Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-05-01
weLL.kNowH IN PORTLAND.
Lane Was Nephew Of Late Owner o. the United
States Hotel Properly.

Portland April 30.-When the news Oh
the tragedy at Bonny Eagle reached
this city, today, 1t created something or
a sensation owing to the prominence ana
wealth of the Lane family.
John w. Lane. who committed the ter
ribe deed. was the son of Charles Lane
of Bonny Eagle. and nephew or the
late John W. Lane. who owned the
United States hotel property in this city
When the latter died. he left his prop
erty, amounting to several hundred thou-
sands dollars. in trust. the income 10 pe
divided between his brothers and sisters
and their children. Young John Lane re-
c,ived an annuity of $500, and If he had
lived. would have received his share OF
the estate when 1t was divided. Edward
NJ. Rand of this city. is the trustee.
Young Lane was not known to be IN
straitened circumstances. and poverty
could not have been the cause of the aw-
full deed. When his uncle was alive
Lane lived for some time at the United
States hotel in this city. but his acquaint-
ance was not large in Portland. About
two years ago his father died and he
then undertook to manage the farm AT
Bonny Eagle.
After his uncle's death young Lane
ca me to this city only occasionally. The
annuities were paid once in every SIN
months and then he always came to
Portland 10 receive MS snare. Inc ltSt
time he was here was March 15 and his
name appears on the register of the
United States hotel of that date. On that
day he went to the office of Mr.. Rand and
received his check for $3.50 and in the
afternoon of the same day left for home.
No one who knew him in this city re-
members that he ever acted strangely.
His habits were exemplary and he was
never known to drink to excess. His
acquaintances in Portland can assign no
cause whatever for the double murder
and suicide.
He had the reputation of being a good
natured. easy-going sort of a fellow, who
took life as it came and made no COM
plants. He was known among his
friends here as Little Johnny he be-
ing rather short and slight in comparison
with the tall figure of his uncle, for
whom he was named.
Lanes fondness for his wife and child
was pronounced. and he seemed to be
especially proud of his home. Mrs. Lane
was a good housekeeper and everything
was supposed to be going on well at the
farm. The couple were married about
two years ago. Mrs. Lane was Boston
young woman and lived on Worcester
street at a lodging house kept by Mrs.
Elwell
Further details of the triple tragedy.
received in this city this afternoon. in
dicate that the deed was probably com
mitted last night about or 10 o'clock.
The bodies of Lane and his wife and
infant child were not discovered. how
ever until about O'Clock this morning.
They were stiff and cold in death. and the
authorities believe that the tragedy oc-
Cured eight or nine hours before that
time.
The discovery of marks of pistol shots
In the ceiling Is spoken of as an indica-
tion that there was struggle between
husband and wife. during which the re-
volver was discharged Intellectually.
A coroner was summoned from West
Buxton but as the affair occurred in
Cumberland county. 1t was necessary to
summon one from Portland. He had not
arrived up to o'clock tonight. There Is
no doubt that Lane was temporarily in
sane.