Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-01-29
BY TELEGRAPH.
Associated Press Telegrams to the Dali,
kennebec Journal
THE MONTVILLE TRAGEDY.
Full Particulars of the Shocking
Occurrence.
RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT THE
CAUSE OF INSANITY.
Much Excitement in the Locality.

BELFAST, January rs. The terrible trag-
edy which was enacted last Saturday night
near Ranlett's Corner, Montville, Waldo
county, some eighteen miles from Belfast,
eXcites the deepest interest. 1t resulted in
the violent death of three persons, John Nc
Farland and Salina Mcfarland, his wife,
each aged about seventy years, and George
Howell, aged about forty years.
Rowell, who was partially insane, fired up
on one Alonzo Rayncs, and then killed Nc
Farland and his wife with his clubbed gun,
and was subsequently shot and killed by
Raynes, while attempting to break into his
house.
Rowcll WAS a powerful muscular man,
weighing over two hundred pounds, who had
been insane at times for several years, but
was not considered offensive or dangerous
1t is said his condition was caused by relig-
ious excitement.
A short time since he was in Belfast and
several persons noticed his peculiar actions
and considered him insane. He returned
from Belfast Friday.
Rowell had married McFarland's sons
widow, and they all lived together in one
house with his two children
During Saturday evening some misunder-
standing and talk in regard to one of the
children arose. when Rowel became excited
and struck the old man and threatened the
lives of the family. He went for his gun
while his wife hurried to ncighbors for help
and Mcfarland and his wife and the children
started in another direction for safety.
About this time Alonzo Raynes, accom-
panied by boy, came towards McFarland's 8
house and met the old man and his wife and
the children on the road, and hurried them
towards his house for shelter from the storm
and the cold which was below zero.
As he neared McFarlands house he was
fired upon by Rowell, who missed his aim.
Turning he ran back towards his own house,
overtaking the children and follow ed by Row
ell who soon overlook the old man and his
wife and killed them both in the road, break
ing the old lady's neck, and fearfullt injur-
ilb tile Hcdus VI DOtii, DTtdkluB anu destroy
ing the gun in the attack.
Raynes, who had gone ahead with the
children, got them safely into his house and
the door closed when Rowell reached there
and broke through the panels Of the door,
when he was shot by Raynes from the inside,
the charge striking him in the groin and max
ing severe wound.
Raynes then secured Rowell with rope
and obtaining lantern went back on the
road to look for Mcfarland and his wife,
finding their dead bodies a short distance
from the house as above stated. Returning
back for help he found Rowell dead from loss
of blood, and rousing the neighborhood pro-
ceeded to the care of the bodies.
A coroner's inquest was held Tuesday, and
a verdict rendered in accordance with the
above facts.
The funeral of the victims will be held
Wednesday.
The scene at the Mcfarland house where
the dead bodies lay is a sad one.
There is much excitement in the locality,
and crowds of people are coming and going.
The proximity of the scene of the tragedy to
that of the Thorndike murder but few years
ago, and which is still fresh in the minds OF
the people, makes the present horror pecu.
liarly saddpninp