The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-11
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINE.
THE AMEs TRAGEDY.
Further Particulars of the Sad Affair
The Bodies Sent to Bangor

NEW YORK, May 10.-Regarding the murder
and suicide by Capt Ares of Bangor, Mr.
Morse, brother of Mrs. Ames, of Maine IN
formed the coroner that Capt Ames was apou'
80 years of age, aud his wife about A. They
had three children -one son and two daughters
all of whom are married. The captains s
last voyage was to the West Indies his
health failed, and while in the West Indies no
was obliged to give up the ship to his nrss
mate, who brought her to New York three
weeks ago. Eho is now discharging her cargo
at Brooklyn.
Capt. Ames came to New York by an easier
means of travel than his own ship, and went
to the boarding house in which he killed him
self, two weeks ago to-day He was joined by
his wife, who came from Bangor to care for
him. His trouble seemed to be nervousness,
but his malady was not of nature to confne
him to the house. Mr.. Morse said he knew OF
no reason for the acts of his brother-in-law. He
had DO business embarrassments, and was tenn
perate. and not Jealous. So far as he knew,
their married life was happy.
An inquest was held to-day on the remains
of Captain Ames and his wife, Mary Ames'
No new facts were ELECTED. The jury return
ed verdict in accordance with the facts. The
remains were sent by express to Bangor to-day
for burial.
Another Account of the Tragedy
NEW YORK, May 10-Capt. Frank B. Ames
shot his wife, Mary, in front room on the sec
ond floor of Mrs. Ellen Haights boarding
house, No. 3O7 West Fourteenth street, some
A. oh ov16 oftprvyqrd killed
himself. Their bodies were found last night,
and there is every reason to believe that the
murderer and suicide was insane. Both be-
longed to families we'll known and respected in
Maine. Capt. Ames was born at Lincolnville,
in that State, half a century ago. His father
was German The son followed the sea
from his boyhood, and was typical self-made
man. By untiring industry he became master
of vessel, and when he died he was worth
snug fortune, including one-quarter of the ship
Llowellyn j. Morse, now discharging cargo
of sugar and hemp near the Fulton Ferry,
Brooklyn. Mrs. Ames was one of the leveliest
women in Maine when Capt. Ames married
her 25 years ago. She was then 20 years old.
Her father was lumber merchant of Kenne-
bunk and Bangor. She was the mother OF two
girls one of whom, recently, returned to New
York, from Europe, where she had been on
wedding trip. Her husband is we'll known
physician. Early in 1881 Capt Ames bade
farewell to his wife at San Francisco. and be
sailed in the Llewellyn j. Morse for Havre'
France. Mrs. Ames returned east by rail. AT
Hayre, Capt. Ames who had sailed much in
the East Indies was taken sick. He had for
some time suffered from liver complaint, and
French physician told him that if he did not
abandon the sea he would not live another
year. Capt Ames decided on making last.
voyage, and loaded with coal at Cardiff, and
discharged his cargo at Nagaski, Japan. He
then went in ballast to Cebu, in the Philip
pine Islands, and took in the cargo which is
now discharging. Just as he started for home
his malady became aggravated, with alarming
symptoms of mental alteration. Quitting ms
vessel at Angler, in the straits OF Sunda,
aud leaving her in charge of the mate, Peter
Ericsson, of Bath Me. Capt. Ames went to
Singapore, via Batavia, took steamer, and
arrived at Antwerp, via the Suez Canal he
reached New York three weeks ago, week
later than his ship, in Red Star steamer, and
met his wife at the Stevens House. On the
26th of April, they went to Mrs Haight's.
They appeared to be utterly devoted to each
other, and it is stated that at no time during
their married life did they have serious disa-
greement Monday evening they dlned IN
public at Mrs. Haight's. After dinner Capt;
Ames appeared to be nervous, and complained
of the weather At o'clock, Frederick Fran
els. negro waiter lit a fire in their apartment
and took Capt. Ames a glass OF lemonade.
When Francis was leaving the room Capt.
Ames said, good humoredly, Here's shilling
for you," and gave him IL cents. This is the
last time that Capt. Ames and his wife were
seen alive.
At dinner time last evening it was remarked
that the Ames' were not at table, and neigh
bors of theirs said that during the night and
day they had heard no one move in their
apartment It was suggested that Capt. Ames
was sick, and that his wife was nursing him.
Hardly had the suggestion been made when
Mrs. Ames' brother, the Hon. Llewellyn j.
Morse, lumber dealer of the firm OF Oliver
Haight & Morse, Bangor, Me-, and an ex-
Der OF the Maine Legislature, called at the
house. Told of the seclusion of his relatives,
he attempted to arouse them by violent knock
ing at their door. Then William Price, wal
ter, burst the door in, and their fate was dis
covered. The beds head was to the east. Capt.
Ames lay between it and the door. In the
right side of his head was pistol-shot wound,
and near him was revolver of heavy calibre.
Mrs. Ames lay ON the south side of the bed.
She was attired for the night. A pistol-shot
wound Just over her right ear must have
killed her instantly. Her posture was one of
ease, and her features were composed 1t is be-
lieved that while she slept Capt Ames leaned
over the bed and shot her. Then he laid down
on the north side of the bed, shot himself, and
in his death agony rolled on to the floor. Capt.
McElwain, of the sixteenth precinct, and Cor
oner Knox were notified and Mr.. Morse afford
cd all necessary information. he took posses
sion of his relatives effects, which comprised
valuable wardrobe and costly diamond and
other iewelry, and about $50 IN money. The
bodies were sent to an undertaker's to be pre-
pared for burial at Bangor