Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-09
NO. l6l.
A BOY MURDERS 4 CBILD.

Ihe Boston papers of Saturday contained
the statement ofthe arrest of a boy named
George Edward Curtain, in East Cambridge,
on charge of numbering little three-year.
old baby in South Acton. Some additional
particulars have been obtained by a yisit to
the scene of the alleged murder. &C.,.
Young Curtain is lad Of dozen years OF
age, and came from New York twelve or ff-
teen months ago, and has since resided with
his uncle, Maurice Lane, in West Acton, a
village twenty-seven miles from Boston, on
the Fitchburg Railroad. He has no father
living, but his mother lives in New York, and
1t is intimated that the lad was sent 70 his
uncle to prevent, il possible, his following in
the footsteps of two brothers who have been
inmates of the State Prison. Unfortunately
the lad had disposition that delighted in
brow beating and domineering overs6his
younger companions, and, it is said, has been
known to frequently whip and torment them.
NO particular ili-treatment Of his cousins, the
children of Mr.. Lane, has been noticed, how
ever, and they appeared 10 be fond of Eddie
who has had them largely under his care.e
Mr.. Lane is laborer on the railroad, and
lives in common laborer's house or hut near
the railroad in West Acton. Between and4
O'Clock last Tuesday afternoon young Curtain
took the baby, AS little Maurice A. Lane was
called, and storted out for a walk The track
near by, noticed them going towards. the
woods, but thought nothing particular about
it, as they knew the relations the two sustained
| to each other.
About an hour afterwards they observed
''Edde,' as he was called coming back alone
and some of them asked him who be had with
him when he went by before, to which, for
some reason, lie replied that it was little
girl Soon after he ''turned up missing,
and when inquiries began to be made con-
cerning the baby, Eddie could not be found.
Becoming anxious, the mother started ont al
ter baby, and others assisted in the search,
but although the woods were visited the
, search was in vain .
young man named Kingsbury fifteen wears
of age, who had been assisting in the search,
finally came across Curtain and asked him to
go with him and try and find "baby." Curtain
started with him. saying Il guess he's asleep
in the barn" They accordingly visited and
searched an unoccuped barn near by, but
found no trace of the missing boy. Curtain
then lead the way to another barn, but as
nothing found, Kingsley remarked,
"We'll 90 down to the woods Curtain ap-
peared rather reluctant to visit the woods,
and said he thought baby had gone down. to
South Acton or Acton Centre, doubtless hop
ing to lead Kingsley away from the woods.
On reaching the woods Kingsley called the
baby, but no response was heard. He then
said to Curtain that baby would know him to
call him. Curtain thereupon called baby,
and feeble little cry, reese milling more the
'mew" Of a cat than anything else, was heard.
Kingsley told Curtain TO call again, which he
did, and a similar reply vas heard as at first.
Guided by the sound, the boys entered the
road and soon found the missing boy sitting
down on the ground, with his face and head
covered with dirt The little fellow was con
scious, however, and quickly replied '.iou,
when Curtain innocently asked him "Who
has been abusing your 2
| For an instant, the lad appeared over
whelmed with the accusation aud fell down in
a half faint. but was brought to by the ex-
clamation "Don't be blubbering now you've
done it," The two lads then carried baby
to the residence of Mr.. Hurry, near by, where
the mother found him and from whence she
took him to his own house. She asked him
who had been hurting him, and he replied
eddie"
| DR.. Hutchins was called and dressed the
wounds, but expressed hts belief that they
would prove fatal. There was one deep cot
across the nose, and another two inches long
Immediately over the right eye. The most
serious cut was one three inches long on the
back of the head near its top. All the cuts
looked as though they were caused by blows
from a ragged stick of wood. The little fell
lows arms were black and blue, as was the
throat, the latter looking as though somebody
had pinched it. tnd5 8saaafel
DIR. lIutchinS asked the boy wEo had been
been hurting him. and he replied, 'sEddie, :"
and said that Eddie struck two sticks in nv
mouth" The little sufferer was found At &
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, and fingered
along till 3 the next afternoon, when he died.