The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-10-15
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINE.
Terrible Tragedy in Kennebunk-
port.
A WELL KNOWN SHIP-MASTER THE
PRINCIPAL ACTOR.
He Slashes His Wife's Sister with Knife
then Kills Himself in an Insane Fit.
Especial Despatch to the Press

| KENNEBUNKPoRT, Oct 14.--Capt. John h.
Mason, well known ship-master, last in COM
mand of the ships Lincoln and "North
STAR retired from the sea some years since,
and resided on Spring street, near the Congre-
| gational church
| Certain business troubles about two years
since depressed his spirits and deranged his
bodily health, and for the past year he has sell
| dom been upon the street, and even averse to
seeing his own friends. Almost opposite re :
sided Mr.. Elbridge G. Moody, whose wife is
the only sister of Mrs Mason and who has de-
voted much time to her invalid sister and the
captain As Capt Mason's mind became more
deranged he, like others in similar condition,
has taken dislike to Mrs. Moody, but without
in any way attempting violence until this FORE
noon, about 10a o'clock, when Mrs. Moody was
at his house expecting to remain to dinner.
The captain appeared as usual and had just
come into the house from beating carpet
when. in the presence of his wife, in a sudden
frenzy of insanity he plunged long, keenly
sharpened knife into the body of Mrs. Moody,
following the attack with three mortal stabs in
his own chest, from which he instantly died.
Mrs. Moody, though bleeding fearfully, was
able to cross the street and give an alarm. Her
wound is below the heart and in such favorable
position that the attending physicians have
sanguine hopes of her recovery. Capt Mason
was about 60 years of age, and leaves a wife
and one daughter.
ITO the Associated Press.
9 BIDDEFoRD Oct 14.-Capt John S. Mason,
"a well known citizen of Kennebunkport, about
ten o'clock this forenoon, made desperate as
sault upon Mrs Moody, his sister-in-law, with
a large dirk knife, inficting dangerous
wound in the left side. She succeeded in get
ting away from him and running to the neigh
bors. AS soon as Mrs. Moody had gone, Capt
Mason plunged the knife three times into his
own body inflicting wounds which caused hi
death at once. Capt. Mason has been unwell
for some time and was partially insane.
Sudden Death in Camden.
CAMDEN. Oct. 14.-Mr Reuben Pendfeton,
respectable citizen of this village, was found
dead in his bed this morning from heart dis
ease, aged about 60.
Burned to Death in Castine.
CAsTINE, Oct. IA four year old daughter
of Capt. Alvin Hatch was so badly burned
last night as to die in few hours, by her
night clothes catching fire from matches ig-
nited by her.
Washington County S. j. Court.
MACHIAs, Oct 14.-Court adjourned today
after session lasting seven days, Judge Dan
forth presiding. The grand jury returned
seven indictments, mostly against liquor sell
lers.
Fire at Mechanic Falls.
MECHANIC FALLS, Oct. 14.-Seth NJ. Sieber-
ling IS barn, on Pottle Hill, was burned with
twenty tons of hay, grain, hogs and farming
TOOLS The fire was probably set by children.
Loss 5000, insured for $500. Mr.. Sieberling
was badly burned.
An Insane Woman Attempts to Wreck a
Railroad Train.
BANGOR, Oct. IA woman named Mrs,
Neland was taken in charge by officers today
for attempting to wreck Bucksport & Bangor
railroad train. She is insane and thinks that
the railroad officials have carried her son off,
he being at work up the river. She was taken
to the Aims House and will probably be sent
to Augusta.
Bark Clara e. McGilvery.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1.-The bark Clara E.
McGilvery of Searsport, is still in the cove be-
low Camden undergoing fumigation. and will
probably be discharged tomorrow. United
States Surgeon Deering says there is no cause
whatever for public uneasiness. Spring, the
first mate, was removed to the Philadelphia
municipal hospital Tuesday last, and has since
been discharged, having developed no symp-
toms of yellow FOYER or other disease, and has
gone to his home in Portland Me.