The Portland daily press., 1897-05-04


Benny Eagle, May 3-There is little
new in the Lane murder and suicide case.
In the presence of Selectman Herbert
c. Sturges, Miss Margaret Lane and o
few relatives, the letter that was found
on the piano addressed to Miss Lane
was opened and read. Whoever imagined
the handwriting was that of young Lane
and that the 1nissive would explain the
motive which prompted the deed, was
fated to be disappointed for the letter
ing words of sympathy and comfort
from Mr.. Roscoe Watson, who owns end
operates saw mill and single mill at
Rapids in the town of Limington. Mr..
Watson wrote the pote on the morning
following the tragedy and laid iton the
piano himself where it would te seen
and given to Miss Lane upon her arrival
This is all there is to the letter story
and everyone is as much in the dark
now as to Lanes motive, as THEY were
before it's opening.
Sentiment has been strong In the little
village against the murderer.
There now seems to be doubt In the
minds Ut many as to whether iDsani-
ty prompted Lane to do the deed. Opin-
ions seems to be that he had been plan
ming the crime for several days.
1t is said that a few days before his
death he tried to sell COW for S10 re-
marking that he should not need it as he
probably would not be here great while.
He also paid some bills, remarking that
he wanted to be square with everyone
as be did not think he would live a
great while.
He was intensely jealous of his wife's
affections before their marriage and a
little over year ago gave young man
with whom he had seen his wife talking
thrashing, after broodiDg over 1t for
day or TWO.
Lane is said to have had an uncontrol-.
able temper, having once struck horse
with a sharp hammer with such force
as to bury the head in the animals side.
Last winter he put ten dynamite car
tridges in the ground to blow open his
sink drain that had frozen up. All
but three discharged and nearly blew
Bonny Eagle into New Hampshire. He
left the other cartridges in there till the
selsctmen ordered them out.
The fact is that he was anxious to con-
troll all the property Of the household and
that his wife had been heard to say that
che xpas dona oioipo him ,,,-,...
would give him no more. Whether he
wasted it or not was willing she should
spend as she chose, does not appear, He
wanted to go to Boston not long ago. and
because his wife did not get ready az
soon as he wished. he fatty refused to
go at all.
Trouble over timber lot that he had
cleared is spoken of and only few davs
ago he was greatly incensod about the
FIRE that burned some of his timber near
Hardscrabble. 1t is thought boys set If
and he threatened those boys, if he conld
find them out, with dire punishment
He didn't find them though.
Another story ID that young Lane onca
attempted the life of a Biddeford worm,
man who was attentive to young ladv
by who Lane was somewhat favorab,,,
impressed. Various stories now cron
out in this place and possible ,not,va
of the crime seems to be frenzy n. =
might be termed insanity, produced hv
the refusal of his wife to let him contyo,
her property. She fatty refused when
he urged her to 60 to Boston for n a
purpose. 1t is now known that he had
Urged repeatedly, and not long ago.