New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-04
SAMON CONFESSES.
THE LACoNIA MURDERS DESCRIBED.
MRS. FORD KILLED IN DRUNKEN QUARREL
RUDDY SLAIN TO CONCEAL TILE CRIME

MRS. FORD KILLED IN DRUNKEN QUARREL
RUDDY SLAIN TO CONCEAL THE CRIME.
LAcoNIA, N. H., Dec. 3.-SamOn, the mur-
dcrer OF the Ruddy family and Mrs. Ford, this morning
sent Tor the sheriff. who found the prisoner in his cell
brokendown condition. Soon after the shers arrival
samon told him he wished to make confession of his
crime
lie said he had been drinking heavily on the Friday
nght before the murder and that Saturday morning
Mrs. Ford came to his in an intoxicated condition
ana asked there was any more beer He replied the
negative and squabbc ensued Hecould hardly remeUl-
Der all that occurred He flung her the floor and pressed
his foot on her breast She lived perhaps ten minutes
He had no thought OF killing her His first thought was
what disposition to make OF the body he tried to put 1t
In oox' which proved to be too small. He then got
trunk ana cut the body the knees with
that 1t would ht in the trunk. He pulled the trunk down
stairs and got wheelbarrow his idea being to wheel the
trunk of somewhere and then drown himself
After starting upon the road n him 20 to
Ruddys He had no intention then Of injuring the
Ruddy family. Further than taking the trunk into
Ruddys house he had formed plan TO dispose OF the
oody' lie cannot remember what he told Mrs. Ruddy.
He remained in the house with Mrs. Ruddy until her
husband came home and ate supper with them At night
after all mad gone 10 bed he became nervous and
frightened that he could seep and got up and walked
about the house. The Ruddy family did not know what
was In the trunk They got up and dressed Mrs Ruddy
made tea about midnight which he drank Tie could not
conceal his feelings and grew nervous every min
ute: Mrs. Ruddy went back TO bed and Ruddy sat up
with Samon, who did not intimate TO Ruddy what the
trouble was saInOn all worked up and imagined the
house was surrounded by people
THE MURDER OF RUDDY
al walked about the house." he says, until about
o'clock, when it occurred 10 that might kill the
whole OF them and burn the house. The very moment
that thought came to me struck Ruddy. do not sup
pose he saw me. 1 killed him instantly. lie made no
noise, more than dropping of the chair His wiferan
out There was light the table when she came I'm
the room. grabbed at her and struck her with the
hatchet. She screamed. cannot remember what she
said The child was screaming also. took him of the
bed hut do not remember cutting him with the hatehet
cannot tell whether struck the afterward
not. At this time the trunk had been opened. /
chopped the rope Of the trunk and turned the body OF
Mrs Ford out on the foor in way. pulled the bed
clothing around every and poured kerosene around
and set u on fire. Then ran out into the street and
went right over to fords but could not get In. Then
started for Plymouth did not hear the fire bells,
did hear the woman scream. did not know the house
was not burned until the bodies might have been des
troyed.
have not not Ford the Friday night before
Killed Mrs. Ford. ate supper with him that night
Ihey had w0rlS Gt the table. did not Mrs. Ford
again until the next morning. I cannot describe the
kuddy hatchet remember wishing had put IL where
found H. Ibid not throw the hltchet In the river.
bad no thought Of doing Mrs Ford any injury until
her Saturday morning"