Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-02-09

IN A NEW HAMPSHIRE
TOWN.
A BRUTAL AND cowARDLY DEED.

/ MANCHESTER, February 8. The quiet
farming community of Londonderry was
deeply excited yesterday evening over . fear
full tragedy enacted in their midst, in which
Mrs. Sarah, aged 33, wife of +. v. billing.
ham, a respectable farmer, was the victim,
and a nephew of the husband, Frank Dilling-
ham. aged 20, was the criminal. Mr.. ID.
! lives IL miles from Manchester, on the road
reading TO Lowell. Frank went to live with
his uncle last April. and though an i'll feeling
existed between him and Mrs. d., nothing
definite is known of its nature or extent.
Yesterday Mr.. ID. came to Manchester, leav-
! ing Frank al work on a wood pile. In the
afternoon. a brother of Mrs. ID. called to see
| his sister, found the doors locked and cur
tains drawn down. Supposing her TO be
asleep, he returned home.
Soon after Frank called at the country
store of David Burns, 40 rods from the scene
of the tragedy, and called for Frank Burns,
who came to the door and Dillingham; said,
Il have shot Aunt Sarah Several men in
and about the store noticed his excited man.
ner and blood on his face and clothing, and
Immediately surrounded him. Isaac Shop
herd asked if it was accidental or intentional.
He replied, 1T will come cut, but was reti-
cent to talk. Shepherd and others then took
him TO Dilllngham's house. Upon enter
ing the door fearful sight met their
gaze. Mrs. ID. was lying on the floor in the
front room, on her back, with several gar
ments thrown over her head and body. On
examination they found rope drawn tightly
around her neck. Her clothing was disor-
ganized and her face purple from the severe
choking produced by the rope. A bullet
wound was discovered at the base Of the
skull, the bullet having passed through the
brain and out at the anterior portion of the
skull. She was unconscious and appearedto
be dying.
Physicians were summoned, who pro-
nounced the case fatal, and death is momen-
tarily expected, although the unfortunate
woman was breathing at O'Clock this after
noon. Frank says he was cleaning the re-
volver. which accidently discharged, but does
not attempt to account for the rope which
was around his aunt's neck, or for the disor-
dered condition of her underclothing. He
says he then went into the woods back of the
house and tried to shoot himself with the
same revolver, but failed through lack of
courage, though an ugly bullet hole was
made in the left forehead, the ball penetrat-
ing the skull.
He then came across the fields and deliv.
cred himself up as above narrated. He was
somewhat Frustrated from loss of blood, and
much excited jumping up frequently and ex-
claiming "Oh, dear, am sorry did it but
it is too late now
Deputy sheriff Clark took him into custody
and has kept him well guarded and in seclu-
SION. The excitement is intense, and fears
are expressed that Frank would be shot at
sight, and great care was taken last night to
keep him FROM the sight Of Mr.. Dillingham;,
the husband. A full hearing is expected
Tuesday morning at ten o'clock, when fur
thcr particulars will be brought to light.
Mrs. Dillingham;, the victim of the terri
BILE affair, was a comelv, modest appearing
young woman, very much respected. As she
lay gasping for breath, wide, deep purple
ring around her throat was exposed, caused
bv the rope which the young villain did
portion of his work with. The conclusion
can hardly be avoided that the unfortunate
woman was ravished either before or after
the shooting and choking, and that her as
sailant then seeing the fearful crime he had
committed hastily fastened the door, pulled
down the curtains and retired to the forest in
the rear of the house, with the intention of
ending his miserable existence. His wound
is not thought to be fatal.