Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-30
The Cumberland Tragedy.
From the Portland Press. 18th. }
The LOWE Property AND FAMILY


The farm on which Joseph Lowe was living
at the time of the murder originally belonged
to Mr.. Amos Winslow. one of whose daugh-
tiers is the mother of the murdered man. Mr..
Lowe, the father of the deceased, and his
wife went on to the farm years ago, agreeing
to support Mrs. Loves parents in considera-
ton of the ownership of the farm after their
death Trouble arose and finally Mrs. Lydia
Winslow Mrs. loves sister, came into pos
session of the estate. Some five or six years
ago Mr.. loves oldest son Benjamin, who is
now brakeman on the Grand Trunk railroad,
undertook to carry on the farm, as his father
was getting old He carried it ON about a
year. but there was dissatisfaction and he
surrendered it to the Youngest brother, James
Matters were not Pheasant and Joseph, who
until this time had lived at home, went to
Baldw in and took up blacksmithing. James
management did not give satisfaction and af-
ter few months the old folks entreatcd Jo-
seph to come home and take charge. Joseph
did not want to at first, but neighbor advis-
ed him strongly to, and he finally consented
on condition that the property should be his
His aunt Lydia therefore gave him deed of
it and he gave bond that he would support
her and his father and mother during their
life. 1t is evident from what the neighbors
say that there was some ill-feeing in the fam
lily at the time of this arrangement. This
was some four wears ago. Since then Mr..
Lowe senior and Mrs. Lydia Winslow have
both died. The heirs of the property, as
Joseph had no wife or children. are his sisters
and brothers. Benjamin has been for some
yeas a brakeman on the Grand Trunk road.
James has had no steady occupation. He has
lived with Joseph a considerable portion of
the time. Recently he has been at w0rk.in
Scarboro. AT the time of the murder he
was living with his wife, whom he married
last spring, at the New England House in
this city.
The neighbors of Joseph describe James
as a hat shiftless fellow but do not say
that he has been guilty of any immoral con-
duct. OF Joseph they all speak in the high
est terms. OF Benjamin they know but lit
tie. as he has been there but very little tor
several years.
DETECTIVE HEALps THEORY.
Detective John s. Head rode out to the
scene of the murder with City Marshal
Bridges yesterday morning, and made such
investigation as was possible under the cir
cumstances. He is firmly of the opinion that
the deed was done by some one familiar with
the premises. He thinks that the murderer
provided himself with the AK before entering
the house and that his original intention was
to kill Mr.. Lowe in his bed. Not finding him
there he went to the barn and finding the horse
and carriage gone he determined to lie in wait
for his victim there.
He thinks that when Mr.. Lowe stepped out
from behind the horse the assassin spoke to
him and then, as Mr.. Lowe turned his head
to see who was speaking to him, struck him
in the right temple and felled him to the floor.
Mr.. Head feels certain that after Mr.. Lowe
fell, the murderer struck two blows across
no baa nit tho nJ, nftb no
the idea of the murder being committed for
the purpose of robbery and doesn't believe
that it was the work of tramps. Mr.. Head
says his time is so fully occupied with his
business for the Maine Central railroad that
he will not be able to devote much attention
to the affair but he will probably make some
investigation. Mr.. Head does not deny that
he has suspicious as to who is the author of
the deed, but he does not wish to say any,
thing definite at present.
Ar THE New ENGLAND Housr.
A reporter of the Press visited the New
England liOuse--last evening-where Mr.
James Lowe, the younger brother is stopping
to get his theory of the murder but Mr.. Lowe
had not returned from Cumberland Mrs.
Ripley, who keeps the house, said that Mr.
Lowe came to Portland with his wife from
Falmouth about four weeks ago and as ked her
W Rtt nun Il poaTulhS pace, anu II pace 10
work, and she secured place at Mrs. Shaws
in Scarboro There Mr.. Lowe remained I'M
til last Wednesday when he came back to the
city and had been stopping with her since ac-
companied by his wife. He was very quiet,
pleasant, peaceable man. On Friday Mr..
Lowe took tea at the usual time at the house
and the next morning he came down to break
fast at the usual time about half past six.
A SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.
We are informed that man hung around
the stable, just below the American House on
India street, yesterday forenoon at . o'clock
He wentin and examined the stable thorough
ly. The mans actions aroused the suspicious
of a man who belonged in that locality andh
kept an eye on him. At noon the man was
still hanging around there, and again at night
He appeared restless and uneasy, going off a
little way and then coming back Finally at
O'Clock, as the man appeared again, our in
formant asked him if he was looking for any
one The man said no. Then he was asked
If he belonged in this vicinity. He said mo,
he was a stranger" Finally it was ascer-
tanned he was stopping at the New England
House, and had stated he was keeper at the
Thomaston State Prison. 1t seemed odd he