Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-16
State N eWs.
A HORRIBLE MURDER.
Three Children Killed BY Their
F1emSiish Father.

ATTEMPTED ssictae 81 the Msrlerer
Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, May ll.-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 10 Sidney. The house where the fear.
ful deed was doue IL situated near Coombs'
mills. about three miles from the Siste House.
The principal sctsr In this dreadful sfFsir l.
about ten years ago lead life Of drunkenness,
when he abandoned bis drinking habits, but
since then he has been constantly growing
morose and ct times treating his family with
great cruelty. Only day or two ago his wife
applied to Judge True to have him taken care
OF, rs he hsd frequently thre aieneL her life. bu,
for some reason the judge did not grant the
warrant and the iend was len TO perpetrste
the horrible crime. Scrtbner 10 = farmer. hsv.
ing some land and working for the neixhbors
occasionally. To-day 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 how-
err. upon her mothers grave. he follow ing afler
her with hoe. and scoldnI her most vi the
time. Upon their return to the house he At
tempted TO strike the children. but she inter
Tered and prevented. They then went into the
house and he seized shovel and dealt the lit.
the hesd. which Killed her. He then turned
upon the two other children present. one bsby
some two years old. and the other about I'VE
wears OF age. and inflicted mortal wounds upon
the head Of each. severely frarturing the skull.
These two CHI ldren are now alive. but can not
survive bat few hours. The murderer then
fed TO the fields. and taxing razor from his
pocket which he had carried for some time and
attempted suicide. He nearly severed his wind
pipe, but just missed the artery. thus failing in
his attempt at his own life. The officers we're
Immediately called and arrested him without
any trouble and took him TO the Jail 10 this city.
where be now lies in weak and exhausted
condition. He IL entirely conscious. and seems
to realize in some degree the magnitude OF his
crime. One little boy, some eight or ten yezrs
old. WAS In the house nj the time OF the ARRAY,
but escaped and ran TO the neighbors and gave
the alarm. A still older boy, some twelve years
OF ag", was ut work In an adjoining town aud
when he returned to his home In the evening.
his little sister dead and two brothers dying al
the hands Of his father, the poor boy WAS en-
tirely prostrsted with grief. The meeting with
his mother WAS fdecting In the extreme. The
scene IL indeed one Of sadness. In nearly every
room In the house lies . dead or dying child.
while the broken hearted mother Is almost
frantic with grief. II Is thought that scrbuer
was iaboring under \ at OF insanity. but the
neighbors who have known him and watched
bis conduct for some time, believe IL was rather
. iii OF madness or ugliness. II IL thought that
he may be brought before one Of the justices Of
the suprrme Court and committed 10 the To-
sane Asylum.
AUGUSTA, May I2.-The triple murder 10 the
universal subject 81 conversation to-day. The
scene OF the tragedy has been visited by thou
sand persons from this city and surrounding
country. and such as desired have been admit
ted TO the house. The youngest child died las,
night and the other lies In 4 siupor and cannot
survive but short time. scribner occupies .
cell In the city Jail, where he lie. In u weak and
PROSTATE condition, his clothing saturated with
his own blood Ne IL able TO converse In low
tone, and appears quite rational. IL II said he
has no recollection Of transactions yesterday.
The first he remembered was lying In the field
where he bad fcd 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 OF drinking and experienced religion. lie
could no, bear TO have anyone cross or dispute
with him upon religious subjects. When ex-
cited he felt . pressure upon the forehead and
would lose himself for . time. lie had frequent
qusrrels with his brother. " ho lives near. aud
imagined that his brothers wife lccred and
made fun OF him. lie thought all the ncixhbors
and relative. were against him. He wanied to
s-ll his place last year aud go away. but his
wife would not. He spoke well Of his wife aud
said no man loved his children better than be.
'Ob. God" b. exclaimed, what shall l do!
Why did do it, He requested tina, he laigh,
have an interview with his wife tomorrow.
scribner viii weigh $50 pounds and Is rather
muscular. He has red hair and whiskers, and
appear like 4 man Of fiery and exc,t.ble tenn
per, unable To control himself when In . d. OF
passion. He has broken in his own windows,
and only short time since cut up his brothers
harness and broke up his carriage, but said be
had no recollection Of these transactions.
Mrs Scribner tells q 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
death OF . little child by accidentally sc.jd,pe
II. over this he brooded considerably, Mrs.
scribner asserts that he Is not insane but ugly
scribner had = brother die some time since a,
the Insane Hospital, and 1, 10 thought by some
that scrlbner has been insane BY spells for two
years. lie Is one OF tweuty-oue children. His
father was addicted to into xicAtins liauor-
and " hen uoder its influence WAS brutal and
cruel TO his family. Scribner brootcd ON reiix.
ious subjects, and 1t Is probable that idlenes..
uSiiness, je aiousy and the inability 10 control
himself when his passions were aroused wa,
the cause which led 10 the commission Of this,
one OF the most horrible crimes which hX, ever
been enacted In Maine.