Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-25
Daily Xennebee 3ournal.
Further Particulars of the Terri.
BILE Suicide and Murder
at Mercer.
Adultery, Divorce. Murder, Sui
cido.

inquired for Mrs. Walton, who was in the house
Walton stepped back and spoke to Mrs. Walton,
who proceeded to the door. Tracy, at sight of
Mrs. Walton, raised his gun and shot her through
the heart, killing her instantly. Tracy then went
to piece Of wood sabout one fourth of mile from
the house, and shot himself through the heart
with the same gun. Tracy leaves a wife ard
four ortive children. Mrs. Walton leaves two
children, aud a husband, who had recently OBJ.
tanned divorce from her at the Septe nber term
IL Somer ct county.
1t is said that Mrs. Walton left her husband
and family in March last, and has been abroad
with Tracy siLce that time but becoming tired Of
her dssolate life, returned to her home and family
and asked ard received pardon for her previous
conduct and, it Is said, was again to be married
to her form, husband Tracy, unable 10 enticc
her longer from her home and family resolved
upon Murder ard suicide.
BY Associated Pres :.
SKowHEGAN, October %.
James Tracy testified at the inquest: "My son,
.(ireenlef Tracy, has appeared strangely for some
lime. He borrowed double barreled gun on
the afternoon of the 22d. l tried to persuade him
to give 1t up lie would not. He started across
tuC Hciu tOWdIuS IIltau w altOu Wdueu W
follow him. My wife was afraid he might kill me.
About an hour after heard report of gun,
went into the woods and found him living against
a tree, in balfsittng position, dead, the gun be-
side him. SHOT had entered the right side of the
throat and came out under the left ear"
Hiram Walton testified: NEARLY one o'clock
Tracy came to my house with gun. He looked
wild and hasgard. He spoke to Mary Walton
(who was at the house,. asked him what he
was going to DO with the gun. He said, I am
harn "a ant 20 1,0nf ha,r-
said, lie don't want to shoot you. We don't
want any fuss, but want you to 60 away. Tracy
started backward with the gun, out of the door.
Mary (the deceased) my boy and my mother fol-
lowed him He cooked the gun. Mary said,
For Gods sake, for the sake of my boy that's
dead, and the one living, don't fire. lie fired and
ran. The muzzle of the gun was not more than
six feet from her. She did not breathe after be
fired"
At the inquest held over the bodies of Green
lief Tracey and Mary Walton, the verdict was;
THAT Mary Walton was killed instantly while
sitting in her door, by shot in the left breast,
caused by the discharge of gun wilfuly and
malicously fired by Greenlief Tracy. That Tracy
killed by shot in the throat, wilfully and in
tentionally fred by his own hand, while half sit
ting with hi. back leaning against tree and his
feet braced against another, in the woods on his
fathers farm
Hiram Walton and Greenleaf Tracy were neigh
bors aad formerly quite intimate. Mrs. Walton
was weak minded women and was influenced by
Tracy 10 leave her husband. She lived with Ira
cy IN Lowell, Mass, two years. She came home
and her husband pardoned, ptied and took her
back. They lived happily for some time, when
she left again. While absent her husband OBJ
tanned n diyo,ra She returnci ,wo weels sincn
and was mortified to find herself divorced. She
begged forgiveness and Walton offered her homo
if she would not live with Tracy again. Tracy
soon returned. He went to see her and entreat-
ed her TO so with him. She resisted and he pro-
cured gun and under the influence of liquor
committed the deed. Tracys age - years.
He leaves wife and six children.
Poitlsnd, October %. The murder and suic de
at Mercer still creates excitement. The following
is a story of the parties Greenlief Tracy, four
years ago, occupied good farm in Mercer had
wife and six children, lived happily and enjoyed
the respect Of the community. Near him lived
Hiram Walton, with a wife and two children.
Mrs. Walton was simple, innocent minded wo-
man. About four years ago Tracy prevailed
upon her to elope with him, and for two years
they lived In Lowell, Mass. At the end Of that
time she returned to her husband who condoned
her fault In few weeks after Tracy put in 81
appearance and again prevailed upon her to run
away with him. For another two years they
lived together when Mrs. Walton again returned
to her husband. In the meantime, however, he
had obtained a divorce from her. She begged to
be allowed TO remain and work for him. to repay
| \ a., l,oh al Lnn Ill
account Of her actions. She promised never to
see Tracy again, and her divorced husband, TAX
ing pity on her, allowed her to remain. Friday,
Tracy, who had been halt crazy and drunk for
a week, went to Smithfeld and bought pint of
rum and borrowed double -barrelled shot gun
lie drank the liquor and then went to Waltons
house and demanded an interview, which was
granted. She was standing in the front door way
while the conversation was going on. He en-
treated her to go away with him again, but she
firmly refused, when he pointed the gun, being
only six feet from Ter, and fired. The charge
entered her left breast just her heart, and she
fell, dying instantly. Tracy few steps,
when he turned back to see if he had accom-
plished his work, and then ran half mile into
the woods, where he shot himself, the charge
entering the neck, blowing it nearly away and
making CHASTITY wound. Neighbors soon found
him, and their indignation was great that they
proposed to burn the body, and actually gathered
fagots for that purpose. Tracy's father arriving,
his entrcates prevailed and the body was removed
to his house. Tracy was strong minded. eaer-
gctic man. and at one time enjoyed the confidence
and respect of the community.