New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-26
shops were closed back door trade, however, wa
carried on In some cases.
THREE PERSONS MURDERED.
A HORRIBLE CRIME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
A MAN, WOMAN AND C.

| MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD KILLED-NOIHEh
| WOMAN SEVERELY INJURED WITH HATCHET.
| LAcoNIA, N. H., Nov 25.-At about o'clock this
morning the inhabitants of this place were awak-
ened by the ringing of bells and cries of fire. An
investigation showed that not only had fire oc-
cnrred but that brutal crime had been committed
whereby three persons had met their deaths, and
another a devoted wife and mother is lying at the
| point of DEATH
| James Ruddy, together with his wife, age thirty
SIX both Of Irish descent, and their only child,
year and half old lived half mile from the post
Office in the northeast part of the village. Ruddy,
who was about forty years of age, was con-
| sidered a respectable man, and had for
| long time been employed in the Laconia car
works. Thomas SamOn, an Englishman, and an
| acquaintance Of the family, whose age is about
thirty-six, and who is cook by trade, lived in the
same town. He left his home at II o'clock Saturday
morning, taking his trunk and wheeling it toward
| Lake Village, q distance of nearly mile. He
finally stopped at Ruddys house, leaving his trunk
in front of the house, where it remained for two
hours, but subsequently took 1t back to his room.
The trunk was carried in by Samon with consider
able exertiOn. Ruddy returned from his work at
the usual time Everything was quiet until early
this morning. although lights were seen in the
house by neighbors during the night.
SCENE OF HORROR.
Shortly after o'clock this morning S. S. An
drews, neighbor was alarmed by wOman's
screams He aroused his son, and together they hur
red to Ruddy's house. They found Mrs. Ruddy
lying on the ground under front window, through
which she had made a desperate leap. She was
bleeding profusely, and upon being asked what was
the trouble, said: Pick me up I'm all cut to
pieces"
Mr.. Andrews assisted her to the residence of
Charles Filgate, directly opposite and then called
by telephone for Chief Officer Judkins and a ply
scian. After waiting short time for their arrival,
Mr.. Andrews and his went to the back door of
Ruddys house and forced it open, the flames at the
same instant bursting forth. An alarm of fire was
sounded, but the flames were eXtinguished before
the fremen arrived.
Upon gaining an entrance the officers found ly
ing upon the kitchen floor the bodies of Ruddy and
the child, both cut in horrible manner and
cred with the contents of feather bed, which had
been saturated with kerosene and set on fire. Both
bodies were so disfgured by the flames to be
nearly past recognition. In bedroom was found
the trunk mentioned and 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 the remaining leg were
bound to the woman's body with clOthes-line.
The bed-cothes had been saturated with oil, piled
on the body and attempt made to set them on
fire. which failed.
MRS. RUDDY's ACCOUNT.
Mrs Ruddy, on being questioned said the crime
was committed by Samon with hatchet. Officers
at once began work on the case, and men were sent
in every direction to capture Samon. Coroner Am
brose arrived at and at once held an inquest.
Mrs. Ruddy's life being uncertain her disposition
was taken. Ii is substantially as follows:
We all went 10 bed about o o'clock. At / / Samon
came into the front room and looked out of the win
dow, saying he was nervous and couldnot sleep.
got up and made him cup of tea and went back to
bed. At / o'clock Samon came into the front room
again and acted quccrly. He went back into the
kitchen. My husband and then got up, and he
also went into the kitchen. / heard a fall,
and going ont, found my husband hanging over
chair with his arms down. Samon
started for me and struck me with
the hatchet on the head. l 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 10 unlock the kitchen-door but he
returned and again struck me on the
head, knocking me down. | laid perfectly
quiet He went back into the front room and got
the baby and then came back aud poured feathers
and straw over us and went out. got mp ahd
tried to open the front window. but could not
then broke pane of glass and jumped through
He very nervous in the kitchen nearly all
night"
THOMAS sAMON ARRESTED.
The hatchet with which the crime was probably !
committed was. found in the river. The
cOronor's inquest rendered a verdict that
the persons came TO their death at |
the hands of Thomas Samon. The latter was
arrested this afternoon on the main road between |
Laconia and Plymouth He did not resist arrest |
and has been taken III charge by Plymouth officers. |
Suspicion being against Ford, the husband of the |
murdered woman that he might be implicated in |
the affair, he was arrested this forenoon and re- |
mains in custody. Several suspicious circumstances |
tend to show his guilt.
At Ford's and Samon's there was no evidence Of |
Mrs. Ford's murder, and it is thought that her !
death accidental at SamOn's hands; that wish /
ing TO conceal the body he took il downstairs in a
trunk, and thence to Ruddy's, whence, perhaps, ne
could carry it from the house during the night; |
that Ruddy refused To assist him, when a struggle |
ensued. The suppOsltiOn is that Mrs. Ford died |
either from strangulation or drugging as she fire.
quently INDUCED in strong drink.
SamOn will be taken to LacOnia on Monday for |
trial. Great excitement prevails and fears are en-
teTtained that vigilance committee will be organ.
zed and the prisoner hanged upon his arrival at the
depot.
A later report from Plymouth states that Samon
denies all knowledge of the affair, and that his ar
rest was perfect surprise. SamOn has never been |
regarded as vicious, even when intoxicated. At
late hour tonight Mrs. Ruddy's condition was no
worse.