The Portland daily press., 1890-09-18
The Result Of a Murderer'S Work in
Portsmouth, N. II.
He Shot Two Of His Daughters and
Then Himself.
Besides Nearly Killing Another Daugh.
ter and a Well Known Man.
Domestic Troubles Of Fred Helm and
Their Tragic Termination.

AOhloMOOIh, NJ h.g OopLcmucI l1s-Oho
of the m ost terrible tragedies that ever oc-
CURED in Portsmouth, took place tonight,
and the city is in fever of excitement. A
mob Of several hundred people surrounds
the tenement house at No. Middle street,
where lie the bodies Of three dead people.
Fred Fl. j. Helm, aged 40, a hard working
cooper, in the employ Of the Eldridge Brew
ing Company, had family OF three daugh-
ters. The eldest, Carrie, aged 10, was keep
ing house for him. Several months ago his
wife left him. Helms troubles with his wife
are said to have extended back several years.
The names of numerous Portsmouth men
were connected with hers. Since she left
town it was reported that the girl Carrie had
become wayward bat those who know her
best scout this. Helms troubles preyed upon
his mind until he resolved to end them. Two
of his daughters and himself lie dead in his
home. while at the Cottage Hospital on
Court street, the third daughter lies dying,
with bullet in her neck, and at his home on
State street, Charles w. Taylor, a well
known hardware merchant, whose name has
been connected with the Helm woman. lies
under the hands Of surgeons, with two bullet
holes in his back.
Before the discovery of Helms dead body
in closet at his house. officers and citizens
were securing the city in search of him. Had
he fallen into the hands Of the mob, there is
not the slightest doubt he would have been
lynched at the nearest lamp-post. About
730 D. m, as Taylor was entering his house,
the murderer rushed into the yard and fired
two shots at Taylor, both taking effect in
the small of the back. Iaylor's wife and
neighbors heard the reports of the revolver,
He was at once carried into the house and
doctors summoned. A large crowd soon
gathered about the house, and the police
were obliged to force them :back. The doc
tors extracted one bullet, but were unable to
recover the other. Taylor is still alive, but
very low, although able to talk. He stated
that he does not know what prompted Helm
to shoot him. Taylor is prominent in sew
eral secret societies, and in business enter
prises. He is about 35 years old, and has
lived in this city nearly all his life.
Shortly before o'clock, people living in
the vicinity of Helms house heard five pistol
shots fired in rapid succession. Daniel Ca
sey and Arthur Walker were walking along
lslington street, and saw Maud, the 10.
year-Old daughter Of Helm, come running out
VI buO llOuoO anu otdlL QuWu buC otIccb. Ou6
hgf eB but fan nsfSr S eti eatiSstyapst Teaeen She
said: Father has shot me-" A doctor was
quickly brought, who ordered the girl taken
to the hospital, where she now lies. Exami-
nation shows that the first shot fired entered
the right side of her face. Her eyebrows
are burned and the. side of her face filed
with powder. As she started to run out of
the house, her father fired two more shots,
one taking effect under her shoulder and
passing through the stomach, and the other
passing through her hip. At the present
writing the girl is not expected to live the
night out.
The lower part of Helms house was the
scene Of the murderer's work, and shows
evidences of struggle. Chairs were over
turned, and everything about the rooms is in
disorder; The kitchen is covered with
blood. In the centre of the room was the
supper table. The plates, bare of food, are
the only evidences TO show that the table
had borne food. There were dirty dishes and
pieces of tomatoes scattered about. Pools of
blood stood upon the floor in various places
of blood covered the sidewalk. just outside
the back door lay the two bodies. Carrie
lay with her face covered with blood, the
bullet having entered the left side of her
face. passing into the brain. Death resulted
instantly. Across her lay. Bertha. the
youngest. When found by the officers, she
was unconscious. A physician made hasty
examination. The shot entered her head
back OF the left ear. She expired in fifteen
minutes.
Sheriff Coffin detailed men to guard the
house and started in search of the murderer
Citizens were sworn in as deputies and des-
satched to every section of the city. Every
part of the town was searched
The city marshal and a force
of police soon arrived at the house.
After searching the lower part they decided
to go into the chambers, although they feared
Helm was hiding there. as blood was dis
covered dripping down the stairs. In the
front room the officers found 30 calibre re-
volver lying in the centre of the floor. There
were blood stains here and general confus-
ion. Leading from the front chamber is
small room about five feet square. In this
room, stretched on the floor, lay the body of
Fred Helm. By his side lay Al calbre re-
volver of the bull dog" pattern, one cham
Der discharged. He had shot himself in the
mouth. In the corner OF the room stood q
loaded rifle
A posse crossed the Maine line into Kit
terry, and went as far as Eliot, enquiring of
those on the way If they had passed man
answering the description given. A number
of false clues were followed out before the
body was found. The coroner empanelled a
jury and an investigation was begun. Satur-
day, Helms wife arrived in the city and a
stormy interview took place between them.
She demanded her children the first of the
present week.