The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-28
Terrible Tragedy Enacted at
LacOnta, n. I'll.
James Rudy, His Child and Neighbor,
Mrs. Ford, Literally Chopped
to Pieces.
The Kittery Murder Mystery Solved
The Fora Burns Case-Suicide
at Grave.
\ HORRIBLE BUTCHERY.

An EneIishman Kills James Ruddy, His
Child, Mrs. Ford, and Attempts the Life
of Mrs. Ruddy-A Horrible Recital.
4 TACOMA, n. H, Nov. % This morning
(were startled by the story that terrible
tragedy occurred at o'clock S. S. An
drews, neighbor of James Rudy, aged
forty-fve. employed in the Laconia Car
Works, was alarmed by a woman's Scream
He aroused his son and hurried to Rud-
dy's house, whence the screams
proceeded. They found Mrs Rud-
.dy, aged thlrty-six years, lying on
the ground beneath the front window
through which she had leaped. She was
bleeding profusely and is said to have been
cut all to pieces. She was properly cared
for assistance obtain ed and the door of
Ruddy's house forced open. Flames burst
forth and the alarm of fire was sounded.
The flames were quickly extinguished and
the bodies of Rudy and his only child, one
and one-half years old, found lying on
the kitchen floor, both cut in
q terrible manner, and covered with the con-
tents of feather bed, which had been sat
urated with kerosene and set on fire. The
they were nearly past recognition. In the
bedroom was found the lifeless body of Mrs.
Ford, which was identified by her husband.
One OF her limbs had been chopped of, and
the detached member and remainder of the
leg bound to the woman's body with
clothes line
The bed clothes had been saturated with
oil, piled on the body, and an attempt made
to set them fire, which failed
Mrs. Rudy, being questioned, said the
crime was committed by Thomas SaInon,
an Englishman, and acquaintance of the
family. cook by trade. about thirty-six
years OF age, with q Ratchet
Mrs. Ruddy's statement before the
Coroner's Jury was: I'VE went TO
bed about 8 O'Clock. At IL, Samon came
into the front room and looked out OF the
window, saying he was nervous and could
not sleep l got up and made him a cup of
tea and went back TO bed. At 4 O'Clock, Sa-
mon came into the front room again, and
acted queerly. He went back into the kitch-
en- My husband and got up, and he also
went into the kitchen. L soon heard a fall,
and. going out, found my husband hang
ing over a chair with his arms down.
Samon SIS red for me, aud struck me with a
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
kSlled the baby, who was crying. While he
was there tried to unlock the kitchen door,
but he returned and again struck me tine
head, knocking me down. | 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 | got up and tried to open the front
window, but could not then broke pane
OF glass and jumped through. He was very
nervous in the kitchen nearly all night.
The Ratchet with which the crime was prob
ably committed was found in the river 1t is
stated Sammon took Mrs. Ford's body to
Ruddy's house Saturday morning i'm
a trunk, where it remained until
the tragedy occurred The Coroner's
inquest rendered a yer dict that the persons
came to their death at the hands of Thomas
Samons. The latter was arrested this alter
noon near Plymouth. He did not resist ar
rest. and has been taken In charge by the
Plymouth officers.
Suspicion being against Ford, the hus-
band of the murdered woman, that he
might be implicated in the affair, he was
arrested this forenoon. and remains in Gus
todY. Several suspicious circumstances tend
to show his guilt. AT Ford's
there was no evidence OF Mrs. Ford's
murder. and it is thought her death was ac-
cidental at Samons hands; that wishing to
conceal the body he took it to Ruddy's,
whence perhaps, he could carry it from the
house during the night that Rudy refused
to assist him when a struggle ensued. The
supposition is Mrs. Ford died either from
stranguiatiOn or drugging. as she
frequently INDUCED in strong drink.
Samon will be brought to Laconia on
Monday for trial Great excitement pre-
walls, and fears are entertained that Wig
lance Committee will be organized and the
prisoner lynched upon arrival at the depot.
LATER.-A report from Plymouth states
that Samon denies ali knowledge OF the af-
fair. and his arrest is a perfect surprise.
SamOn has never been regarded as vicious
even when intoxicated. At q late hour to-
night Mrs. Ruddyis condition was no worse