The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-12-06
LACONIA'S HORROR.
A Butchery Outdoing in Horror the
Michigan Tragedy In New
Hampshire Village.
Four Persons Terribly Mangled with
a Hatchet, Three Being Killed.

ouadruple murder OF the most afro
cious description occurred the other day In
the village of Laconia, N. ii. The victims
were James Rudy, a carpenter, 40 years old,
his little son, Lawrence, and "A female visitor.
The victims were either beheaded or mutt
lated In an unexamped manner. and the
house was set on fire. Mrs. Ruddy escaped
from the building in dying condition and
will not survive. Dispatches from Iaconia
furnish the following particulars OF the
dreadful deed: The kuddy family occupied a
little cottage on the outskirts OF the town. IL
was about o'clock when womans piercing
screams startled the quiet neighborhood. Mr..
o. l.. Andrews was first TO reach the house.
AS he ran TO the building woman, wounded
and bleeding, plunged through window and
fell upon the ground at his feet. lt was Mrs.
Rudy. - am all cut TO pieces! For Gods
sake, take me somewhere sne pitcousIy
cried. Mr.. Andrews carried her 10 the
nearest house, and, returning, found smoke
mourning from the windows. The firemen and
police were quickly called, and other neigh
bors came 10 tie rescue. Breaking INTO the
dwelling they found one of the most fright.
full scenes on record. Two beds were
blazing i'm adjoining rooms, the smell OF
kerosene telling plainly enough the cause
OF the fierce flames. The fire was soon ex-
tinguishcd and then il was seen that
human bodies mutilated and charred
occupied the beds. The bodies OF Mr..
Rudy and his infant son lay in one
ROOM and in the next was the body or
woman. Mr.. Rudy lay upon his back. His
head had been partially severed by terrible
blow, evidently from an AK. Upon MS Dody
were other horrible wounds. The boy, only
a year old, had been beheaded by two blows
of the same weapon. The body in the next
room was that of Mrs. Ford, Salmon's for
mer landlady. 1t was also frightfully mutt
lated. An attempt had been made TO pack
the remains in trunk which stood near
by To facilitate this fendish disposition
OF the body, the legs had been
chopped OFF at the knees. The
head and body were so badly burned that the
original injuries could scarcely be deter
mined. Further search revealed in the corner
of the room carpenters broad-ax, which
belonged 10 the murdered man. 1t was
covered with blood and hair. and told
its own story. Mrs. Rudy was at
once visited. She was unconscious,
and for some time it was impossible TO OBJ
tain any clew to the horror, but by great
effort the physicians succeeded in restoring
the dying woman so that she was able
10 speak few words at time. In
the course Of a few hours state
ment was obtained, which apparently
fastens the crime on Salmon. She said
that that he came TO the house with trunk
Saturday afternoon, and asked to stop over
night. The Ruddys, knowing him somewhat,
made no objection, especially since ne SAD
that his wife was out of town. He brought
pail with him. After the evening had been
passed i'm ordinary conversation, the trunk
was carried up into tho back room, Salmon
saying that lie would explain about it in the
morning, and then they retired. Salmon at
his own request occupying the back room and
the Ruddys the front room. About midnight
Salmon was heard walking about, and Mr..
Rudy went TO his room. AS he did not re-
turn, the wife got up and looked in. Both
men were sitting on the bed talking, and
there was an AK there. Later she heard them
go into the kitchen. A little while after,
hearing something fall, she ran to the kitchen
and saw her husband just drawing his last
breath. Salmon attacked her with the ak,
cutting off her left hand at the first blow,
and then burying the helve in her shoulder,
telling her 10 the floor Just then the little boy
cried out, and. the murderer rushed in to
quiet him. Said the mother " / heard the
blow which fell on him" Mrs Rudy lay
still on the floor, feigning death, while Sal
mon poured oil which be had brought with
him over her and the others. AS soon as he
ignited il he fled from the house. She then
made her escape. Investigation develops the
fact that Mrs. Ford had been killed at her
own house, packed in the trunk, and taken
over TO the Rudy house, and leads to the be-
lief that Salmon endeavored to get Ruddys
help i'm disposing of 1t, and when refused
killed him in order to prevent his secret be-
coming known. Salmon, who is 38 years old
and a cook by trade, was arrested in Plym.
Outh during the afternoon. He told story
which, IL Mrs Rudy had died, might have
cleared him, but he had blood-stains on his
clothing, and appeared very nervous. He IL
safe i'm jail. James Ford was also arrested
on suspicion of completely in his wifes muir
der, but popular feeling acquits him.