Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-21

for neighhor days. He was addicted TO
drinking cider, and when under it. influence
was desperate and dangerous.
On visiting the house where this dark deed
was committed.
All Was Quiet.
The sitting room contained two tables, on
one of which stood two plaster of Paris
statues. On it were also several books and
papers. Several small pictures hung on the
walls. One represented mother holding
her child while another was framed photo
graph of relative of the family. There was
but little furniture in the rooms.
Blood had been freely smeared over the dif-
ferent na-ts of the rooms. and marks of
bloody 4 were found on the floors. but all
these had been carefully washed up and
obliterated. Howard was
On a Bed in the Kitchen
almost directly over the spot where the
woman fell. He was sitting up on the couch
drinking water from glass rod. He is a
short, thick set man, with round face and
neck was thick and stout. On being quest
joined Howard was willing to talk some about
the affair. He said
Before the killing had been down to the
store after some medicine for myself On
coming back to the house my wife told me
hat mad been to the neiRhoors lying about
her. denied il. telling her all the places
| had visited She told ME | was a id
liar" and threw a fat-iron at me, which
struck me 10 the small of the back. hurting
me badly. She then grabbed the boot-j ack,
struck herself with II, afterwards striking
me. | took the jack away from her and
knocked her down; then took the razor and
cut her throat. Next | walked into the ad-
joining sitting room, sat down in a rocking
chair aud cut my own throat, dropping TO the
floor Managed to get up, walk to the front
door and fall again, after which knew moth
ing until awakened BY the pain of the sur
geon's needle | had lived in fear of loosing
my life tor years. and my wife has struck me
with club. One of the neighbors set my
boy against me. He is good boy. This
morning talked with him and ne cried. My
wife and |, like two fools, got married %
cumulate property. | bought farm OF
Peaslee in Wniteteld but never could pay
tor il.
1t was with difficulty that the the man
could talk, and not much of his language
could be understood Matter continually
oozed from his windpipe. His physician
says there is not more than one chance in a
thousand for him to recover. He is in the
care of Deputy Sheriff Charles F Choate of
Whitefield, a keeper attending him day and
Right.
The Murderer
was So years of age the 18th day of last June
and was native of Jefferson, whe.e his
brother Israel now resides on the old home.
stead. He moved to Alma from Whitefield
two years ago, having lived in the latter
place seventeen years. The neighbors say
that ordinarily Howard has appeared to be
peaceful and accommodating, but when his
temper rises he is rabid. He had some trouble
with Mrs. Howard about three weeks ago and
left the house for a few days, being support
ed by the town of Whitefeld. Afterwards
he returned home. He married
Ills wife
in Dixmont, her name having been Julia Ann
/ Sydlinger, she being OF Dutch descent She
was woman of medium size with black hail
ewes, and rather loud spoken. Her age was 81
years
I If Howard lives he will of, course be, tried
for his crime. That he committed the terri
bic deed in the heat of passion there can be
no doubt, and there seem to be ne palliative
circumstances connected with the case The
tlat-iron story is evidently made up, as there
are no evidences that an iron was thrown.