The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-12
THE ALBION TRAGEDY.
Conclusive Evidence that Mrs. Tuck was
Murdered-A MAN Under Suspicion.


A Waterville despatch to the Kennebec
journal say it has now been established be-
yond all doubt that the death of Mrs. Tuck in
North Albion on Friday was the work of
foul assassin. Mrs. Tuck's husband left his
home in the morning, kissing his wife COED
bye, and returning at noon only to find her
stark and stiff in death with the clutches of a
murderous villain upon her throat. Wednes-
day afternoon the coroner's jury held their
final session and pronounced their decision
Chalmers Hall at Albion Corner, where the
inquest was held, was crowded with the neigh
Dors and friends of the dece ased, who with
sorrowful and inquiring faces had gathered to
learn, If possible, of some clue that might
Identity the assassin: Among those called to
murdered lady, John Raker, who we will
refer to later, and Drs. Geo. Fl. Wilson, ABB
bott and Delany. After hearing the evidence
duly deliberated the jury rendered verdict
that Mrs. Tuck came to her death by "strangu-
lation at the hands of a person unknown"
The community at Albion is intensely ex-
cited over the affair. 1t is quite ural town
and nothing of the kind has ever occurred
there before. The murder is all the talk, and
following the rendering Of the verdict little
Knots OF country people gathered and dis
cussed the result of the inquest. Ali agreed
that prompt and effective measures should be
taken to ferret out the criminal and it was de-
cIded to call town meeting at once to offer
reward for his conviction. 1--WE must have
our wives and homes protected said burly
farmer, "aT any cost, and l am willing to give
$26 out of my own pocket towards Offering q
reward" That evening the streets at Albion
were hiied with an eager gathering of citizens
speeula'ing and relating again and again the
story of the homicide.
Suspicion is directed very generally to a
young fellow named John Baker, living with
his parents about three quarters of a mile be-
You'd Tuek's on the Belfast road, and whose
| record is none OF the best. There are several
reasons for this belief. Four years ago he was
convicted OF attempt to rape and sentenced to
State prison for a term of four years, being
pardoned out after he had served two years.
He had attacked young girl 10 years old on
the highway, tore her clothing nearly all off
her person and choked her. (Mrs. Tuck was
also choked) She managed to escape from
his clutches, however, after a severe struggle,
before he had accomplished his purpose. Some
three weeks ago a daughter of BENZ Abbott.
Esq, was driving just at dusk, and some one
ran out and attempted to stop her horse. Here
again in this case the citizens of the commune
ty suspected Baker. He says that on Friday
forenoon, when the murder was committed,
ne was engaged in the early hours from to
10 o'clock in cleaning out a hog pen and pick
ing apples. At the latter hour he went after
q pail OF water, some distance from his fathers
house, Immediately returning with it. Mr..
Tuck, who had been working on the road in
front OF the house, came in and asked for a
drink of water. Mr. Tuck says that this was
at III O'clock a. m. There is manifest dis
crepaacy between the two accounts and the
question is asked where was Baker during
this hour between 10 and II o'clock? Mr..
Tuck Furthermore is positive that Baker acted
In rather an excited manner when he went
after the drink of water.
Baker in an interview spoke OF swimming in
lake back of Mr.. Tack's orchard, and of get
ting apples IN the orchard. This afternoon
when Frank Holmes, constable, and a grocery
man named Libby, went to Bakers after John
to testify before the coroner's jury, they were
met in the door yard by his neither. The con-
stable inquired of her where the young man
was The woman replied in the barn. The
officers searched the barn over from stills to
mows, without finding him. They then asked
Mrs. Baker il her son was in the house, and
she said no. They asked permission to search
the house, which was given. The men enter
ed and commenced to hunt. Not vestige of
him could be found in the lower part of the
house. Ascending to Che second story they
searched the chambers over and finally came
to closet with the door buttoned. One OF the
officers opened it and gave a kick inward, his
foot coming in contact with Bakers boot. The
fellow was pulled out from beneath covering
of bed quilts. On being asked why he had
secreted himself. his reply was that he had en-
tered the closet to eat apples and had fallen
asleep. Baker is man % years of age and
nOI Oh preposS5SSlnS appearance. In stature
he is short, rather thick set, and his head is
covered with mat of black hair His FORE
head is narrow and eyes black and beady.
Mr.. Tuck, the bereaved and sorrowing hus-
band, is 49 years of age and very pleasant
appe airing gentleman. He conversed freely
about the shocking affair. He said every
thing had always been pleasant between him
self and wife, and they had lived together
happily. Early in the morning before meeting
her death she had been ironing and the fat
irons were found on the kitchen table Just as
left by her. In the stove oven was found a
tspiocs pudding which had been put in to
bake. There were no evidences in any part of
the house of a struggle. Mrs. Tuck was 2S
years of age, about the average height rather
stout with light complexion and auburn hair.
DR.. George Fl. Wilson, who was the first ply
stefan to arrive at the house after the finding
OF the body, ia positive that the woman was
murdered. He examined the body at 80 p.
m. and the finger marks on the throat we're
in such position that they could not possibly
have been made by the lady herself. They
were half an inch above the collar bone aud
must have caused death instantly. The stom-
ech was still warm and the doctor gave it as
his opinion that death had occurred three or
four hours previously.