National Republican., 1883-12-04
sAMoN,s CONFESSION.
How lie Killed MRS. Ford aud His Move
ments n, the Ruddy House.


LAcoNtA, N, H., Dec. 3.-In his confession
ofthe murder of tho Ruddy family and Mrs.
Ford. made public to-day, Samon says he had
been drinking heavily on the Friday night
before tho murder, and that on Saturday
morning Mrs. Ford came to his room in an
intoxicated condition and asked IL there was
any more beer. He replied in the negative,
and squabblo ensued. He could hardly re-
member all that occurred. He flung her to
the floor and pressed his foot on
her breast. She lived perhaps ten min
utes. He had no thought OF killing her.
His first thought was what disposition to
mako of the body. He tried to put 1t in
box, which proved too small. He then got a
trunk and cut the body across the knees with
an AK, so that it would fit He pnlled the
trunk down stairs and got wheolbarrow, his
idea being to wheel the trunk Off somewhere
aud then drown himself After starting upon
the road it occurred to him to go to Ruddy's.
He had no intention then of injuring the
Ruddy family. Further than taking the trunk
into Ruddys house he had formed no plan
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 had
retired, Samon became so nervous and fright
ened that he could not Sleep and got up aud
walked about the house Tho Ruddy family
did not know what was in the trunk. They
got up and dressed. Mrs. Ruddy made tea
about midnight, which he drank. He could
not conceal his feelings and grew moro nerv
GUS every minute. Mrs. Ruddy went back to
bed, and Ruddy sat up with Samon, who did
not intimate to Ruddy what the trouble
was. Samon was all worked up and
imagined the house was surrounded
by people. 81 walked about the house," he
said, until about o'clock, when It occurred
to me might kill the whole of them and
burn the house. The very moment that
thought came to me 1 struck Ruddy. l
don't suppose he saw mo. 1 killed him in
stantly. He made no noise moro than drop
ping off tho chair. His wife ran out. There
was light on the table. When she came in
the room / grabbed at her and struck her
with the hatchet. She screamed, l cannot
remember what she said. The child
was screaming also. l took him off the
bed, but do not remember cutting
him with the hatchet. cannot tell whether
struck the woman afterward or not. At
this time the trunk had not been opened. /
chopped the rope of the trunk and turned
the body of Mrs. Ford out on the floor in some
way. l pulled the bed clothing around
every way and poured kerosene around and
set it on fire. Then 1 ran out into the street
and went right over to Ford's, but could not
get in. Then l started for Plymouth. did
not hear tho fire bells nor did hear the
won an scream. l did not know the house
was not burned until Mr.. Jewell told me. 1
supposed tho bodies might have been destroyed.
i have not seen Ford since tho Friday night
before l killed Mrs Ford. 1 ate supper with
him that night. They had words at the table,
i did not SEQ Mrs. Ford until the next morn
ing. l cannot describe tho Ruddy hatchet.
] remember wishing l had put it where
found it. / did not throw tho hatchot into
the river. / had no thought Of doing Mrs.
Ford any injury until saw her on Saturday
morning.