The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-11

down; and at the house things are in q chaotic
state. Although he is not supposed to be en-
gagged professionally in this case, still he is in
tensely interested in it, and did not relish the
verdict as rendered. He still remains in town
and will probably devote more time to it now
as the verdict given iustifes the county in US
ing every proper means to clear up this mys-
terry. Mr.. Head left for Temple this after
noon, in company with. Mr.. Conant, who found
the body
In this connection it may be of interest to
deed, such it may be called. His farm is
reached by about an hours ride from this town,
over as fine a road in every respect as can be
found in this section, and is situated upon the
brow of hill. Upon the right hand side OF
the road are his two large barns, rather tum-
ble-down affairs, while on the other side and
near the road are two corn cribs. Passing into
yard past the cribs we come to the ruins OF a
cellar, upon the walls of which some ten years
ago. rested Mr. Libby's house. Then his sister
was his housekeeper, but becoming insane she
set fire to the house and was soon after sent to
the asylum at Augusta where she now remains.
After Mr.. Lbbys house was destroyed he
built him what one would call a cabin, some
twenty-five feet at the rear. This cabin stands
about five or six rods from the road. and is
about as inhospitable looking as one can i'm
agine. 1t is built of rough boards, is about
10x12 feet and one story high, with two win
down in the front or east side, two on the south
side, and the roof is covered with dilapidated
shingles which seem as though not capable of
shedding any rain. There are no clapboards,
or plastering to be seen, and the whole struct-
ure shows symptoms of decay.
A glance into the interior reveals equally
cherries scene-nothing but rough boards, on
some of which Libby had stuck newspapers to
keep out the cold. The one room contained a
carpenters bench, barrels, boxes, carpenter S
tools, cooking stove and utensils, also the
bunk on which he slept-this being covered
with coarse clothing and buffalo robe. A
huge wild grape vine added gloominess to this
cabin, by twining up and almost entirely over
west side, with other vines of the same sort
partially covering the south side. Back of
this building is a large orchard. which is fast
falling to decay. Here is where Mr. Libby had
passed the last five years OF more of his life,
living entirely alone, and doing his own cook
ing, washing and other household duties.
Mr.. Lewis M. Libby was man of some SO
years of age, stoutly built, dark complexion
and wore full beard. He was of rather an
eccentric disposition as may be imagined by
his surroundings. Nevertheless he was highly
esteemed by his fellow townsmen and for many
years had held positions of trust in town
affairs. On the day of his disappearance he,
with others, had appraised the property of a
lady in town recently deceased. He was a
good business man, and keen fnancier, but
was ever ready to assist his neighbors by loans
of money OF otherwise, and was never known
to refuse to grant a favor. Mr.. Libby owned
large farm situated near his buildings which
he, assisted by Mr.. Levi Howe, carried on sue
cessfully; he also dealt quite largely in stock.
From these two sources he realized quite an
income, and at the time of his death was
estimated to be worth about 81, 600.
Mr.. Libby has been known to carry coll
siderable sums of money about his person, and
short time previous to his death had sold
three yoke of oxen, from which he realized
about $500. But it is not known that at the
time of his death he had much money on hand
or on his person. All his valuable papers,
mortgages, &c, which were reported missing
have been found.
The cavern in which Mr.. Libby's body was
found was made by an ash tree some eighteen
inches through at the butt which had blown
over and lay in northeasterly direction, the
roots of which instead of breaking off had
pulled partly out in such manner as to form
complete cave, the only opening to which
was from the west side. This opening was
about two feet wide and high. The body was
found with the head toward the opening, face
downward How it came there is mystery
yet to be unraveled.