.
Gordon and his wife were stone dead % and had
evidently been killed Instantly bv Seh' h, anu nau
some heavy weapon, probably an axa .o.
was found near the bedroom, upon which noro u
marks of blood. Hugh gashes in the bea1s -
the victims told the sad story. The little ho..
about year old, was still alive when found bm,
died in about an hour. The other two children
slept in the same room, and are both yet alive
though one was nearly smothered by the smoke
and the other Was injured badly The niece,
who slept up stairs in another part of the house
was not molested.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

Texans made raids into Mexico, and say there
is nothing there to induce them to plunder
their poverty stricken neighbors. All our citi-
zens care for is protection in their persons and
property against incursiOns from the Mexicaus
and Indians. After the Commss oners went
uD the Rio Grande to take the testimony the
MexIcans on the lower part of the river crossed
and began thieving operations, for which they
Were were pursued and chastised by Col. Mckenzie.
Inc !exas Legislature Instituted inquiry into
We Mexican and Indian wrongs upon citizens
oi the state, when some of the most respectd-
Die residents OF Neucez valley went to Austin
ana gave stronger testimony than they had nre-
vlously given before the Commissioner. The
commissioners represent the amount direct and
consequential to those who suffered by those
raos at between $4,000 600 aud $50 O00. .OOO.-
FIVE hundred petitions in the way of com plail Is
We're presented to the Commissioners support
ed by 1900 affidavits. Many of the petitione rs
and affidavit 5 are represented to be men of fine
education and most respectable character. As
to the kickapoos il is supposed there are not
more than 200 warriers OF them altogether
One OF the old chief in referring to the PROPOSE
ton OF the United States to the Kickapoos to
go on reservation, said to Commissioner as
follows: We would have but a small growth
OF ground and could not make raids ON other
reservations. Here We are supported in part
oy the Mexican government which not only
supplies us with provisions, but gives us money,
anu when we want to 90 into Texas the Mexi-
can merchants and planters supply Us with
norses, guns and ammunition and provisions,
that We may make our raid and we nav them
from what we capture
Besides we have good country and fine eli
mate many privileges and the whole Texas
border TO raid on. The commissioners think
that If the captives taken by Mckenzie should
Dc restored to the kickapoos they would be no
more inclined to return to the United States
than they are now, and hence they doubt the
propriety of complying with their requests.
Inc Secretary of the Intercr will take no pres
ent action on the telegrabhic request of the
kickapoo commissioners except to refer IL 10
the Secretary of War, with the suggestion that
ne confer with the Secretary of State ON the
subject.
New Mail Service.
A new mail service was ordered to day on
The Boston q Maine Railroad between Salmon
Falls and Portland, Me-, A miles, from July
list, pay to be fixed hereafter.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

John Gordon and wife parents of the mur-
aered man, and who lived with HIM, were
absent on visit in Bangor The deeds convey
ing their property to their son Almon, who was
murdered, were put on record last week. The
older brother, John True Gordon, who is an
unmarried man, has been taken into custody.
1t is said that blood was found upon his clothes
He will probably be brought here for trial
The community is terribly agitated and
aroused and threats of lynch law are made.
ITO the Associated Press.l
BELFAST, June 16.-Almond Gordon, and
his wife and child were found murdered in
their beds in Thorndike, eighteen miles from
here, this morning. No further particulars
have as yet been received
Second Despatch.
The following additional particulars of the
Thorndike murder has been received: Johu
Gordon, man of seventy, had recently con-
veyed to his son, Almond NJ, his farm worth
$1,000, taking back mortgage for the life sup
port of himself and wife. The other son, John
T., was dissatisfied with this arrangement, and
probably thought that by the death of his
brother and family, that the property would
fall to him. This is the only motive thus far
assigned at the time of the murder.
The old people were absent oD visit The
inmates of the house were the murdered man,
Almon NJ, aged 25, Emma A, his wife, aged
p, their children, Ira b., aged 9, and a little
girl aged IL mouths, Anna A, niece, aged 8,
John t., the brother, and the hired man. AT
about three o'clock the latter was awakened by
the shrieks of the little boy, and Immediately
discovered that the house was on fire. Alarm
ing the neighbors the flames were extinguished
without much damage. The bodies of the faith
er, mother and infant, who occupied the same
bed, were found mangled and so scorched as to
be hardly recognizable. The little boy, who
slept in crib in the same room, was severely
wounded but may survive. The bloody deed
was evidently committed with an axe. which
was found ON the premises. The wounds Of
the three murdered persons were inflicted upon
tine head, and must have caused instant death.
The brother, John T., was soon arrested and
remains in custody of the sheriff. He is %
years old, farm laborer and unmarried. He
maintains sullen indifference, refusing to ans.
wer any questions but saying that at the proper
time he will defend himself.
A jury of inquest is now in session under
charge of Coroner Poor, but had not rendered a
verdict when the last train left Thorndike al
half past six this evening. The prisoner will
probably be arraigned before the Police Cour,
of this city tomorrow.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
Trial of Wagner.
Seventh Day---AfternOOn.
Especial Dispatch to the Press

ALFRED, June 16.-Edwin Burk testified
that Wagner was on board his schooner three
weeks before the murder and asked me to loan
him needle I did so.
Cross examined-Wagner knew that we usu-
ally landed with our dory at the foot of Picker
ing street. The thole pins of the 6ory were
new that day CT unworn; when we found the
dory the thole pins were very much worn.
Peter johnson testified-Was with Wagner
some days before this murder on board she
schooner when Edmund Burke loaned him a
needle.
Cross examined-I fastened the dory with
two brace of bitches around the post the even
ing of the fifth.
Stephen A. Preble testihed-The officers
from the descriptions of Wagner got upon the
track of man. l showed the wrong man.
Harrison Berry testitied-I baited travis at
Bier's wharf the night of March 5th, from 81
to IL or 1 o'clock.
Cross examined-Did not see Wagner that
night.
Timothy Chalice testifed-Saw Wagner the
evening before the murder at u o'clock at my
shop; he asked for ale
WIN. M. Thayer, editor, testifed-I inter-
viewed Wagner Immediately on his arrest; he
told substantially the same story as now.
Dr. James f. Babcock, Professor of Chemis-
try in the Massachusetts, College of Pharmacy,
Boston, testified that after blood was dried on
cloth and then soaked out, the microscope could
find mamalia blood, but n OF safe to pronounce
it human blood. The counsel expect to close
the testimony Tuesday noon.
ITO Associated Press.]
Fatal Accident.
ROCKLAND, June 16.-Mr. Angus MeIsaac, a
foreman in the granite quarries at Dix Island,
was instantly killed by the premature explosion
of blast on Saturday His body was brought
to this city and buried from the Catholic church
on Sunday. He belonged in Bangor.
INJUNCTION Denied.
LEWISTON, June 16.-ln the petition of Gill
VS.. City of Lewiston, to restrain the city from
issuing bonds in favor of the Lewiston & Au-
burn railroad, heard OH the 18th, Judge Dan
forth has directed the clerk to enter ''interlo-
cutory injunction denied"
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

Boston stock s.iss.
tSaes aL the Brokers' Board. June 16,
Boston and Maine Railroad ... 11S2
Eastern hallroad.. 105
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
WASHINGTON.
Gov. KelIox0 Agaiu Heard F.or


WARRINGTON, June 16.-Attorney General
Williams has received an official telegram from
New Orleans from Gov. Kellogg, in which the
latter. contradicting TIE reported interview with
him, says: NY requisition calling on the Pres
ident was fully justified, and the President 8
proclamation has had the most salutary effect
in all respects. The taxes are being paid more
rapidly than ever before in Louisiana. After
providing for the January and February inter
est We have over $4,000 in State funds Tonight
in the hands of the fiscal agent We will NV
the March, April and June coupons early in
July. Tue injuncti0ns only restrain the paw
ment of interest on five series of bonds ont of
twenty-five series. There is money enough TO
pay the interest on all bonds in the hands of
the fiscal agents.
Treasury Balances.
The following are the Treasury balances to-
day: Currency 81 669 1928: special deposits of le-
gal tenders for redemption of certificates of de-
post $Sl, ,346, 600; coin $73,7l9,S47; including
$35, $40, 300 in coin certificates; legal tenders
outstanding $356,00O,00O.
Rescue Of the PoIaris,
Commander Green has been ordered to take
command of the vessel to be despatched for the
recovery and relief of the Polaris with Lieut..
Commander White as executive officer The
Secretary is engaged in making the selection of
a vessel suitable for Artic navigation Efforts
are making to start the expedition early in .Ju-
ly. The Juniata is taking out her guns and
provisioning for her voyage of inquiry and NAV
leave the last of this week.
Seal Oil not Free.
The Secretary of the Treasury has deci led
that seal oil if not embraced under the term
fish oil so as to be entitled to free entry under
the Washington treaty.
The Outrages ON the Texas Border.
The committee to inquire into the outrages
on tne iexas border deny the reports that the
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
NEW YORK.



NEM YORK, June 15.-There were two terri
BILE murders, one moral stabbing case and nu.
merous other crimes vest rday.
Francis Gillen, aged %, stabbed his wife
Ellen, aged 10 ye9rs, four times in the breast
killing her instantly, at their home in Crosby
street, last night. When arrested he said q
stabbed her because she would not live with
me-"
During drunken brawl in Patrick Hughes
East Houston street saloon last night, Edwanl
Kirkland, a rufian, plunged to the hilt a long
knife in the breast of James Duffy, laboreI
% years of age. Duffy threw up his hand and
exclaimed, II am done fer," and fell dead. The
murderer escaped.
James Curtin. while drunk, abused his young
wife, at No "a Road street, when her brother
John, aged Is and supposed to be an idiot,
Drained him with an axe He will die.
Explosion.
The old steamer Killvor Kull exnloded her
boiler this morning when loaded with passen
gers from ElizabethpOrt and other landings on
Kills. The entire boat was filled with steam
and great alarm was manifested, but the pas
sengers were all taken off uninjured by the
ferry boat Thomas Hunt. The vessel was but
little damaged.
Billiard Match.
Ubassy. the celebrated French billiardist, ar
rived to-day from Chicago to join in the grand
international billiard tournament which begins
at Irving Hall on the 23d inst. The game TO be
played is three ball carom, the Collender level
table being the one TO be used. Several rich
prizes are offered, aud all the billiard experts in
the country are expected to take part.
Various Matters.
The trial of Woodruff and Clafln for libel
ing Chailis has been postponed till fall.
The trial of Sharkey, for numbering Duncan,
the alleged gambler. began this morning before
Recorder Hackett. The court room was crowd
ed and much interest was manifested.
party of drunken men beat Edward Kpr-
nan fatally, in lager beer saloon in Brooklyn
last night. Edward Palmer has been arrested
for being one of the party.
The vestry of Trinity church was robbed by
burglars last night af several books. The poor
boxes We're empted and some clerical robes
carried off
Charles Bogart, member of the stock ex.
change, is dead.
Another illicit whlskey still was seized in
the 9th ward of Brooklyn to-day, without re-
sistance.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

MAINE HOSPITAL FAIR.-The Executive
Committee acknowledge the donation of addi-
tional articles and money in aid of the Maine
General Hospital Fair, from the following
named parties:
VIM. ii. Taylor, so lbs. tongue
Dover Stamping Co., through A. N. Noyes &
Son, wafer cooler and other merchandise
Richards y Co., through A. N. Noyes & Son,
wire goods, &c.
Mrs. Barrows, Fryeburg, shawl
Bath Times, E. Upton & Son, advertis-
Boston Lead Co., through W.F. Phillips,
500 lbs white lead, 200 lbs. sheet lead.
Charles T. Knapp, gentleman's dressing
case.
Musical Club, cath proceeds of entertain
ment, S45.
Mrs. Elizabeth Goddard, Cape Eliza beth,
cash 500.
Capt. G. Waldron, Cape Elizabeth, cash con-
tributiou.
Deering, additional cash contributions.
Mr.. Mclaughlin. ScarborO, one box butter
James NJ Kimball, valuable oil painting.
d. ID. Arthemy, Augusta, fresh salmon.
Renseler Neal, Augusta, box butter.
Mr., Linheld, handsome doll, dressed by
Miss Lord.
Citizens of Hallowell, box fancy goods pair
boots, &c.
Collier, Hamilton & Co., Augusta, valuable
travelling bag.
- MISS n. H. fauuen, granddaughter OF Col.
Geo. Stanley, Augusta, cash contributions of
$3.50
John P. squires & Co., Boston, Eve tierces of
lard, $3.50.
Miss Louisa I. Babb, Deering, elegant re-
clining robe. $780,
Hon. J. II. Mcmillan, Mayor of Biddeford,
cash $1,000.
John E. Palmer, Leghorn bonnet trimmed,
S138.
Mrs. S. II. Cummings, wax cross, autumn
leaves.
CHARLES III HAsKFrr Traasurar
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
Cumberland Willis Village.

CUMBERLAND MILLS, June L. 1910.
Mr.. ED1roR.-Perhaps a line from this
thriving village showing the Improvements
now taking place will not be amiss to some of
your readers. A live mandatory is what
place must have to thrive well, and that we
have with all the qualifications necessary to
add wealth and prosperity to the place. I al
lude to the firm of S. D. Warren & Co., paper
manufacturers. This firm have completed their
large mill and reservoir, covering two acres
which gives additional employment to fifty
men, and turns out fourteen tons of paper daily.
The ''White House, so called, has been moved
and made over into a first class boarding
house. They have also built two good dwelling
houses on Warren Street, a new stable to their
parsonage on Rochester Street, four new double
tenement houses; and are soon to build several
more. They are now preparing to build a coal
shed 200 feet in length, at the junction of tn
Portland a. Ogdensburg and Portland & Roch-
ester Railroads. This does not comprise all
the building which has been done here. The
Misses Fields & Libby, have just completed a
nice dwelling house on the corner of Main and
Brown Streets, Jesse Twombly a house on
Rochester Street, S. A. Caldwell and A. Mer-
rill, large French roof double tenement house
at a cost of several thousand dollars, Albion
Bickford good house ON Main Street, Richie
& Pride livery stable near the Portland &
Ogdensburg depot. VIM. Lamb. is building a
large dairy barn, 72x42, with all the modern
improvement, also Howe & Raymond barn,
on Main street. A Union Depot is alJo to be
built by the Portland & Ogdensburg and Port
land & Rochester Railroad. When you remem
Der that this is but repetition of what we have
been doing, with an excellent prospect of fu-
ture increase, you can form better idea of
our" future greatness"
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
Arrest Of Alleged Train wreclsers

NORWICH, June 16-Three men were arrest
ed in Plainfield last night and are now in prison
here, charged with placing distractions upon
the track of the Norwich and Worcester Rail-
road, Sunday morning. Engineer Stanley P.
Cooper of Preston, and Geo. Harvey. firemen.
We're severely injured by the escaping steam
from the locomotive. A plank was placed
upon the track Just below the depot at Day.
vile, but was swept off by the cowcatcher
About two hundred feet further on the engine
encountered tie in the very heart of the vii
lage and swept it some five hundred feet to
switch. where it caught in frog and threw the
locomotive from tie track The engine could
not be stopped and it swept the capstones from
the bridge over the five mile river. and the
locomotive and three cars, containing sixteen
persons, fell into the bog meadows some four
teen feet below, burying the engineer and fire.
man beneath the ruins. After hours of labor
they were extricated, badly bruised and scald-
ed, but are reported doing well to-lay
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

HAVANA, June ls.-Sugar active ami advanced ;
Nos 10 % II Il. = az 10 a IN Nos IS % 20 a. n
ll4 e l3l rs; MOlasses SUGAR "A - u ~; Muscavaio
sugar, inferior % common ;! r.; ff % good re-
inning at a q 81 70; grocery grades iol a lli rs
aolassss l. -quicti Clayei "A pr kcg, Muslusai0
- - stock In wai aiehouse- ~ Havana and Matauzas
1000 boxes and ~ 600 bsls ;reccIs fsT the 4ak
49, y boxes aud q 90 hhds; expdrtef 9. tn "a. !
Tnitss hha- ineluding 500 boxes and gs hliis a.
coast - ~, ~ Per hhd Moassls nm .Tts On naffh
and aT.lr ~ oniiei states - . asG; ~ Faiuogfh \
a,hS ~ - =. lotainz a. Havana - :, o.. tii.- .f
Exchange q frm. IA, n 80. 49,.
t rsnet "a ~ ~ ~ prem % days. coli ~ y al ,s,
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17

CHAMELEON, June ia.-Freights 10 Liverpool BY
steam via New York, ~ ON aplands; lsd on sea Is
lands. Coastwise-tO New York, by steam. &c y
10 on upands; 81 80 y tee on Rice; 60c Pbbl on Res
In; BY sail soc y N ON Resin; sll a 1912 NJ on
Lumheri sl2 o IL 80 ON Timber. To Boston. by
steam, e Y n on upands; y 50 y tierce ON Ricei
- 90 q 80. To Providence BY sail siR 90 6i II u
" ON Boards; by steam, via New York, Cotton ic.
Through bills Of landing given to Boston, Providence
and New York cities are regularly issued on this
route, and dispatch guaranteed. Ry sail, IS D VI
on Boards; SO on Timber. Vessels are in demand
TO take Lumber freights from Georgetown S. C.. Da-
rien and hilla River Ga, and jacksonville, Fla,
70 Northern ports, and $40 q si2 y NJ are rates on
Lumber and Boards.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
The Ward Caucuses.

The caucuses last evening passed off very
quietly. No lively contest was made except in
Ward 8, where ticket composed of friends of
Kent and Stone was chosen by a majority of
two votes The result in Wards I and q
is generally favorable to Mr.. Dinplev. and in
Wards 3 aud to Judge Kent and coI s,ona
The influence of attention and pa,ns,aL;no
management of the campaign was clearly on
servable. The men who usually attend and
manage caucuses seemed to take but little in.
tereSt in the business, but there was a marked
prepo pderance of merchants, mechanics and
other citizens who attend caucuses only period
ically. .Nhe delegation from the city is an ex
cellent sne,, for the most part, in point of ma
teral, and will represent the city creditably al
Bangor
The delegates are as follows:
WARD III. Il, Burgess, r. S. Maxcy, w. z.
Denuison, RensSl Hear Greeley, H. p. Dewey.
WARD 2-G. C. rittlefield, A. F. Cox, Chas.
H. Baker Themas M'arkey, Thomas Pennel
WARD 3-willam Senter. John True, S. S.
Rich, VIM Huse, VIM. Z. L. Gill.
WARD 4-Thomas A. H'oster Thomas e.
Twitchell, James G. Tukey, george Hall, Ed
gar s. Brown
WARD 5-Benjamin Kirgsburs, jr., Albert
Frank H. Chase.
WARD 6-James T. McCobb, Robert Hois,oke,
II. Leighton
WARD IA. NJ. Benson, Charles Greenough,
3. Il. Small, u. L. Bailey, ID. w. Nash
COLBY UNIvERsITY.-Rev. Dr. Robbins of
Rochester New York preached last Sunday in
Dr. SmalPs church in the morning and DR.
Shaiers in the afternoon. His efforts were
very highly appreciated 1t is said that the
trustees of Colby University have offered or
are about to offer him the Presidency of that
lnstltution. Gentlemen long acquainted with
Dr' Robbins and qualified to Judge are conf
oent tnat ne has rare qualifications for the
honorable and responsible position.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17
A TERRIBLE CRIME
A Woman POiSOns All Her
Family.

CHICAGO, June 16.-A despatch from Deca-
tur states that last September A. w. Drake, a
farmer, living near Nawcaqua, ILL.,, died
under suspicious circumstances. Mrs. York
his mother in-law and house keeper, was sus-
pected OF having something to do with his
sudden death, but no steps were taken in the
matter and Mrs. York went to reside with her
son IN Kansas when a few days since she was
taken Ill. The physicians told her that she had
but few hours to live and she then confessed
TO having poisoned ber husband in 1865, Mrs. I.
w. Drake, her daughter, two children of A.
w. Drake, wife of e. R. Drake, formerly of
this city, and last September A. W. Drake
She then went to her sons a short time ago
and made mixture of poison to administer to
him at the first opportunity. Feeling unwell
day or two afterwards, she went after some
medicine to the cupboard and by mistake took
the fatal dose prepared for her son, which re-
suited in her own death.
The Portland daily press., 1873-06-17


Sixty rooms have already been engaged at
Cape Cottage, eighty at the Ocean House, and
at the private houses aboat the usual number,
to be taken the LIST of July.
Peas and potatoes are in bloom in early loca-
tons.
Sunday School has been organized at
Knightville.
Capt. Dodge has his yacht ready for summer
excursions. f, L. knight has his craft newly
painted and fitted up. Several gentlemen from
Worcester are expected TO spend the boating
season with him.
Ii is suggested that the County Commission.
ers prepare footwav to be used while the draw
on Portland Bridge is being repaired. 1t could
be done at a little expense. Hundreds of work.
men of your city use this bridge in the evening
to enjoy cool breeze who cannot spend time
during the day.