Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-04
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9ai!s Seaae,ee Sunrnal.
ELLSWORTH.
Murder Trial.

ELLSWORTH, May 3. In the Smith murder
trial Gross, the surveyor, testified to plans and
measurements Of the tragedy.
The following are the circumstances Of the muir
der:
Capt. Tim was man seventy four years Of
age, and a idower. In February, 1876, Mrs.
Thayer's husband died, and disposng of her
property in Iiampden for $3.50, she had come with
her child 10 live with her father
On the night of the murder about midnight,
Mr. Emerson, living within ten rods Of Capt.
Trim residence, was awakened by bright light.
which proved to be the burning of Capt. Trims
dwelling He arose and went out, but saw moth
ing of Capt. Trim or his family.
The fire had made such progress that the house
ell and barn were totally destroyed. The non-ap-
pearance of the occupants Of the house excited
suspicion, aud search of the RUNS was COM
menced. In a sholt time the chsrred remains Of
Capt. Trim were found beneath The ruins Of the
carriage house. Only the bones were found, the
flesh having been completely burned off. These
were gathered together and removed.
The search was continued, and it soon became
evident that horrible crime had been commit
ted In the barn, beneath some partially burned
hay, the body Of Mrs. Tha!er was found, with
indications that she had been bru,ally murdered,
after desperate struggle.
She bad been at neighhoi's, Mrs. Harriman's,
and left therest eight O'Clock for home. 1t is
murderer striking her on the head with a large
stone, which was found in the rear of the barn,
covered with blood. In many places blood was
found on the grouud, which was traced from in
fl ont Of The barn TO pile of rocks in the rear Of
the barn. a bloody scarf, worn by Mrs. Thayer
pair Of her rubbcr., covered with blood and a
comb with the teeth broken out, were also found
in the vicinity.
1t is supposed that she was attacked near the
house, Knocked down and killed, her body drag
eed to the rear of the barn, where, from the large
quantity of blood, it would appear that the body
had laid some time 1t was afterwards pat in the
barn. where the remains were found.
1t is copjectured that after the murderer had
made way with Mrs. Thayer, he pulled the car
riage ont of the carriage house to attract Captain
Trims attention, and the latter going into the
carriage house was struck and killed. 1t was
here that his remains were found. 1t was suppos-
ed that the murders were committed for the pur-
pose of robbery.
The next morning the officers commenced an
investigation. Suspicious were directed to two
parties, Frank Sanders, who was arrested in
Hampden, but soon after discharged, and Edward
Nj. Smith, a seafaIing man about forty years old,
who lived ia Backsport. aud was quite familiar
with the Trim family. lie was at Harriman's
house when Mrs. Thayer called there, and went
cut soon after she started for home lie had been
at work for Hartman that day, but was found by
the officers at his home, four miles distant, early
next morning. lie was arrested and a coroner's
inquest was held
On the clothing Of Smith, worn on the day of
the murder, were found several spots of blood,
and his coat when foun1 HAD been colored by
some dye.
The coroneI's inques. lasted several days, and
Smith was fully committed for trial. lie offered
no defence at the time. lie has been confined in
ingor Jail until within week.
Ada Snow, niece of the prisoner. testified that
on Friday evening, Oct. 18th last, Melissa f.
Thayer, the deceased, went with her to the post
Office; that they left the post office on return at
about half-p past seven That she bid Mrs. Thayer
good night in front of her (Snow's) house, and
went in, while Mrs. Tbayer started for her own
house distance of folty-fye rods. This was the
last ever seen Of Mrs. Thayer alive The witness
Identified comb and bloody cloud found near
the hour the next mo ming, those worn by Mrs
Thayer the evening before.
Rufus Moore testified to being in Trims house
where Mrs. Thayer lived, sill that evening unit,
nine clock, waiting for her return, but she never
car