The Portland daily press., 1894-12-14
BYRON d. COBURN KILLED
In HIS BARN.
A Bloodstained Axe Found Beside
the Victim.
THE CAUSE OF THE MURDER
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

The Victim Was An Old Man Respected by
Allie had Valuable Horses and His
Entering the Barn May Have Inter
rupted Thieves-Three Deadly Blows
We're struck-An Inquest Will Be Held
Today.
There was terrible tragedy in Gorham
last evening. At about 10 o'clock word came
to Portland by telephone to Coroner Perry
that Byron Coburn. who lived about mile
out of the town, had been found dead IN
his barn, with gashes in his head, made py
a bloody axe found near by. There was no
clew to the murderer.
The PRESS correspondent took the l0.lU
electric car for Westbrook. On the car he
met several men who knew Byron Coburn.
He lived with housekeeper. He was about
55 years of age. He had for years driven to
Westbrook with a young girl, familIarly
know by the boys in Westbrook as "Coburn's
hitch weight" because she was always with
him to hold his horse. Not long ago she
married and now lives in Portland. gShe
is daughter of Coourn's house keeper.
One man said that.he never knew Coburp
to have an enemy. Another that he was
well-to-do man, and another that he
p1 1obably at times had large sums of money
in the house.
His house Is situated about two miles and
half above Westbrook on the old Gorham
road. 1t is comfortable farm house. There
is good set of buildings and every evidence
of prosperity.
The PRESS man arrived there at 3 little
past midnight. There were several men in
the yard. Constable Libby of Gorham, was
in charge in the yard. He said that the
body was lying in the barn just where it
was found. He could give no permission to
inspect it, But Deputy Sheriff Parker was
in the house in charge Of tw o men. held as
witnesses.
Sheriff Parker was found in the house, as
was also Mrs. Kimball. Mr.. Coburn's house,
keeper. a woman past fifty years of age and
several of the neighbors. In the sitting
room, sitting on either end of the lounge
were two young men named Lewis and Cole
man, the two hired men, whom Sheriff
Parker was holding witnesses.
After some questions had been asked
| Lewis he said that it would be better to let
him tell his own story. He detailed it as
if he had told it many times, and had 1t by
note, There was not the slightest hesitation
for word or a thought. Everything that
| he knew was included. Following is his
story:
MR.. LEWIS'S STORY,
Jas. Lewis said that the last he saw of Mr..
Coburn was when he returned to the home
from milking. Coburn said that he had seen
a cat fight. After that he went up to the
house If Mr.. Abner Lowell, and stayed
about one hour and half. He then re-
turned to the house and took up paper.
Mrs. Kimball, Mr.. Coburn's house keeper.
asked if sBi'' had not come in. He replied
in the negative. ard said that he did not
know that he was out. She said he had
gone to the barn, having heard noise and
requested him to go in search for him.
He went out and saw that there was no
light shining through the windows of the
tie up and observed at the SAME thine that
a crowhar was put up against the door of
the tie-up, outside, and Immediately con-
cluded that he could not be in there. Then
he searched around on the outside, but
found no trace of him. On returning he
told Mrs kimball about ii, and they could
not conjecture as to where he had gone, on
moonlight night with a lantern. Then
Mrs Kimball told him that he had better
look in the barn which he did by opening
the great barn door. but found no vestige
of anybody or anything. after which he
took the crowbar from the tie-ups door, on
entering which he Immediately came In
contact with an extinguished lantern,
which Mr.. Coburn had carried. He struck
a match to light it. On account of the wind
he concluded to bring it to the house to
light, It struck him at the time that some
thiLg unusual had occurred, and he
mentioned his suspicious to Mrs. kimball,
while lighting the lantern. Wkereupon they
both proc eeded to the barn to investigate.
On entering they found the second door
open, leading to the lower end of the tieup,
and
THERE FOUND MIR. COBUkN
extended OF the floor, lifeless. with his head
crushed. His hat was within about two
wards of him. He then left Mrs. Kimball
in the barn and proceeded to notify the
neighbors at the house of Abner Lowell. On
their arrival he started to harness up the
horse to 60 in search of the authorities, but
the horse was found loose, with his halter
off. simultaneously they noticed that the
window in5ide the tieup partially
opened. They harnessed fine horse, and as
he was leaving. his attention was called to
| a bloody axe, common chopplng axe,
which was left at the left hand side of the
outer entrance to the tieup, after which he
notified DR. Straw and Selectman Mcclellan.
Then he had Coroner Perry of Portland
telephoned for, who answered that he could
NOT come till a. IN. the next morning. He
likewise notified the son-iH-law, Roscoe G.
Drown, who lives in Gorham. The axe be-
long ed TO the establishment.
The above are his exact words.
MR.. COLEMAN's STORY.
Joseph A. Coleman, who also works on
the farm, said that at bout 2.30 that after