Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-06-14
A TEERIBLE TRAGEDY.
kitridgc Porter Of Clackamas Ccunty
Murders one Vt His Chiiaren nur. !.
Ing Fit Of Temporary In-
sanity--The Maniac Ia
JAIL

sanity--The Maniac la
Last Sunday fearful tragedy was en-
acted in Clackanas county. short dis
nee frou' Oregon City. The following
are the circumstances Of this shocking
homicide: fiiie
The name Of the unfortunate man is
ki'ridge Porter, who with his wife, two
children Gagged three aud one years) aud
his twin brother Kelse, came 10 Oregon
about four months ago from Jefferson
Iowa. RItridge wo ked on Mr.. Bart.
let's place (form,rly Church's) about
half mile above the Clackamas paper
mill. According to Mrs. Porter, KIT"
as she calls him, must have been insane
all last Saturday night; but she attribu
ted bis sayings and doinas to religious
ZEAL aud had 20 idea that he was de-
meuted until utter breakfast Sunday
morning, when he burst in the door of
the housc, a, d. with IN ak in his hands.
rushed IN and cried, 81 am crazy; down
on the fmr, every one of you, or will
kill you.' Mrs. Porter and the three.
year old boy, Johnny. whom she was
dressing at the time, got down on their
knees and urged him not to kill them.
he at the same time brandishing the NIX
round at a furious rate. He then Or
derei Mrs. Porter to get up and 90 and
call K Use, who, he said, was hid under
the hay 10 the ca,tl, shed. and to give
Johnny TO kelse, that he might hide
him IN the woods where he devil could
not lind him. She went and called for
kelse as loud as she could, but he was
not within hearing distance and did not
come. She reported to her husband
thar she could not find him.
He then ordered her to take Johnny
to the woods herself aud hide him where
the devil could no, find him. Mrs. Psr
ter to k the little air.a her arn,s. the
lit'le bay running before her. aud made
Ill haste TO reach the cattle shed, three
nr four hundred yards distant ip hnpe
that she would 6nd kelse there US her
husband had said he was there. or else
reach the nearest neighbor's, half u mile
distant; but kelse had not been at the
| shed at all Before she g"t here she
oked back and her husband was run.
"ing after her, aud only short dis
tance away with the ax in his hand. He
came up to her. gave her the AK and
told her to bury it where he could not
hnd 1t; but a uoment later he forced il,
away tion her. Porter then sp Ike en-
dearlng words to Johnny. took him il
his arms aud kissed him. lie then ran
If with the child to hide him in the
woods % seeing this. Mrs. Porter
began TO shout murder and kelsc being
WITHIN hearing ran to her assistance.
The husband and father. on observing
his brother running toward him. instan
'ly stop ed. put The child down on th.
trnnd. and struck it on tho head with
the ak. inflicfiug fearful cash. aud
producing in-tant death. The whole
si;k"nlns scene took place IN full view
1T and only very short dstancs frou,
the horror stricken mother. who wa.
te pes To prevent the murder At or
the commission Of the crime. Porter l., i /
dawn the ak. looked at the lead child u
moment, then turaed aud ran toward
kelse, shook hands with him, kissed
him and ran away. shouting aud leupiag
like a manaic. Kelse then went to
where Mrs. Porter was standing almost
paralyzed with terror, took the child
from her arms and told her to follow
him. They then made their way to the
nearest neighbours house, keeping as
much as possible out Of the way. Mrs.
Potter is of the opinion that if KeIse
had not come just when he did her hus,
band would have murdered them all.
A few neighbors were called for as
sstance. and in short time the maniac
was taken without resistance and con.
veycd to Oregon City where re was
lodged in Jail. The coroner held an in.
qnest. but the verdict is aot known at
present. The remaius Of the unfortu
cate child was buried Monday aiter>
noon.
We are Informed that Kelse Porter,
brother # the mauiac murderer. became
insane yesterday very soon after he re.
turned from the funeral of his little
, nephew. His. insanity is attributable
} to the great mental strain and shock
caused by the tragical affair." Oregon
, ian June 5th.