The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-26
Southern Pacific Train Derailed and
Passengers Robbed by Cowboys.
A Woman and Her Son-in-Law Confess to
the Murder of Her Husband
Crime in General.
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
An Entire Family Murdered and Their
Bodies Set Fire.

Bodies Set on Fire.
Tacoma N. H., Nov. 25-This morning
the residents of this city were startled by the
story OF terrible tragedy which occurred at
o'clock. S. s. Andrews neighbor of
James Ruddy, aged forty years, employed in
the Laconia Car Works, was alarmed by
woman's scream. ~ aroused his son and
hurried 10 Ruddy's house, whence the
screams proceeded. They found Mrs Rudy,
aged thirty-six years, lying on the ground
beneath the front. window, through which
she had leaped. She was bleeding profusely,
and said she had been cut all to pieces. She
was properly cared for, and when the door
of Ruddy's house was forced open flames
burst forth and the alarm of fire was sound
ed. The flames We're quickly extinguished,
and the bodies of Ruddy and his only child
one and one half years old, were found
lying on the kitchen floor both cut in a ter
rible manner and covered with the contents
of feather bed, which had been saturated
with kerosene and set on FIRE. The bodies
were so disfgured by the flames as to be
nearly past recognition. In the bedroom
was found the lifeess body of Mrs. Ford,
of her limbs had been chopped off, and the
detached member and the other leg were
bound to the woman's body with a clothes
line. The bed-clothes had been saturated
with oil and piled on the body, and an at
tempt made to set them on fire, which
failed.
Mrs. Rudy. OH being questioned, said
that the crime had been committed by
Thomas Samon, an Englisman and aceuaint-
ance of the family cook by trade, about
thirty-six years of age, with Ratchet. Mrs
Ruddys statement before the coroner's
jury was:
1--WE went to bed about o o'clock; at II
o clock Samon came into the front room and
looked out of the window, saying he was
nervous and could not sleep. Igot up and
made him cup of tea and went back to bed
At 4 o'clock Samon came into the frontroom
again and acted queerly; he went back into
the kitchen, and my husband and 1 got up
and he also went into the kitchen. l soon
heard fall, and going out, found my hus-
band hanging over chair with his arms
down. Samon started for ME and struck
me with tine Ratchet on the head grabbed
his arm, but he then struck me and threw
me to the floor. He went into the front
room and killed the baby, who was crying.
While he was there tried to unlock the
kitchen door, but he returned and again
struck me or the head, knocking ME down.
1 laid perfectly quiet He went back into
the front room and got the baby, and then
came back and poured feathers and straw
over US and went out. I got up and tried to
open the front window, but could not. I
then broke a pane of glass and jumped
through. He was very nervous in the
kitchen nearly ALI night"
Tho batc with which
probably was committed was found
in the river 1t is stated that Samon took
Mrs. Ford's body to Ruddy's house on eatur-
day morning in trunk, where it rem aimed
until the tragedy occurred The coroner'S
inquest rendered verdict that the persons
came to their death at the. hands of Thomas
Samon.
The latter was arrested this afternoon near
Plymouth. He did not resist arrest, and has
been taken in charge by PlYmeuta officers.
There being q suspicion against Ford, the
husband of the murdered woman, that he
might be implicated in the affair. he also was
arrested this forenoon and remains in Gus.
tody. Several suspicious. circumstances tend
to show his guilt. At Ford's and Samon's
there was no evidence of Mrs. Ford's
mu rider and it is thought that her death was
accidental at Samon's hands. and that wish
ing to conceal the body be took it to Ruddys,
whence, perhaps he might be able to carry
it from the house during the night; that Rud-
dy refused to assist HIM when the struggle. en-
ensued. The supposition, is that Mrs. Ford
died either from stransulation or
dragging as she frequently in
dulged in strong drinks. Samon
will be brought to Laconia on
Monday for trial. Great excitement pre-
walls and fears are entertained that vigil
ance committee will be organized and the
prisoner lynched upon his arrival at the
depot.
A later report from Plymouth states that
Samon denies all knowledge of the affair,
and says his arrest was a perfect surprise to
to him. He has never been regarded as
vicious man, even when Intoxicated At
late hour tonight Mrs. Ruddy's condition
was no worse.
A MURDERoUS CONFESSION