Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-27
Gorham, N. H, Man Kills Two
Perhaps Three Persons.
DissoIute Thomas Monahan on War
path With a Shotgun.
Two Victims Found Dead and The Other will
ProbsbIy Die.

while craZed with drink, shot and KILL
ed Joseph Gauthier, a coal man. en-
| ployed by the Grand Trunk Railroad,
early this morning, and inflicted prob
| ably fatal injuries upon Selectman
Woodbury. Gates, who attempted to ar
rest him.
The murderer, who after being taken
into custody, boosted that he had
three bloods" on his hands, also posi-
bly, had killed William Thoits of Shell
burne, whose body was found beside
| the Grand Trunk Railroad track by
searchers. who started to find the third
victim on hearing Monahan's state
| ment.
Monahan also, between the time OF
his killing Gauthier and his arrest.
| upon being accosted by a laborer, had
compelled him to walk around the viii
| lage cemetery with his hands up, be-
| fore the muzzle of a gun, but this man
was not hurt beyond being badly
| frightened.
The different exciting episodes oc-
CURED between 4 o'clock and 100
O'Clock. this morning. Monahan's ar
rest was accomplished by Selectman
Fogg and Sheriff Mamlin, who disarm-
| ed the murderer after he had shot Mr..
Gates.
The murderer was given hearing
| and at once removed to Jail.
The murder of Gauthier, it is be-
lieved, was the result of slight dis
agreement which occurred between
| Monahan and the coal man at about
| midnight
Monahan, who was formerly an en-
ploye of the Grand Trunk, has been
| in the habit of wandering about the
freight yards. He was there. last
night, and meeting Gauthier, had some
words with him. The other employees
say the affair could hardly be called a
| quarrel. yet there was a distinct
I'elash between the men. Monahan
left the yard soon afterwards, and
Gauthier, with a fellow employee named
| Bryant, went to their hunks in :,
shanty beside the track.
The men slept quietly for about four
hours. Mr. Bryant states that he was
| awakened about APO A. NJ, by the
l'opening of the door of the shanty, and
I the next instant Monahan stepped into
the place armed with double barreled
shot gun. Paying apparently no atten-
| ton to Bryant, Monahan raised the
gun and aiming it at Gauthier as he
| lay in his bunk, commanded him to get
| up.
The coal man, awakened by the
sharp voice. opened his eyes and sat
up. Get up and Dress ordered Mon
ahan, levelling the gun full at eau
THEIRS breast.
Gauthier Obeyed and as he completed
the hasty operation of putting on the
few clothes he had taken off. he was
met with the command: Hold up
your hands," Gauthier did as he was
told.
AT this point Bryant, who admits
that he was frightened almost out of
mis- wits, declared that Monahan was
going to far, but even as Bryant ut
tered these words, Monahan discharg-
ed the gun and Gautbier fell.
Bryant saw the blood squirt from his
an instant lodged behind Monahan
and out of the door. Thinking the
murderer was after him Bryant fled
through the town and found shelter
under a barn until daylight. when he
gave the alarm. notifying Selectmen
Woodbury. Gates and Irving Fogg, who
at once started on Monahan's trail.
No one can be found who saw the
murderer leave the coal mans shanty
or who came in contact with him until
about o'clock, when Talrand Good
enough. a laborer, who lives near the
Grand Trunk track about one-sxth Of
a mile from the freight yard, met the
man walking on the track.
Monahan. still carrying his gun,
came wildly toward Goodenough, wav-
Monahan came up with a rush and
raising his gun, shouted that he had
already killed two men and he ordered
Goodenough to throw up his hands.
The workman quickly put up his arms.
Monahan ordered him to move along
in front of him. With the gun pointed
at his back, Goodenough started and
with arms still extended in obedience
to MOnahan's command. he marched
down a nearby street and around the
village cemetery, which is not far from
the Grand Trunk tracks at this point.
There was. apparently, no other pur-
pose in the murderer's mind than to
brighten the victim and when he had
accomplished this, he suddenly turned
away, leaving Goodenough by the GEM
etery fence, and went up Church street
which crosses the railroad not far away.
Just as Monahan reached the cross
ing, Selectmen Gates and Fogg. who
had come up the track, met him, Mr..
Gates stepped quickly toward Mona
han, who, without a word, levelled the
gun which he still carried, and fired
the contents of it's second barrel almost
in the selectman's face. The shots
pierced the neck in many places, some
of them severing the juggler vein.
AS the gun flashed. Mr.. Fogg, who
was close beside his associate, at
to seize Monahan. The MUIR
dered dubbed his gun and aimed a
heavy blow at Mr.. Fogg's head. The
latter warded the blow with his arm, /
a severe bruise, and grappled |
with Monahan. Both men went to the
ground, but Mr.. Fogg gained the mas
terry and disarmed Monahan.
Continued on page a. |