The Republican journal., 1873-06-26

last letter only contained few lines such as
l have done all wanted to- have broken up
the match; was never here but twice and with
John; the first time saw Almon's wife.
We have seen the letters to Miss
Edwards. They are unfit tor publication,
and must have been written by coarse
minded and reckless person..
E. GORDON, JR., sworn.
Was 16 years old last April; am cousin to
Almon and John True, and live about one mile
from here; on Saturday evening, June 14th,
went to depot on horseback to get hat; saw
John True at the store at the departure of the
evening train for the first time during the day
talked with John True at west side of Collins
store outside, at his request; told me he vas
going to Massachusetts and wished me to go
with him; told him l had neither the clothes
nor money to go with; he said he would lend
me money to go with and at first clothing store
he would get me suit of clothes; said mother
would not be willing for me to go to Massachu-
sets Peter Whitney came along and overheard
us talking and John True stopped till after he
had gone, then asked me what | had heard
Alphonzo Rand say about him; tod him never
heard him say anything; told me if he Rand
didn't stop his d-n slang about him. he would
give him d--n pounding, had as live kill him
as not; told me he would inform me Of his
say anything about him to write him and he
'wouid come down and kill him, d-n him. [
would as soon murder him as not; three ladies
in the store as went to it. and he took me one
side when they came out; when ! got on to
my horse at Bumps John True had started up
the road as far as the hay scales; kept along
with him till we got to the top of the Hill. my
horse walked the quickest and when by the
gate he called to me to stop and did so when
coming up the hill he told me he was gong to
Ii1vv T
didn't buy one of me 1--WE have some young
dogs; said he was going to buy a big one.
Newfoundland dog; asked him why he was 60
ing to get so big dog; replied she wanted one
big enough to shake mans d-n CUTS out IN 4
minute; said s. what do you mean:' was
frightened and always was Of him; he stopped
a moment and didn't reply. Then he said Il
know one thing" said "what's that 2" he said
"Almon's life or mine is d--n short in this
world" l was kind OF frightened and didn't
say any more and the horse walked along faster;
he stopped me and said father and mother
have gone away and am all alone; come down
tomorrow Sunday in the afternoon so as TO
stay all night; told him | would if | didn't go
away. l went away Sunday to my brothers in
Knox and got back about dark the same night !;
did not come down here; was tired and had
work to do Monday, the ladies at store were
John Nelson Harmon's daughters. Sarah and
Bertha; the other they said was Kelley; they
had got Is rods ahead when John True stoppet}
io q. eiAe gay Whoi ."ihihS, epout manu- lHtS
were near enough to hear; never asked me to
stop with HIM before, nor wouldn't stop with
hm stayed once with Almon; have told every
thing that passed between us and no more.
Albert M. Gordon, brother of accused.
testified, but nothing of Importance was
brought out.
The testimony being all in, the Jury
held brief consultation upon the law
'F'' NV Id"
ana the facts, alter which they signed the
fol)owino
Nhhiioi'
An lnqulsltlOn held at Tn orndke, in and for
the county OF waldo, begun on the sixteenth
DAY OF June. IN the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and seventy-three, thence duly ad-
}ourned to the tWenty-irst day Of said June
and thence further adjourned to and completed
on the tWenty-third of said June, at said Thorn
dixie, before John Poor. one of the Coroners in
and Tor said county OF Waldo. upon view of the
bodies OF Almon M. Gordon, Emma A. Gordon
his wife, and Mile A. Gordon, their daughter
then lying dead, by the oath of E. X. BOYLE,
Hiram Chase. 81. Fl johnson, Jr, r. S. Rich. G.
H. Rich and E. F. Norton good and lawful men
who being charged and sworn to enquire for the
State OF Maine, when, how and by what means
the said Almon M. Gordon. Emma A. Gordon,
and Mile A. Gordon came to their deaths, up
on their oath say, that the said Almon Nj.
0oiuol Caile W Ills uedtn III consequence OF
blows inflicted upon his head and face with an
axe, fracturlng the skull and crushing 1t in
upon the brain, and fracturing and crushing the
bones of the face. And the jurors aforesaid
upon their oath aforesaid find and say that the
said Emma A. Gordon came TO her death in
consequence of blows inflicted upon her head
and face with an axe, which said blows frac-
tured and crushed the skull and the upper Dor
ton of the face of SAID Emma, causing instant
death. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their
oath aforesaid, do further find and say that the
said Mile A. Gordon came to her death either
from blows inflicted upon her head and face
with an axe fracturing her skull or in conse-
quence OF inhaine smoke, heat and fire after
the infection of said blows. And the Jurors
aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do fnrther
find and say that at the time the said Amon NJ
Gordon, Emma A. Gordon and Milie A Cor
don came to their Deaths as aforesaid. thew
were each and all in bed and sleepjne in the
same room m the dwelling house of said Ainon
NJ. uoIuon, III sac lhorhdlke, between the
nt ~ t~ese =. tlie clock on the night OF the
Hiteehtii gay vi ouiir current, ana three OF the
cl?Gh VI Tue niGi I'M Vi the sixteenth day OF
oath afnresaid do f1rihar inI n5 "oi. .lsell
the blows were inflicted with The ave az afnre.
said unon the bodies and narsons Of Tho sa;1
Almon Mr. Gordon Emma A Cnrdnn ni
Millie A. Gordon. fire was kindlaI ana cot i,
many naces in and nnon the Nod IN sa;1 ,.ao -,
in which the said Almon En,ma =" a sni M MIL
were lying and sleeping at the time of the in
places in and UPON crib IN ss5 ro ann IN any
one Ira Burton Gordon, about six years of age,
said room then shut and closed And t Io nror 10
aforesald upon their oaths aforesaid do further
of said Thorndike, and said fire set and kinded
True Gordon for the purpose of causing the
bodies OF said l.! Aimon NJ. Gordon. Emma A.
Gordon a. anu h h Willie a. 9oruon ana Ira Burton
in and by said fire. And SO the Jurors aforesaiI
upon their oaths aforesaid do saw the said John
True Gordon at said Thorndke on the night of
Inc nn.l 1eentn gay OF june current between the
aea as bV me means and
him as Aforesaid with malice they ey
the said Almon NJ. Gordon, Emma A. 6 ordon,
and Millie A. Gordon did kill and murder.
In testimony, whereof the said Coroner and the
Jurors o, OF the Inquest aforesaid have hereunto