The Portland daily press., 1879-07-08
METEOROLOGICAL.
by TELEGRAPH.
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY.
Mr.. Libbey's Body Found Buried
in Mud Hole.
Little Doubt that He was Murdered.
Especial DESPATCH to the Press


PENNINGTON, July s. = The excitement
which has prevailed in this vicinity over the
mysterious disappearance of Mr.. Lewis Libbey
of Temple eliminated to-day when the body
was found buried in a swampy spot and I'M
der such circumstances as to leave no doubt
that horrible murder had been committed.
Mr.. Libbey was a prominent and wealthy
citizen of Temple and for week before his
disappearance, which was on the afternoon of
Saturday, June 2Sth, had been receiving
money constantly for farm products until he
had accumulated $1,000 which he carried in a
pocket book upon his person. On Saturday
Libbey and his hired man were at work in the
field and the latter says that Libby suddenly
commenced to act very strangely, taking his
pocket book out of his pocket and scattering
silver coins about. He then started on the
run for the woods and disappeared from sight.
A search in the field where they were at work
revealed Libbey's pocket book, but it contain
ed only $50. AT first it was supposed 10y many
that Libbey had been suddenly seized with
fit of insanity, as he had shown signs of
mental arrangement before. But the more
the circumstances were investigated the more
it looked as if Mr.. Lbbey had been the victim
of foul play. Parties searched in every
direction without finding the body until tc-
day. One party did, however. several days
ago find some suspicious marks. On entering
the woods near where Libbeys hoe was found
they discovered place that looked as though
heavy body had been dragged through.
Following this up, they came to a fence in the
land WI 10 n,
getting over the fence tracks were found
where two men had apparently walked abreast
down to the road. Mr.. Howe, the man who
was working in the field with Libbey, on be-
ing interviewed, said that after Lbbey left
the field he worked until dark Gt is his custom
to go to his supper before that time,) and then
went home and went to bed; that neither he
nor his wife could sleep at all during the
night; that he got up in the morning and went
over to Libbey's to see if he had got back, and
not finding him, went down into the cornfeld
(his tracks led to the spot where the money
was found, the rain during the night having
obliterated the tracks made the day previously
The body was found at half past twelve
to-day in the woods about so rods from this
cornfeld, and a third of q mile from the house
sunk some three feet in the mud. Three
men, Frank Conant, Rufus and John Dins-
more were searching in the hole with hoe
when it struck what they supposed was log.
Further digging hover brought to the surface
the body of Mr.. Libbey.
Coroner A. T. Tuck of Pennington was
notified and at once proceeded to the spot.
A jury was impanneled composed of S. P.
Small, Joel Chandler; Joseph P. Tuck, John
Mitchell, A. P. Russell and William Hodgkins
and with Drs. P. Dyer, F. H. Russell, S. P.
Warren, j. J. Lisscott and L. B. Pillsbury
made a preliminary examination.
The place in which the body was found and
the condition of it leaves little doubt that Mr..
Libbey was the victim of murder of which the
motive was robbery