Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-26
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
9aily xennebee Sonrnal.
EXECUTION OF WAGNER AND
GORDON.
The Prisoners Assert Their
Innocence 10 the Last
Moment.
GORDON SEEKS TO EVADE
THE GALLONS BY TAX
ING HIS OWN
LIFE.
Full Particulars of the Exc.
ecutior.
Especial Despatch TO the Daily Kenrebec Journal


Today in the State prison enclosure, in this
town, Louis II. F. Wagner and John True Cor
don, were changed by the neck until they were
dead" A glance at the crimes and their crcum-
stances which brought these men to the gallows,
may no! be inappropriate at this time.
Wagner. who is Prussian by birth, was indict-
ed for a double murder of two of his own coun-
trywomen, Anethe NJ. and Karen Christensen.-
The tragic event occurred on Smutty Nose Island,
in this State, near the New Hampshire line, on the
night of the 9Th of March, 1873. Wagner was
well acquainted with the premises and the inmates
of the house. He rowed from Portsmouth to the
island, ten miles, for the purpose of robbing the
house Of John c. Hontvet where the murdered
women resided, knowing that the only occupants
Of the house that night were three women. In
searching one part of the house he stumbled upon
Karen sleeping on lounge. This, evidently, was
a surprise to him, and being known to the inmates,
he must either abandon his purpose of robbery,
even when the money was almost within his grasp,
or commit murder. In an evil moment he chose
the latter. He Immediately struck down Karen,
and while dispatching Anethe Mrs. Hontvet the
only o'her inmate, escaped from the house and
hid herself under pile of rocks on the island
nearly freezing, and where she lay concealed until
morning. Wagner was identified by numerous
witnesses the morning after the tragedy, on
his way back to Portsmouth. He was also identi-
fed and called by name by one of the murdered
women. He fled to Boston the same day of the
murder and was apprehended the next evening"
The prisoner was tried at the May term of court
in York county, before Judge Barrows. On the
government side was large quantity of unim-
reached circunstantial evidence, and on the pris-
oner's side, Wagner's testimony alone. The ver-
dict was-Guilty Of Murder in the first Degree
Exceptions were filed to the ruling of the court,
but were set aside at the July term, and at the Sep
TENDER term, Judge Peters presiding, Wagner was
sentenced TO be hanged, and placed in the State
prison to await the execution Of the sentence He
has steadily protested his innocence, and sought
to fix the deed upon Mrs. Hontvet Wagner is 81
years DID, 5 feet 9 ID inches high. and weighs
about l75 pounds. He is of the light sandy COM
plexion common to persons of his nativity, thin
features and short hair inclined to be curly. His
hands are quite large and his frame is that of q
well built, muscular man.
While Wagner's trial was in progress, the start
| ling news of treble murder came from Thorn
dixie, in Waldo county. In the night of June l6,
| 1873, John True Gordon entered his brothers
house i'll Thorndike, made his way to the room
where were sleeping his brother, Almon Gordon,
Emma his wife, and their two children, and with
an axe murdered in bed Almon, his wife and the
youngest child, mere babe, and inflicted severe
wounds upon the other child He then attempted
to fire the house to conceal the CRIME, but the
murdered persons were discovered before the
flames did their work. The aged parents were
absent at the time. Gordon's motive was jealousy
and malice. The elder Gordon and his wife had
recently given their son Almon, with whom they
lived on the farm deed of one-half of the place.
This caused trouble with John, whose malice
finally eliminated in the crime for which he was
arrested. The hope Of gaining the property by
butchering his brother and family, and revenge
for supplanting him in the possession of the farm.
seemed to push him forward to the commission of
the deed. John was farm laborer, and unmar-
ried, and had not borne good character.
1t would also seem that he intended to include
the whole under the roof in his butchery, for the
stairs showed bloody finger marks where it is sup
posed he CROPPED his way after killing those below,
in search of whoever might be in the chambers.
A young man named Hunt, who was in the cham
bers, was alarmed and escaped. Gordon was
brought for trial at the October Term of Court,
before Chief Justice Appleton; and was found
guilty of murder in the first degree. motion
for new trial was overruled, and the prisoner
was sentenced to death at the January Term, and
committed to the State prison to await his execu-
ton.
In compliance with the requirements of the war
rants, to which were attached the two repreves
the execution Of these two unfortunate men took
place to-day. In the early morning, the skies
wore a dark and funereal aspect but the beautiful
rural town with its green foliage and freshness of
early summer, was typical of life, and not of death
But soon the weeping skies gave place to sunshine
and by eight o'clock movements among the villag
ers and officials who came from distance, indi-
Gated that the solemn hour Of execution was
near at hand. At the prison. the tools of industry
were laid aside for the day, the workshops were
silent, and the prisoners all confined within their
cells. But after all this wise and judicious care to
guard from undue excitement and maintain good
prison discipline, we suppose that each prisoner
had an intelligent understanding of what was
soon to transpire.
When the prison keeper called upon Gordon al
this morning, the prisoner was in bed, and had
not touched his breakfast; he had not slept any
during the night. He had nothing further to say
only that he was innocent. If they insisted upor
hanging him, he would try to bear up under it the
best he could. There were no signs of confession
He was very weak, and his eyes were red with
weeping.
Wagner passed the night restlessly, but slep
some. lie was up and dressed at s o'clock. HI
had eaten something in the night and didn't toacl
his breakfast that was brought him. He SHOWED
more excitement than usual and tears were seer
in his eyes. He still believed that he would es
cape the gallows-thst God would interpose in hi
; behalf. The Warden assured him that there wa
possibly no hope. Both men informed the War
den that they had said last night all that the.
wished to say.
At little past o'clock, Sheriff Torey with hi
assistants, arrived from Rockland, with the para
/, phernala of death, and proceeded at once to tn
scaf'old, TO put everything in readiness Ever!
| Al Tho