Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-11
FOUND DEAD.
Has a Murder Been Committed /? -Evi-
dences of Foul Play.
Coroner's Inquest and Testimony of tn,
Doctors that Death Ensued
from strangulati0ni


death of a lady in Albion, con-
/ corning which there were rumors of foul
play, your reporter at his earliest opportuni-
| ty which was on Tuesday forenoon proceeded
1 by team to the town of Albion. and investi-
/ gated for himself the whole facts ofthe case.
/ Arriving at the place we rode from the
highway down a short avenue of trees, at the
foot of which Is situated the beautiful white
| painted cottage of Mr.. Newell Tuck well-to-
do and respected citizen. The house has a
neat yard in front and on the side, filled with
/ flowers and o her tokens of womans love of
! the beautiful. Here was the happy
home of Mrs. Julia f. Worthing. wife of
Mr.. Tuck. They were married a year ago
last April. They were living by themselves
no children having yet blessed the union.
| Mrs. Tuck, previous to her marriage, had
been a school teacher, and was known far and
near as a lady of estimable character, always
cheerful, affectionate and companionable.
She was the daughter of Mr.. Clifford Worth
ing of Palermo, now deceased. Mr.. Tuck
soon put us in possession of all the facts
concerning the death (or tragedy. it may be-.
of his wife. On Friday, Sept. 5th Mr.. Tuck
was engaged in working upon the road, and
| left the house about half past seven o'clock.
Julia accompanied him to the head of the
avenue where she kissed him good bye as
was her custom, she remaining there to
gather some apples while he departed She
was well and happy and her last words were,
BE home in good season"
| Mr.. Tuck returned from his work at about
twelve o'clock, put up his horse as usual,
and wen: into the house, At once he saw that
!
the stove, no table spread for dinner, and no
wife to be seen. He called her name, but no
response. He went to the front part of the
house, thinking she might be in a chamber
that she was fitting up, but received no an
swer to his call. Alarmed, he now rapidly
passed through the dining room and kitchen
and out through rear passage, until he
reached the water closet, and there found his
wife lying partly and partly sitting on the
! floor in front of the bench, stone dead. Her
face was purple and spotted, her eyes dilated
and mouth open. No froth at the mouth.
and no indications of a struggle as in fit.
Her clothes were not disarrsnged, and subse-
quent examination by the physicians and lady
attendants indicated no outrage. Her limbs
were then somewhat rigid and hands cold,
| showing death to have come some time since.
With help the deceased was carried in and
placed upon a bed. and DR.. Wilson
at once summoned. Upon investigation he
discovered marks of violence on the throat
of the deceased. The imprint of a thumb
and three fingers was plainly visible. The
thumb had cut through the skin. and the
! finger marks were on the left side, showing
it was done by a persons right hand, and
they were low down on the throat.
Deeming the evidence of foul play sufficient
to warrant it, he dispatched a summons to
Coroner Asher Barton OF Benton, who came
Saturday morning and summoned as jurors
of inquest, c. w. Hussey, Chas. Drake,
Benson Shorey, Geo. Stratton, Augustus
Libby and L. L. Taylor. An autopsy was
held by Drs. Wilson, Abbott and Delaney.
The brain was carefully removed, and no
coagulation or hemOrrhage found it being in
perfectly healthy and normal condition.
An examination of throat, lungs and heart,
showed no alteration from a healthy state.
No cause for death was found but that of
strangulation, and the physicians will 50
testify at the final hearing of the case.
! The jury has its final sitting and will make
its report at Chalmers hall, on Wednes-
| day. While the death is shrouded in mystery
| the finger marks so plainly shown on the
throat and the testimony of the doctors as 10
all the conditions of the remains of the de-
ceased. point conclusively to foul play. 1t is
surmised the assassin, if assassin there be,
| followed or chased the deceased through the
passage way to the closet, and there with his
deadly grip ended her life. She was of
highly nervous temperament, and the fright
and shock of such an attack. would make her
an easy victim. The outer door and yard
gate were found open by Mr.. Tuck on his
return, which was an unusual occurrence. as
Mrs. Tuck was particular to keep them closed.
Great excitement prevails through the town
and alreadythe finger of suspicion is pointed to-
wards the supposed assassin. 1t is thought
that an outrage was his object, but frightened
at the fatal result of his attack he fed. 1t is
hoped for the credit of humanity that such
may not prove to be the case. The deceased
was % years old. b.