Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-26
HORRIBLE.
A Father and Child Hacked to
Pieces
AND THE MOTHER BADLY WOUNDED
To Conceal the Crime of Another-Sam-
on's Bloody Hatchet Takes the
Lives Of His Nearest
Friends.

LACoSIA, n. H, November 25.-Th
morning our residents were startled by Il
story of terrible tragedy that had occu
red. At four O'Clock S. s. Andrews,
neighbor Of James Ruddy, aged forty year
employed in the Lsconia car works, W,
alarmed by woman screams. He arouse
his son and hurried to Ruddy's houi
whence the screams proceeded. The
found Mrs. Ruddy aged S6 years, lying 3
the ground beneath the front winds
through which she lad leaped. She Il
bleeding profusely and said she had been
Cut All 20 Pieces,
She was properly cared for. Assistsf
was obtained and the door OF Rudds
house was forced open when the fen,s
burst forth and an alarm of fire was soti-
ed. The flames were quickly extinguEed
and the bodies OF Ruddy- and his lly
child, one and haif years old, were find
lying on the kitchen door, both cut
in terrible manner and ctsred
with the contents Of a feathef bee
which had been saturated with ker5ent
figured by the flames as-to be nearly pas
recognition. In the bedroom was Ounl
the trunk of the lifeleSs body of Mrs Fod
which was identified by her husband OIe
OF her limbs had been chopped OIL and tie
detached member and remaining 3;
bound 10 the body with a clothes liie.
The bed clothes had been
Saturated With Oil
piled on the body and an attempt maze to
set them on fire. which failed. llrs Rlddy
being questioned, said the crime WAS com
mitted by Thomas Samon, an Engiishma.
and an acquaintance of the family, cOOi
by trade, about thirty-siX years OF g.,
with Ratchet. Mrs. RuddyS staLeme!!t
bsioIe the coroner's jury was: I'VE
went TO bed about nine oclGk.
At II o'clock Ssmon came into the font
room and looked ont OF the window ssTlny
he was nervous and could not sleep got
mp end made him q cup of tea and went
back 10 bed. At four O'Clock SaMol cama
into the front room again and acted queer
ly. He then went back into the kitchen.
My husband and got up and he slso went
into the kitchen. | soon heard fall and
going out found my husband hanging oyor
a chair with his arms down. Samon
started foNme and
struck NE win Hatenel
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
he baby who was crying. While he was
here | tried to unlock the kitchen
iOOr, but he returned and again
'IuCk me on the head, knock
pg me down. laid perfectly quiet
lie went back INTO the front room and got
he body aud then came back and poured
Gathers and straw over us and went out
got up and tired to open the
rOnt wiz dow but could not. | then
,roke a pane of glass and jumped
hrCUgh. lie was very nervous in the
.itchen nesrly all night. The hate bet
with which the crime was probably com.
littGd was ioIpd.i .in-the -:yoru s'-oodS to
;uddv's house on Saturday morning
q trunk, where IL renamed
ntil the tragedy occurred. The Coroners
nqUest rendered a verdict that the persons
arne the ir death by the hand of Thomas
anon.
The Latter Was Arrested
his afternoon near Plymouth. He did
ot resist arrest and has been taken in
barge by Plymouth officers. Sus-
icion being against Ford, the hus-
and OF the murdered woman, that
e might be implicated in the affair
e was arrested to-day and remains in
ustudy. Several suspicious circumstances
sai to show his guilt. At Ford's and
amou's there was no evidence OF Mrs
'orGs murder, and it is thought her death
rss accidental at Samon's hand; that
,lsking to conceal the body
e took it TO RuGdys, where,
erhaps he could carry it from the house
uring the night, that Ruddy.retusei him,
hen q struggle ensued. The superstition
, that Mrs. Ford died either from strdngu-
ton or dvugging, as she frequently in
'cgd in strong drink. SIMON will be
rought 20 Lacoria on Monday for that
There is great excitement and fears are
ntertaiLed that n vigilance committee
IL! be organized anu tue prisoner lynco-
/ upon arrival at the depot.
A Later Report From plymouth
Tvs Samon denies ali knowledge OF the
fair. and his arrest is perfect surprise.
anon never hiss been regarded as vicious,
zen when intoxicated. At late hour to-
ipht Mrs Ruddys condition was no worse.