Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-18
TIE Ate HPTED ASSASSINATION OF
4SENA IUR TWICHELL or LOUIS
T4E4


A Coushatta U.a J correspondent of the ST..
Louis Democrat gives the following particulars of
the shooting Of Senator w. III. Twichell and the
killing of his brother in-law, George ii. King, at
that place, on the Sd of May:
cat quite an early hour this morning a stranger
was noticed riding into town. His peculiar attire
ard appearance attracted considerable attention.
The collar of his rubber coat was turned up, and
the rim of his soft felt hat turned down. lie also
wore green goggles, and it was his evident inten-
ton to conceal as much OF his face as possible.
lie was spoken to by several citizens during the
morning, but allowed no one to get good look
at his features. The stranger was armed with =
repeating rifle and sx-shooter.
lie visited the blacksmith shop, and after asking
the price of shocin. said that his brother would be
along and that he would wait for hin before de
Gliding whether he would have heavy or light shoes
put on his horse He said that he would sit by the
window of the shop until his brother came. This
window commanded view of the river for some
distance up and down, and there he remained for
some time-an hour or twO-and was spoken to
by several partics to whom he replied in such q
manner to imply that he did not converse, and
at no time did he uncover his face fully About
9 o'clock Senator Twichel and his brotner-in law
&. A. King, rode down to the ferry and crossed.
The stranger mounted his horse and slowly logged
toward the point where the skill must land, and
when the skih had reached the middle of the river
he one hundred yards from the landing. The
man dsnouned, tied his horse and walked toward
the river bank in careless manner As the kill
struck the bank, or landing, he commenced firing
upon the party with his rifle. The first sho!
missed, the second struck one of Twichelfs arms
King had by this time drawn his pistol and
firing in return, when, the stranger changed his
fire AMI killed King, who fell in the boat. The
negro who was rowing had managed to get the
skh thirty forty feet from the bank by this
time, and Twichell jumped overheard ana hung
10 the side of the skin with his remaining arm,
and was struggling 10 protect husef with a
board.
The stranger, however, kept up the shooting
with cock-work precision, and managed 10 break
Twichell's other arm and he drifted away from
the boat, helpless and drowning. At this time
Gen Mudgett who was awaiting the return of
the skill to cross, commenced firing at the stran-
ger, but did not hit him, and he apparently paid no
attention TO him. Several persons in town had
run over to see what was the natter and had been
ordered back. Finally the stranger walked
toward his horse, reloaded his rifle, mounted anu
was about leaving when he saw the negro boy
pulling Twtchell in the boat under the direction
of lady who stood on the bank lie rode to the
bank aud again commenced firing, this time with
his revolver. One shot hit Twchell in the leg and
another struck the negro in the han1. The lady
begged of the man to desis, but apparently he
| paid no attention 10 her. The lady asked the
| gro if Twichel was dead, and upon his replying
| in the affirmative the stranger turned and rode cut
Of town. He passed several parties who knew
nothing of the shooting, but their attention
attracted to him for the reason that he kept them
covered with his six-shooter until he had passed
them some distance. Meanwhile the negro had
reached the bank from whence they had started.
Twichell was shot three times King three or four
times, and the negro once.
Another account says the assassin told woman
who witnessed his cold-blooded crime that he had
killed King in self-defence. and that he did not
come there for that purpose, but to murder Twich-