The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-06
HOWS CRIME.
1t Is Alleged That He Tried TO Murder
His Parents.

Howe, who was arrested yesterday,
his father and mother, was arraigned IN
the municipal court here today. he
pleaded not guilty and was held in $500
bonds for one week. He was committed
to jail in default of bail.
Mr.. Howe, father of the prisoner, was
at the police station this morning, with
Mr.. Howe of HaverhiIl, father of the girl
to whom Alfred Howe was engaged. The
father of the young man expressed the
opinion to the police that some older
persons must be in league with his son,
If the latter is guilty. The father believes
that his son was not strong enough to
give the blows which Frustrated him
Thursday night
Young Howes father is disposed to
think that the boy is out of his right
MIND, and that he has been for couple
OF weeks past. 10 this circumstance lie
attributed all the various attempts upon
the lives of himself and wife.
MI. Howe is now disposed to admit
the real significance of his son S act, and
1t appears that he has had suspicion of
him Ior some time. He has admitted that
entered his room at night week or SO
ago, and turned up the gas He heard
the boys retreat up the stairs to his own
room, ana knew tnat it was his son VINO
had deliberately attempted to cause the
death of himself and wife by suhocatlon.
Ibis suspicion became the ground. OF
dread during the night of the occurrence
at the house, which brought the matter
to crisis. After the house was cleared,
Mr.. Howe did not retire. Instead OF do
ing SO he sat down by the fire. He asked
MS son, who went up to bed, to come
down at 6 O'Clock and go TO the post
ofnoe, where he, the father worked, to
say that he was not able to go to work.
Inc son came down at O'Clock, and
although 1t was thus early, he wanted TO
go TO tins post Office to &c. the errand. The
lather said the place would not be open,
and that it would do no good. He con-
tlnued to sit by the stove. The boy stayed
there and$ walked to and fro behind his
chair. The father then noticed that he
had now familiar brad awl in his hand
ana the dread and suspicion that already
engineered grew into q conviction that
the boy was meditating the use of the
brad anvil upon him. He got up and sum
marily took the tool away.
But OF this and of his suspicion he said
nothing to the police at first, and it has
been only by degrees that the force of
overwhelming conviction has overcome
the natural reluctance Of the parent to
believe in the fepravity of the son.
Mrs. Howe was finally told the truth
last night. The facts were kept from
her until her demand for information
about her sons whereabouts came too
strenuous to remain unanswered, when
the truth was divulged TO her by degrees.
Like her husband, she could not credit
the charge and believed the boy to be out
of his head.
The assault occurred Thursday night.
About IL O'Clock the neighbors of MIR.
Howe, living on the opposite side of
Appleton street, from the double house
where he lives, heard cries of Murder
''Help!' ''Police"' etc., and when
several personsss responded, hurrying
across the street and following Mr.. Howe
PROSTATE upon the floor Of the front
room, insensible.
Mr.. Howe was bleeding from a scalp
wound on the top of his head. He said
he and his wife had been assaulted by
burglars. They had been out to spend
the evening, and when they entered
their home they were struck down. 1t
was believed then that a blackjack,
additionally the tool of burglars, had
been used upon them, and that the in
truder had escaped by the rear of the
house.
Among those present was young Howe.
He was fully dressed, except his shoes.
1t was he who suggested burglars, and
although the father protested, he led the
way to the rear part of the house, through
o door into the dining room, thence to the
kitchen and back door. The latter was
locked, and the key was on the inside.
In the kitchen the window was half open.
Further investigation showed that a
lot OF silver spoons, etc., had been taken
from the dining room table and side
board, and the theory was then suggested
that the house had been entered by burg
lars, who had escaped by the back win
dow, was accepted as the explanation of
the assault
A physician was called and Mrs. Howe
was attended to- She had been struck
twice, once upon one of her arms, and
once upon her head. Her cloak was pierced
in two places in the back also, as If by
small, sharp knife, but these cuts had
caused no injury.
MIR. Howe had been struck upon the
mead; and his scalp was cut open, but he
had strength enough to staggeT to the
front door, which he had just entered,
and cry out for help.
On the floor was found wooden NAL
lett, the head of which was about four
inches long and two and one-half inches
in diameter, with handle about foot
long, and in the hall was found brad
awl, the steel of which was about seven
inches long. These tools, with screw
driver, had been in use during the day
by the son in fixing an organ in the
room, and had been left there.
Young Howe was placed on the rack
by the police and it is alleged that he
finally admitted that he was the assail-
anu and, in addition, pointed out the
place where the missing silver was found.
MAINE PENSIONS.