The Portland daily press., 1879-01-31
The MontvilIe Tragedy.
WING DETAILS OF THE
BLOOD3 DEED.

4. >.~~
BLOoDG DEED.
The Testimony Brought Out before the
Inquest.
Fuller particulars of the Montville tragedy
were ELECTED at the coroner's inquest, which
occurred in the house of the late John Nc
Fsrland last Tuesday The building is Of one
story, painted white and of ordinary construc-
ton. The investigation was held in the front
room, neat but unpretentiously furnished
apartment, where the three victims wore
ranged side by side, and covered with Sheets
| 1t seems that George W. Bowel OF Ranletts
Corner, Mon.ville, had been subject to fits OF
insanity, aud, at times. had to be closely
| watched He had been to Belfast for four
| Jays and returned home the day prior to the
tragedy, all the worse for his infrmity. On
Saturday evening he retired to rest between
| and o'clock, but shortly afterward entered
the kitchen. where the family, consisting Of
| John Mcfarland, his wife, MIS-. Salina McFar-
land, Mrs. George W. Rowell and Cora McFar-,
land, daughter Of Mrs. Rowell by her first hus-
| band, were seated, and will lily exclaimed ~
| want woman" at the same time grasping
| Cora whom he dragged into the front entry.
Mcfarland jumped TO his feet and, addressing
| Rowelps wife. said, "Abby, take hold of this
| door with me, indicating the one opening into
entry. After much effort it was forced open.
perceving which the Infatuated maniac let go
his hold Of the shrieking girl, and, rushing for
Mcfarland, began pounding him with his fists.
| Mcfarland for short time had all he could
| do 10 prevent Rowell from getting the best of
him, but finally managed to run out of the
house, closely followed by the frightened in
mates. Fred Bennett, who was also in the
kitchen when Rowell attacked Mcfarland, ran
to the house of Alonzo F. Rsynes, one
fourth of mile distant, and told
him what had occurred. They both
FASTENED to the scene of trouble. At
his gate Mr.. Raynes noticed Mrs. McFar-
land little further on her husband, who turn
ed and went with him, and the party soon met
Cora, who was running with Rowell's 2-year-
old baby in her arms. When Mr. Rayues
arrived opposite the Mcfarland house, the H.
sane occupant stepped to the door, took DELHI
crate aim and fred at him, the bullet whiz-
zing past his head. The latter took the baby
from Cora and counseling her and Bennett
to follow him as fast as they could, ran to bis
house, told hi. family to arm themselves with
sticks of wood and then went to his sitting
room and got his dOuble-barrelled shotgun
He had hardly succeeded in doing this. when
Cora rushed into the house, exclaiming, she
has killed grandpa and grandma" Mrs.
R4ynes closed the door, dreading the msnisc's
intrusion, bnt tailed to lock ii. A moment
later heavy blows were heard on the panels of
the door, aud ths occupants of the house were
thrown into fever of couster nation. Instead
of opening the door, the insane creature struck
it blow after blow with the barrel of his gun,
until he made hole in it three feet by two
and half. Discerning Rowell through the
aperture Mrs. Raynes commanded her husband
to "tabe tae gun and shoot him." By the
time Raynss had got the weapon, Rowell had
broken out one-half of the door and was plainly
visible. TIE time for decisive action had
arrived. Either the infatuated maniac must
be subdued or more lives lost. Rsynes raised
his weapon, and. aiming low, with the hope Of
crippling, not killing his adversary, fred.
Rowel fell over on his back. Raynes jumped
to the door, and holding the wounded
man, cried to his wife to bring a
rope. She quickly responded, and Rowell
was bound hand and foot. Raynes
then went up the path leading to his house aud
found Mrs. McFarlnd lying dead in the snow
sb,ut ten rods from the foor, and ten rods
land. The stock of Rowell's gun was lying be-
side the old gentleman, aud it was evident that
il was with this that he had received his death
blow. Mr.. RsiDes did not remove the bodies,
but went back TO his house, when he found
that Rowell had expired.
THE VICTIMS.
John MCF arland was a respectable farmer,
aged SO years. Rowell had married his sons
widow, Mrs. Abby Mcfarland, and lived with
him, the Netherlands owning the farm and
Mr.. and Mrs. Rowell the personal property.
McF arlaud's wound was fracture, extending
from the top of the head near the c.ntre down
to the base of the brain, the skull being COM
pletely beaten in. From the locality of the
wound aud its magnitude, death must have
been instantao, Ons.
Mrs Sana Mcfarland, wife of the above,
was Ga years of age, she was a pleasant looking
lady of medium height and average weight
Her wound was on the left side OF the head;
the cheek was cut, the left temple fractured
aud the wound reached to the anterior portion
of the occipital bone or the back part of the
head. This was slso Of such nature as to
produce instant death.
George W. Rowell, the chief actor in this
fearful tragedy, was AZ years old. He was of
stout build, weighing 212 pounds, of dark COM
plexion and gragish blue eyes He was ex-
ceedingly muscular, graceful and decidedly
pr-pOssessiog in appearance. His wound was
from gun.shot, received in the inner portion
of he thigh, near the groin, cutting the femo-
TAI artery III bWalu, lTOlu IL Hb uieu tuSluo OIL
ten minutes.
AloDzo F Raynes, the young man who shot
Ro WE'LL IS 80 gears of age, of rather slight
form and medium height, has blue eyes, brown
hair and dark side whiskers and mustache.
Clara Mcfarland, the young girl who was
the cause of Rowel's horrible lust, is about -
years old, tall for her age, has blonde hair. soft
brown eyes, and is exceedingly handsome.
She exhibited great bravery aud presence of
mind durlngthe terrible affair.
Fhe entire afternoon was taken up in hearing
testimony, and, at the conclusion, Coroner
Eli.na Carter submitted the case to the jurors,
who found that "John Mcfarland and his wife,
S4lna Mcfarland came to their deaths by
wounds Inflicted by the hands of George w.
Rowell, An Insane person; that George w Row
ell met his death bg gun shot from AoDzo f.
Raynes while the Latter was protecting him
self and family" Rsyhes was fully exonerated,
as be ought to be.
The funeral took place Wednesday, at 10 A.
NJ, at the little spreless church at Ranlett's
Corner. Elder James Smare Of Montvile.
aud of the Free.will Baptis faith, conducted
the ceremonies The three victims were bur-
led in the family lot, in the lonely cemetery on
the hill near by.