Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-11
The Wife Struck Down but ES-
capes and Arouses the Neigh
bOrS who Find the Ter
rible Deed Accom-
pliShed.
LleEellyn Quimby, the Murderer, Pursued,
0Vertaken, Arrested and Arraigned
Before the Court Where He
Pleads Guilty.

W lllam kenniston, an Old farmer at
North Boothbay, was horribly murdered last
night in his own house. He was beaten
about the head, stabbed and shot. The fol-
lowing is Mrs Kenniston's story in substance.
At about midnight Mrs. Kenniston, wife
of William kenniston of North Boothbay,
was aroused from her sleep by noise in the
house. She awoke her husband, telling him
that some one was breaking into the house.
Almost Immediately afterward the door of
their bed room was broken open and a man
rushed in and at once struck Mr.. Remission
iron, which he hal in his hand on entering
The blow stunned the old man and he fell
back on the bed. The wife then attempted
to get up in bed and called out loudly, when
ever, did not stun her. She fell down be-
hind the bed to escape and hid there. Mr..
Kenniston revived from the first blow and
fiercelv battled with the murderer for his
life. In the struggle which followed both
went into the kitchen where marks of the
affray are plainly seen in big pools OF blood,
broken looking glass and the mur1erous
iron bolt and knife. In the kitchen the old
gentleman was stabbed twice, and two pistol
shots were fired. When Il wife could es-
cape she ran out to arouse the neighbors.
Assistance was promptly at hand, but when
the house was reached the murderer had es-
capped and his victim lay on the kitchen floor
dead. The alarm was sounded and an in
vestigation was at once made. porch
window was found open with plank against
it. This showed plainly how the murderer
entered the house. An open door indicated
his manner of leaving. kenniston's horse
and bride were missed from the stable. This
made plain his method of escape.
Suspicion was at once directed to young
Young man named Llewellya Quimby, who
had worked for Mr. Kenniston. and who bore
a bad reputation. He had threatened to kill
Mr.. Kenniston. Teams were sent in all di-
rections promptly, every officer in the town
being employed. The town officers offered
a reward of $500 for the arrest of the muir
dcrer So well was the work done that at
Boothbay from Damarscotta stating that the
murderer had been overtaken.
Coroner Seth Patterson summoned jury
consisting of Joseph r. Remission, Stephen
+. Welch, Charles +. Kennston, Nathan ).
Baker and Byron Giles. They have the knife
with which the wounds were made and the
bolt of iron The murdered man must have
made a desperate resistance. as the kitchen
shows He was stabbed once entirely through
the body and once upon the right arm Two
pistol shots were fred but neither appeared
to have struck the victim. There were two
terrible wounds on the head. one of which
fractured the skull. Mr.. kenniston was 81
wears old but unusually smart for that age.
He was a farmer and was much respected.
The town is very much excited. The motive
for the fearful crime can be nothing but re-
yenge. Nothing was missing from the house.
Two watches were hanging in the bed room
in easy reach. The assassin lighted matches
in the house to see his way and in the light
TINS made his face was seen TO be covered
with white cloth. Undoubtedly the muir
derer though he had killed both the man and
his wife. and that the crime would not be
discovered until he had time TO escape. The
knife with which the wounds were made was
broken into four pieces when found,
TsECoND DESPATCH
Tho murderer of William kenniston was
captured this morning about O'Clock IN
Nobleboro, four miles from Damariscottarby
George Perkins and A. II, kenniston, the
,o,,ar a son of the murdered man. When
discovered he attempted to escape and Ken
nis,on fired three shots at him from revoi-
yer. one taking effect in the head but IN
aieting only scalp wound. 1t brought the
criminal to bay, however. He was hand
cufsed and taken to Damariscotta where an
examination of the wound was made, after
w hicb the party proceeded to Boothbay. The
name of the murderer is Llewellyn Quimby,
of Waldoboro, aged about 20. He was taken
to Boothbay by Sheriff Cilley and Constable
Corey. The coreners jury "hieh hau oeeN
in session. reported that the killing was done
by Quimby. A complaint was made and the
follow was arraigned at IL o'clock before
Thomas Boyd, justice of the peace who
held coxt at the office of {. d. f.sher
ITnon beiae required to answer TO the charge
of numbering William kenniston the accused
pleaded guilty, and he was committed ''
Wiscasset Jail in charge of Deputy Sherlf
Patterson and Constable Corey. The cour
room was crowded, and the streets in The
v;c;nitv were filed with an excited mass o.
people. Many threats of violence were mai'
and there was considerable fear tina
Iouimby would be handled roughly, but bet