Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-01
SUSPECTED OF MURDER.
n'oy ana His Wife Arrested in Port-
land, "ednesday-A Couple who At.
tempted Blackmail on Robert r.
Whittier.


MS throat cut. He was a successful book
agent and had just returned from trip into
Name and New Hampshire 1t was decided
al the time that he had committed suicide.
out there were some who suspected that he
had Deen dealt with foully. A short time be-
lore his death Whittier was in Dover, N. H.
lie boarded with man named Hall. Hall
says that there was nothing about his actions
then to denote insanity. But circumstance
occurred Friday which through some light
upon the cause of Whittier's death. Then.
according to Halls story, two men called
upon Whittier. One of them claimed to be
the injured husband of woman in this city.
and he was seeking Whittier for satisfaction.
There was stormy scene, and on Saturday
whittier evaded the men and left for Boston
Previous to leaving he told Hail. the board
ing house keeper, that he had met a Mrs.
Kirby in Portland. She was in such desti-
tute circumstances as to move his compassion
and he gave her money. He also continued
to send her money after he left Portland. He
was convinced that Mr.. Kirby was endeavor-
ing to levy blsckmail upon him. Today noon
both Kirby and his wife were arrested in
the Portland House in this citv, and are held
on general suspicion of murder. Mrs.
Kirby has been living in this city for some
time under the name of Mile Merrill. She
was chambermsid at Mrs. Bakers boarding
house, on Congress street. Kirby himself
has lived in Portsmouth. He is regarded
there as very hard character, and last Oc-
tober he and his wife only escaped prosecu-
ton by promising to leaye New Hampshire
for year.
Mrs. Kirby occupies the woman's lodging
room at the station, while Mr.. Kirby looks
out from behind the bars of a cell. Mrs.
Kirby is quite pretty woman, with brown
hair, aquiline nose, good complexion and
plain but neatly dressed. She has children.
two boys and two girls, according to her ac-
count. She says her maiden name is Holt
and that she came originally from Lowell.
She left Portsmouth in October last and went
to Mrs. Whittier's in Deering where she staid
until December when she went to Mrs.
Bakers boarding house, 547d Congress
street, as chambermaid. Here she first met
Whittier. who was there. She went into his
room to attend to her duties and there passed
the time of day with him. She staid at Mrs
Bakers until three weeks ago. One Sunday
night when she went into his room to carry
water he spoke of going to Lowell and said
he was very lonely and asked her name.
Three weeks ago she left Mrs. Bakers and
went to the Portland House and occupied
room five. Staid there until yesterday. Mr.
Whittier called on her there once. Last
Wednesday she wrote him that she was going
to leave and he sent her two dollars and said
received letter from Whittier which
she thinks was postmarked Farm
ington. This letter she has de-
stroyed He sent her but one letter which
enclosed money. Her husband came here a
week ago last Friday and said to her if she
would give him money he would go and get a
Job of work, and be back Friday or Saturday.
She gave him two dollars. She is positive
that he returned to Portland last Saturday by
the 30 train He said he met Whittier on
the cars. coming from Dover to Portland,
Saturday. She was much surprised to hear
of the death of Whittier by suicide. He was
a very nervous man, generally, she says, and
she should Judge timd man. He was a
man of fine character and manners. He was
the opposite of Mr.. Kirby, she says, who is
naturally of an ugly disposition. He is just
the kind of man who would be apt to be
frightened into committing suicide. If YOU
should shake your fist in his face, said she,
he would tremble all over. Kirby was queer
and seemed troubled while he was with his
wife. Kirby has charged his wife, she says,
with adultery with Whittier. The charge is
perfectly groundless, she declares. Whittier
ALWAYS treated her with great respect and
never insulted her in any way. The reason
she left her husband was solely because he
was of jealous disposition and ugly temper
She thinks that Kirby frightened Whittier in
order to get the hundred dollars. Il never
told anybody that was playing Whittier for
sucker. If any woman can say aught that
involves me in any way, why let her face
me-" Kirby himself thinks the newspapers
ore saving too much about this case. He ad-
mits that he has been following Kirby about
from place to place. The reason for this was
family troubles Last Friday he met him at
Dover A man at the Dover depot told him
where he could find Whittier. Kirby says ::
T went to his boarding house and the lady in
charge said that he was not there but told
me when he would be. Iwent at the time
mentioned and found him in the parlor. He
h.d an oyercost, umbrella and overshoes
near him. l called him by name, and he de-
n;ed the name and called himself Wheeler.
T told him his name was r. X. Whittier, and
that had letter, the contents of which af-
footed me seriously. wanted to know why
ha had done this. He went out, saying that
he was going to the depot, and followed
him saving. $50 am l." He took to the
,,o,form between two trains, and l was
starting back, intending to take the train.
All at once he beekonel to me and said,
ocome here" l went and he said,
.You wish to settle this1p, do you not?" 1
l