Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-04
MYSTERY SOLVED.
uurderer-He Admits the Killing
Of Mrs. Ford and the
Rudy Family.

TACOMA, n. II Dec. 3.
The following is the confession made by
Samon. the murderer, at the Jail this morn
ing to Sheriff Strong and E. z. Jewell he
vas greatly excited and broke down several
times. The public are greatly relieved over
the confession, yet parts Of 1t are thought 10
be untrue:
SATURDAY morning Mrs. Ford came up
stairs to my room; was in the front room,
not in bed !; was dressed; had drank the
day before rather freely of whiskey and beer
and also drank beer that night and was not
myselI Mrs Ford was intoxicated, also
| could not tell the time; it was in the fore
noon. She asked me if there was any more
lager; told her no; could not really say
| what she said afterwards; was then IN the
entry going into my kitchen; flung her on
the floor and Put my foot on her breast; she
never spoke; don't think she lived ten min
utes. She never moved; didn't bleed nor
make a sound. When flung her on the
floor felt mad and discouraged, but had no
thought Of killing her; didn't know what
did: went around the house completely
bewildered, leaving her on the floor; l went
TO the door and back again. The first thing
which came to me was " hat to DO with her,
or with myself; no plan could strike my
mind: q ought would take box or some
thing and put her into it; tried box and II
was too small; took the trunk: | put her
into il at the head of the stairs; l cut her
knees with an axe didn't wash the axe; she
did not bleed: l never made any OF the
wounds on her legs, only where l cut
her knees; no one came TO her mouse
while was doing it l was alone; went
down the street after put her in the trunk;
can't tell as l called anywhere, or where
did go then came back to the house. l
pulled the trunk down stairs and got the
wheelbarrow. My idea was to wheel the
trunk off somewhere and go and drown my
self. When started l had not thought OF
going to Ruddy's, that occurred to me on
the road. l did not go up to the Lake Vii
lage road above the town; cit can be easily
proved that he did, l did not know what
could do when l got to Ruddy's. When
started for Ruddy's l had not thought of
hurting them l left the trunk outside; cant
remember what l told Mrs. Ruddy; went
down town and back to FOrd's house; didn't
want to be in the house or wondering around,
apd didn't know what TO do, so went back
10 Ruddy's. l carried over some things in
pail and did not carry over the Ratchet.
had no thought when carried those things
over of harming Rudy or his family; had M
plan what to do with the trunk; thought
would get up in the morning and bury 1t
somewhere. When got back the trunk was
where left it and took it in; remained in
the house with Mrs. Rudy until Ruddy came
home and ate supper. don't know that they
thought l was going to stay all night; took
of my coat and vest and laid down in the
bedroom where the trunk was, and Ruddy's
folks went into the front room to bed. l did
not sleep. grew worse; could not sit down
cr oil Aidp't kuov what do | WOnII
go out and come in and walk around the
house. l felt frightened.
Ruddy's folks did not know what was in
the trunk. They got up and dressed. She
made sea at II or l o'clock. l drank some
tea. l could not conceal my feelings; grew
worse and worse all the time. Mrs. Ruddy
went back to bed and Rudy sat up with me-
did not intimate to Rudy what the trouble
was. Mrs. Rudy got up twice think after
she went to bed. felt as if the house was
surrounded by people, and was afraid. The
Ratchet was near the wood-bOx. l would sit
down, then go into the front room. and then
walk around the house. Some time about
three o'clock it occurred to me that
| I might kill the whole of them and burn the
house; when carried the oil their was moth
ing of the kind in my mind. The very mo-
| ment the thought struck me that might kill
don't suppose he saw me; l killed him in
stanty and he made no noise more than to
drop off the chair; his wife ran out and l
grabbed at her and struck at her with the
| Ratchet; she screamed: could not remember
what she said the child was screaming. too !;
| | took him off the bed and remember having
| him in my hands; do not remember cutting
him with the Ratchet; cannot tell whether l
| struck the woman after. At this time the
trunk had not been opened. l chopped the
rope off The trunk and turned the body of
Mrs. Ford out some way on the floor; ran
| ran around and pulled the bed around every
way, poured oil around and set fire, then
| ran out into the street and came right over to
Ford's The door was bolted on the inside,
so didn't get into Ford's house then started
for Plymouth; did not hear the fire bells !;
didn't hear woman scream; never knew
that the house did not burn till Mr.. Jewell
told me; up to that time supposed that the
bodies might have been destroyed; had no
feeling towards Mrs. Ford the night before !;
could not say whether she had been in bed
| Friday night she had on different chothes
Saturday forenoon from those she wore at
| Lake Village, Friday. When went down
stairs to get my milk Saturday morning
Mrs. Ford-was not up and l had not seen
her the milkman does not come until seven
o'clock, so it must have been after this when
she came up stairs. When went down with
my slops and got my clothes line Mrs. Ford
was not dead had been up an hour and a halt
or more when she came up stairs the best of
my judgment is that this occurred and
Mrs. Ford was killed about nine or half past
nine o'clock Saturday forenoon. If / at
tempted to bleed her legs was entirely out
Of my mind; have not the slightest recol-
lection of it. Friday night Ford and wife
and sat down at the table. after we had
come from where he worked at Lake Village
She had ham and eggs and guess there was
piece of steak. She and Ford had some
words over the ham; left the table and
went up stairs Friday night. leaving Ford
with his wife; have not see him since; did
not see Mrs. Ford after saw her with him a,
the table until she came up, as have stated.
Saturday forenoon; cannot describe the
Rudy Ratchet; left it there remember wish
ing had put it where found it; don't re-
member locking the door; l threw no hatchet
into the river; my Ratchet is at the fume
house. After got up Saturday until saw
Mrs. Ford, as have stated, had not the
slightest thought of doing her any injury.
EATNU nj ATE