The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-19
THE BUCKsPORT MURDER.
How the Suspected Murderer Appears
Current Rumors,

The Bangor Wing says all sorts of rumors
are current about Smith, the suspected Bucks
port murderer 1t is said that he was arrested
Saturday evening, put in irons and locked in
room at the hotel by himself, the officers occu-
plying an adjoining apartment In the morn
ing, by the marks on Smiths wrists, it was
evident that he had made severe struggle to
free himself from the irons and to escape, but
had not been able to carry his design TO a sue
cessful termination. Wednesday last it is
said, Smith was at the house of Mr. Trim, he
being we'll acquainted with all the victims, and
remained there during that night and until
Thursday afternoon. On that afternoon the
man Sanders came to the house and was there
with Smith for few hours and remained to
tea. Some think the two men had planned
the crime and net there to better familarize
themselves with the opportunities for carrying
out their designs, or to commit the murder and
robbery that night and found it impracticable
On Saturday it was noticed that when every
Lody was excited by the horrible revelations of
the day, and went TO the scene of desolation to
discover what they might pertaining to it,
Smith, knowing the parties, being acquainted
with the people OF the neighborhood and the
horrible suspicious of foul murder, remained in
his house all day. Smith and Sanders have
been seen together by parties in the vicinity Of
the tragedy quite often during the past fort
night. and many are strongly impressed with
the belief that Sanders not only knows some
thing OF. but was party to, the crime, though
himself, his mother and sisters stouty mann
tain that he was at home Friday night and
could not have left the house without their
knowledge.
Smiths clothing which he wore on the day
of the murder, report says, has numerous spots
of blood on it, especially the shirt front, and
that when arrested he had on clean shirt,
which he averred he had worn four days His
coat had evidently been coored by some dye,
similar to logwood and copperas and it is said
this coloring was done Saturday morning to
cover up the blood stains upon it. Smith ex-
plains the blood stains by saying that he got
them by killing rabbit while out cunning
But it is said that in describing the direction
he travelled in the woods, his story becomes
unreasonable and weak in every particular
Since his arrest Smith has become silent,
making only brief replies to such questions as
he will answer at ALL. which some take as an
indication of bis fear of detection, but if the
other rumOrs are true, enough seems to be
known to imply sufficient guilt on his part to
commit him for trial. Some people are of the
opinion that Smith committed the murder,
which be had deliberately planned, alone, rob-
blng and firing the buildings to escape detec-
ton. Others think that Sanders assisted him
10 killing the parties and shared in the robbery.
An investigation of the horror, thorough and
exhaustive, will be made as SOL on as the inquest
| is completed, and of this rumor again says
that matters brought out before the jury will
point out parties for whom such proceedings
! will be anything but pleasant, besides the
man Smith, who will be held as a participant
| at least