Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-08

ssuasAy Yu1es auu IUt81 Town OF E1eeOn were
thrown into state Of excitement a never
before about seven o'clock this morning by
the report that murder had been committed
in their midst Your correspondent Fastening
to the scene of this sad affair, found that
Frederick E. Hutchinson had cut the throat
Of his wife Amanda, and then his own with
razor. Mr.. Hutchinson was subject to &C.
casional cramp fits, caused by sunstroke in
the army, and producing a respondent state
| OF mind. Last Sunday he had six or eight of
these fits. since which time he had been in
low spirits bordering on insanity, and had
| said several times Il wish we were all in
Heaven" This morning they had eaten their
breakfast as usual, and Mrs. Hutchinson had
read from the Bible. Just as she knelt to
pray, her husband seized his wife and threw
her to the floor. Then a seuff1e followed in
which Mrs Hutchinson and the children tried
to bring him out of his frenzy, during which
Mrs. Hutchinson was thrown to the floor sev-
eral times, and Mr.. Hutchinson opened the
bureau drawer, took his razor. cut his wife's
throat and then his own. While this was
taking place their daughter Alberta, Is years
OF age, ran to Charles X. Bolster's. one of
their nearest neighbors, screaming and cry
ing, "Father is trying to kill mother" Mr.
Bolster coming from his house heard the
cutlery, and Immediately ran, and in three to
five minutes (the distance being about 60
rods) reached the house. As he came near
| he met Eugene Hutchinson, lad of Is years,
crying, who said, 'Father has cut his own
| and mothers throat and coming into the
door yard he met Mrs. Hutchinson, who had
both hrnds pressed to her throat, the blood
running from her neck, through her hands.
down over her clothes, and to the ground.
She knew Mr.. Bolster. and motioned him
with one hand toward the house, saying ''Oh,"
as if she wanted him to hurry into the house
to either save Mr.. Hutchinson or the children.
Then she followed him. As Mr.. Bolster en-
tered the house he saw Mr.. Hutchinson lay
ing on the floor and bleeding freely, but to
| all appearances dead. Mr.. Bolster then turned
to the door and helped Mrs. Hutchinson in,
who was weak and had begun to staeger. and
laid her on the floor, where she died without
| speaking word. Mr.. Bolster then notified
the neighbors.
The story of the sad event, as narrated bv
Lillian Alberta Hutchinson, the daughter,
who is an intelligent young lady of 10, is this:
Nothing occurred unusual till after break
fast. Then mother got the Bible and read
Gather commonly read, but had not for sew
eral mornings. father sitting by the stove;
then waited several moments for father to
kneel, but as he did not, mother asked us
(the chidren) if we were not most ready to
pray and then kneit not far from fathers
chair. Father then screamed, jumped and
threw mother on the floor and himself at the
same time. Mother then said: Father, for
Gods sake, what do you mean?" Father
said. ssWhat is it?" Then Eugene and took
hold of him and raised him 10 his feet. Then
| think he threw mother again and started
for Mr.. Bolster's. He started as though 60
ing to follow me, but did not, and when got
back they were both dead"
Eugenes story of what happened after AL
berta left the house is mother and | tried to
set him down in chair, and he got to the bu-
reau drawer and got the razor, and the strap
fell to the floor. then threw 1t out the door,
and thought the razor was init. When turned
round from the door the blood was running
from his throat, and was running from
mothers throat, too, and then chased me
tow ard the road. think l saw him out of
doors. ran down where Mr.. Bolster was,
and then went back with him and we met
mother. She motioned to Mr.. b. to go to
the house She turned round and came
toward the house, and when l got into the
house father lay on the floor dead. Mr.. b.
helped mother in, and she fell on the floor.
In answer to questions he said, Father ate
breakfast with US as usual this morning"
Alberta said, Mother had thought father
crazv several times" In Mrs. Hutchinson's
throat cash is cut some four or five inches
in length commencing nearly under the
lobe of the left ear and extending to the
centre of the chin, and in some places two
inches deep. The wound in Mr.. Hutchnson's
neck, commences on the left side and is cut
round to the other side about six inches long.
severing the windpipe, making large and
ugly wound.
- IN,
| Easton. where he had purchased a farm,
from Dover, Maine, last July. He was AZ
| wears old; was in the army during the late
war. in Company A. Sixth Maine Regiment.
| lie was a member of Doughty Post. Grand
Army of the Republic. and was also Free
| Mason, being a member of Mosaic Lodge No
80 of Foxcroft. Mrs. Hutchinson's maiden
name was Douglass, the daughter of Paul
| Douglass of Dover. She was A years old,
and kind wife and mother and a true Chris
tian She leaves brother. sisters, one OF
| whom resides in Lacrosse, Wis, and three
children. They were both members of the
| Free Baptist church of South Dover, Maine.
| Mr.. Hutchinson's present and former neigh
| bors. several of them living near, say of him
that he was an especially kind husband and
| father. and thoughtful of his family, and that
| he and his wife had always lived in the pleas
ATTEST relationship. Of late he had brooded
over his inability to pay for his farm. and had
suffered much from diseases contracted while
in the army He was receiving pension
and his fears were considered needless.
! A SAD SCENE.
A sadder sight never was seen In Aroos
took. In the kitchen, where but few hours
ago loving family had sat around the break
fast table and partaken together their morn
ing meal, shere the Bible had been read and
nrsyer was about to be offered, are now lying
side by side in their own blood. by the faith
er's own hand. awaiting the Coroners in
ouest. father and mother, husband and wife
Constable j. s. Hall and Coroner w, u.
Es,abrook of Fort Fairfield summoned a jury
who held an inquest and reported: That
| Mrs. Amanda Hutchinson came to her death
! bv the hand of her husband. and he by his
own. through temporary insanity The
house where this sad tragedy occurred Is
about two miles above Easton Centre, on the
Fort Fairfield road. There is but one opin-
ion of the cause, and all have deep sorrow
| for the unfortunate man and his unfortunate
victim, as we'll as for the worse than parent
less children. II is expected that the remains
of the murdered wife and husband will be
| taken to Dover for burial upon the arrival OF