The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-11
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY.
A Description of the Victim-His Home
Where the Body was Found, &c.

Strong, Tin which young girl named Libby
was cruelty outraged and murdered) several
years ago, has this county experienced such a
sensation as that which now is prevailing The
mysterious disappearance, the finding of the
body in such mysterious locality, and the
general air Of mystery which hangs over the
whole affair,are in the mouth of everybody and
afford endless topics of conversation for one
and all, and it is surprising to see how many
different solutions of the affair can be gi ven
Strange rumors have also been afloat con-
Meeting Il names of several parties with his
disappearance. We heard that one man was
seen at West Pennington, Monday, after Mr..
Libby disappeared Saturday, with his head
bandaged up and suffering from a gunshot
wound, but tracing it up find it all a cruel
hoax. Another rumor that rather dissipated
fellow at the same place was 'fush'' with
money after the disappearance Jared the same
fate
1t is, however, pretty generally conceded
that Mr.. Libby was foully dealt with, though
those advocating suicide theory can find very
plausible reasons for doing so.
One very strong proof of murder is this:
Mr.. Libby was not in the habit of rolling up
his sleeves, as many farmers do in their field
work; he only did so when he went to the
house and was attending to domestic duties
This fact was proved at the autopsy-his arms
not Icing Drowned as they naturally would be
by exposure. Yet when the body was taken
from the place where it was found the sleeves
were rolled up indicating quite conclusively
that he was brought from the house.
The suicide theory is supported by the fact
that insanity has prevailed in Mr.. Libby's
family, and he now has a sister in the asylum
at Augusta. Five years ago she kept house
for him, but suddenly became crazy and in one
of her fits she set fire to his house and it was
burned to the ground. Soon after this she
was taken to Augusta and has remained there
nearly all the time since. Mr.. Libby, also, has
complained quite recently of not feeling like
himself; has imagined there were people after
him; and even on the day of his disappear
ance, while with others he was appraising an
estate, he remarked that he was either insane
or fool, and wanted to know if the rest
thought him competent to go on with the ap-
praisal. Still another point: The Thursday
night preceding his disappearance, he went to
the Mills to show of some kind. and ON his
way home he called into his brother Wilson's.
They noticed something wrong about him and
asked him to stop all night To their great
surprise he accepted the invitation and slept
there-a thing he had not done before for five
years.
1t is thought that when he left the field, as
stated by Howe, that insanity came upon him,
and his insane idea that people were coming to
rob and n,urdar him took cuob oo,,onJa+a Nos
session of him that he crawled into this cav
ity and buried his face in the mud and was
smothered.
The story of one doctor, that he could not
have committed suicide in the cavern without
taking more or less water into his stomach and
lungs, is opposed by other physicians, who say
that his lying upon his face in the mud
would be about the same as pressing ones face
into feather bed ard smothering, the short
time before death would ensue not allowing
enough water to pass in to be perceptible.
The inquest which was begun upon the body
at Temple was adjourned to this place Tues
day. The day was taken up in examinations
of neighbors of Libby, and citizens of the
town. Nothing of special importance was
elected, they testifying to the condition in
which the body was found &c. Wednesday Lee
vi Howe, man who for years has been Lib
by's mainstay, and who was with him Satur-
day, was upon the stand. Mr.. Howe is man
of medium stature, dark complexion, with q
short chin beard, hair rather long, and
weighs perhaps 100 pounds. He has the ap-
pearance of Woodworking farmer, and has
none of those traits, reported of him, which
would cause one to suppose him of weak
mind. His speech, however, is sadly interior
ed with by very prominent hare-lip he also
has an impeachment beside this.
His testimony so far as we are able to judge,
was given promptly and readily, only in one or
two minor things did he cross himself. as will
be noticed further on 1t is said though, by some
that his testimony was in very many respects
different from the stories he has told previous
to the inquest, Mr.. Howe's record for truth
and honesty, we learn, is not of the most spot
less kind, but of that we have nothing to do
He stated that he was working in the field
with Mr.. Libby on Saturday, June %. Mr..
Libby acted very strangely. We worked in
the field in the afternoon hoeing until about
O'Clock, when shower came up and we went
to the house. 1 returned to the field alone
about 4, and had hoed a portion of q row, when
Libby came down. He started to hoe his row,
but in a short time appeared very wild-would
hoe hill in one place then skip several hills,
then jump over to another row. Soon he
dropped his hoe and started for the woods.
This was the last 1 saw of him alive. hoed
out my row, also the one Mr.. Libby began and
another one, which was all that had been culti-
waited, then 1 went home, ate my supper and
then returned to the cornfield, thinking Mr.
Libby might be there, and could see if he
wanted me any more. was little worried
too, about him. Did not see him, and went
back home without going up to his cabin.
Sunday morning got up about o'clock, ate
my breakfast, MIXED my COW and turned her
into the pasture, then started for Mr.. Libby's
house about o'clock. Ut is said he was seen
coming from Libby's about 81 Invent to his
door and tried it but it was locked then went
to the barn and noticed the horse acted as
though Libby had not fed it. 1 then began to
feel worried, and went over to Lemuel Farm
er's and told him about it, and we two went to
the house together. We searched for him but
found no trace.
1t had been reported that Howe said Mr.
Libby offered him money (S16) Saturday, but
on the stand he said Libby did not give him
any or offer to. After Howe and Farmer
searched without avail for him they gave the
alarm. Howe then went home and his wife
vote note for him to Mr.. Libby's father,
stating in substance, that he feared Lewis was
not in his right mind, and that he was not to
be found about his premises Howe also testi-
fed to two men, relatives of his, coming to
visit him Friday, and that they left early Sat
urday morning. One of his visitors lived in
Gorham, the other in Carthage, and were
named Cushman. That he got no cider at Lib
bys, nor did he furnish any for drink in the
field.
The question may be asked "Why did not
Howe go direct to Libby's brother and father
and tell them he had disappeared. To this it
is said Howe was hardly able to make anybody
understand his conversation, and when about
to go on any important errand to neighbours
his wife would write ont what he wished to saw