Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-08
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Murder and Suicide IN New Bedford-No
App"Te't Reason r the Crime, Which
Was Probably the Result Of Too Muc ch
Rum.
NEW BEDFORD. Mass June

NEW BEDFORD, Mass, June 6.
A terrible tragedy occurred in this city Just
oeiore noon today In the oufitting store OF
fhliilps Slocum, Is South Water street.
oiocum was sitting at his desk in the count
ing room making an entry in the ledger when
Charles FOES came from the back room,
leaned against the railing dividing the count
ing room from the front as if about TO speak.
but without speaking drew a revolver and
nred one shot which entered Slocum's head
ut the back and base of the skull and he fell
from the stool to the fnor and must have died
almost Instantly. Immediately after this
Foss went to the back room and putting the
muzzle OF the pistol to the right side Of his
head at the temple pulled the trigger and fell
to the hoor. The pistol WAS held so close
that his forehead was singed and the bones
fractured.
There were two men and boy in the store
at the time of the tragedy but they did not al
nrst realize what was done. so quickly it
passed. When they recovered from their as
tonishment and horror they at once sent for
PHYSICIANS. and Drs. Mackie and Brownell
came. Slucum was lifted and carried to the
counter and 1t was at first thought that he
showed signs of life but on the arrival of DR.
Mackie all efforts to bring him to were show n
TO be futile. Foss is still living but is uncon-
sci"us and cannot survive. DR.. Taylor,
medical examiner, was Immediately sum.
moned and viewed the bodies.
Slocum was 65 years old and leaves a wife
and six children, three boy, and three girls
some of whom are grown up. He has been
in business here about 20 wears as an out.
litter, b. ing at one time associated with
Leander 3rightman. FOss is about 40 years
old. belongs in Vermont and has sailed from
TINS port number of voyages. He came
here this time about week ago and Slocum
was trying to ship him as a cooper and car.
penter on the bark Wave.
Foss is dissipated and has been under the
influence of liquor the most of the time he
has been here. He asked Slocum when he
came here TO ship him to Hudsons Bay for
he wanted to die If he could not be cured of
the curse of drink He had asked Slocum
several times this forenoon if he was not 60
ing to ship him soon, but did not seem to be
ll-natured, although distraught from the use
of liquor. Foss ma. traded for several years
with Slocum and it 3s not known that they
ever had any trouble.
Charles Fose was otherwise known as d.
I. Sherburn. His home was in New Hamp-
shire, not Vermont. and his age was 35 moi
40. The murderer is now dead.
New BEDFORD, Mass, June 7.
The public interest in Saturdays
murder and suicide is unabated and many
stories of the cause of the murder are in cir
culation. The body of Chas. Foss alias ID.
L. Sh rburn, murderer and suicide, still re
mains at the undrrtskers awaiting word from
his family in New Hampshire. Foss came
here with team from Tauton. Wedne sday
afternoon last, and stopped at house of i'll
fame. His valise came by train and was
checked from Boston. and Foss dazed by
liquor and chloral got off the train by mistake
at Taunton and hired man to bring him
here Wednesday afternoon. He offered the
woman who keeps the house S5 if she would
send for Siocum to CONF there and said he
wanted him to ship him for a whaling voy.
aye. Foss said, IF he (Slocum) don't ship
me. will fix him, for have paid him enough
money" Foss stayed at this house ovel
night and took several doses of choral and
seemed wild, saying people were after him
irving to kill him. Foss was in this city two
years ago and at that time tried to suicide by
taking large dose of chloral, but his life was
saved by cousin of the man he murdered.