The Portland daily press., 1878-05-13
MONDAY MORNING, MAY I3.
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINE.
A Horrible Murder.
Three Children Killed by Their
Fiendish Father.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE
MURDERER.
L Horrible Murder.

AUGUSTA, May 11.-One of the most brutal
and horrible murders ever enacted in this state
occurred this afternoon about o'clock on the
road known as the Brook road, leading from
this city to Sidney. The house where the fear
fni deed was done is situated near Coomb's
mills, about three miles from the State House.
The principal actor in this dreadful aft air is
Jason P. Scribner, aged 36 years. who until
about ten years ago lead life of Drunkenness
when he abandoned his drinking habits, but
since then he has been constantly growing
morose and at times treating his family with
great cruelty. Only day or two ago his wife
applied to Judge True to have him taken care
OF, as be had frequently threatened her life, but
for some reason the jadgs did not grant the
warrant and the fiend was left to perpetrate
the horrible crime. Scrbner is farmer, hav.
ing some land and working for the neighbors
occasionally. Today he returned from his
work about 10 o'clock, saying that he did not
intend to work any more. About o'clock his
wife went to the cemetery to plant some flow
ers upon her mothers grave, he following after
hei with hoe, and scoldng her most of the
time. Upon their return to the house hs at
tempted to strike the children, bat she inter-
fered and prevented They then went into the
house aud he seized a shovel aud dealt the lit
tie girl Maud, three years DID, a fatal blow up
on the head, which killed her, He then turned
upon the two other children present, one a baby
some two years old, aud the o.her about five
years of age, and inflicted mortal wounds upon
the head of each, severely fracturins the skull.
These two children are now alive but can not
survive but few bours The murderer then
fled to the fields aud taking a razor from his
pocket which he had carried for some time and
attempted suicide. He nearly severed his
windpipe, but just missed the artery, thus fail
ing in bis attempt at his own lfe The officers
were Immediately called and arrested him
without any trouble and took him to the Jail in
this city, where he now lies in a weak and ex-
hausted condition. He is entirely conscious,
aud seems to realize in some degree the magni-
tude OF his crime. One little boy, some eight
or ten years old, was in the house at the time
OF the aHray, but escaped and ran to the
neighbors and gave the alarm. A still older
boy, some twelve years of age, was at work in
an adjoining town and when he returned to his
home in the evening. his little sister dead and
two brothers dying at the hands of his father
the poor boy was entirely prostrated with grief
the extreme. The sceae is indeed one of sad
ness. In nearly every room in the house lies
dead or dying child, while the broken hearted
mother is almost frantic with grief 1t
thought that Scribner was laborng under fit
of insanity, but the neighbors who have known
him and watched his conduct for some time,
believe it was rather fit of madness or ugli-
ness. 1t is thought that he may be brought
before one of the justices of the Supreme Court
and committed TO the Insane Asylum.
AUGUSTA, May 12 The triple murder is the
universal subject of conversation today. The
scene of the tragedy has been visited by a thou
sand persons from this city and surrounding
country, and such as desired have been admit
ted to the house. The youngest child died last
night and the other lies in stupor and cannot
survive but short time. Scribner occupies
cell In the city jail, where he lies in weak and
PROSTATE condition. his clothing saturated with
his own blood. He is able to converse in a
low tone, and appears quite rational. 1t is said
he has no recollection of transactions yester-
day. The first he remembered was lying in
the field where he had fled after committing the
deed, covered with blood. He says that he has
often disputed with his wife, but never struck
her or any OF the children. About two years
ago he left off drinking aud experienced relig-
ion. He could not bear to have anyone cross
or dispute with him upon religious subjects.
When excited he felt pressure upon the fore
head and would lose himself for a time. He
had frequent quarrels with his brother, who
lives near, and imagined that his brothers
wife ieered and made fun of him. He thought
all the neighbors and relatives were against
him. He wanted to sell his place last year and
60 away, but his wife would not He spoke
well of his wife and said no man loved his
children better than he. "Oh, God" he ex.
blamed, "what shall do? Why did do it,"
He requested that he might he might have an
interview with his wife tomorrow. Scribner
will weigh 150 pounds and is rather muscular
He has red hair and whiskers, and appears like
a man of 6ery and exctable temper, unable to
coutroi himself when in fit of passion. He
has broken in his own windows, and only a
short time slice cut up his brothers harness
and broke up his carriage, but said he had no
recollection of these transactions
Mrs. Scribner tells a sad tale of cruelty and
wrong. For the last two years many times
she has had nothing to eat in the house, and
lived six weeks on bread and water. Five
years ago he. in drunken spree, caused the
death of a little child by accidentally scading
tt.Over this he brooded considerably. Mrs. Srib-
ner asserts that he is not insane but ugly.
Scribner had brother die some tt me since at
the Insane Hospital, and it is thought by
some that Scribner has been insane by spells
for two years. He is one of twenty one chill
dren. His father was addicted to intoxicating
liquors, and when under its influence was bru.
tai aud cruel to his family Scrbuer brooded
on religious subjects, and it is probable that
idleness, ugliness, jealousy and the inability to
control himself when his passions were aroused
was the cause which led to the commission of
this, one of the most horrible crimes which has
ever been enacted in Maine