The Portland daily press., 1885-05-08
AN UNNATURAL SON.
Terrible Ending Of a Three Days
Vacation Spree.
a Young Man Deliberately Shoots His
Mother.
The Criminal Arrested and Now in
Jail.

BATH, May THE quiet neighborhood near
the corner Of Shepard and Water streets was
thrown iuto CONSERVATION early this morning
by frantic cries Of murder, murder" MIR. Ira
Hodgdon. occupant of a neat little white
house, was seen by the neighbors rushing out
on the sidewalk half dressed, wringing his
hands and shouting murder" murder"
Mr. Walter Brookings, who had been watch
ing with Mr.. Hill during the night. and was
on nis way home. seeing the distracted old
gentleman rushed into the house by was of the
klichen In the rear and found young Hoigdon
Wltn smoking revolver ia his haud seeking
tue me OF some person not In sight. Turning
ABOUT Mr BrookiDgs ran to the police station
and returned with Officer Kittredge. A man
named Hartman accompanied them, and en-
tering the House they found the young man
with the revolver standing at the head of the
STAIRS. Come down." said Hartman. "Come
up" said Hodgdon, as he retreat d to his attic
chamber. Here his pursuers found him seat
ed at table on which was the weapon "a 80
calibre five shooter "Rsd Jacket" No. 4 pat
ter1,) knife and a bottle of whiskey. Hodg.
don, the man in question, attempted to use
tne nrearm, but was soon disarmed. On his
way to the station he inquired in a daxed
way IL he had shot anyone, and being assured
to the contrary offered no resistance and soon
was behind the iron bars, unconscious of the
deadly tragedy his drunken frenzy had
wrought.
Hodgdons mother confined to her bed with
a severe cough was the victim and the only
witness of the terrible affair was his father
who had arisen and was building the kitchen
ire when his son James Hodgdon, came down
and entered the sick room. A minute later
three pistol shots resounded through the
house. The father rushed into the room, cry
ing What have you done James?" James
replied, II have killed her; it's too bad, amt
it?"
Terrified, the father rushed into the street
and the wounded mother struggled to her feet
and attempted to escape, when the unnatural
son fired two more Intellectual shots and weat
up stairs where he was found by the officers
The story of the mother reveals that her
son came into her bedroom saying "Well,
how do you feel this morning, mother?" ''I
don't feel very well, was the reply "I cough
ed all night" The son then said "I'll fix YOU
so you will be all right" and drew the revolver
from his pocket and fred, holding the muzzle
so close that the discharge scorched the hand
kerehiet tied around the victims head. Cry-
ing James, what are you doing7" she threw
her right hand to her forehead and her left to
the back of her head, at the same time turning
her face to the bloody pillow. Then coolly
saying, "Ill make it all right" twice more he
discharged the murderous bullet into his
mothers head
The first bullet penetrated the forehead Just
one anda half inches above the line of the eve
broWs, going in between the two divisions OF
the brain, and decorating the protecting mem
brane, but not entering the brain matter
proper. The other two bullets took effect in
the left hand, shattering two fingers and stop
pad against knots in the handkerchief.
Doctors e. M. Fuller and j. B. Wescott re-.
moved the one bullet which took effect in the
head and are making every effort to call back
life although with little hope of success.
The Hodgdon family is we'll spoken of by
the neighbors This mornings frightful
tragedy is due entirely to drink, and three
days vacation spree ends in this ievolting
matricide, the perpetrator of which is steady
and of good general habits, but addicted to an
occasional "toot" while off duty as a night
watchman at the Goss Marine Iron Works.
LATER.
Mrs. Hodgdon, shot ibis morning by her son.
is failing and the chance fer her recovery is
slim.