Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-22
HORRIBLE FIND.
Young josesh Chaplin Dis
covers Mothers Dead Body.
And Near it Lay the Dead Body Of
a Young Man.
Both Were Shot Through the Head by Bullets
from q Revolver.


lage, which is part Of the town of
Canaan, was scandalized and horrified
saturday at the discovery of tragedy
nv which two well known persons, the
wife OF the village postmaster and a
eiefgyman's son, came to their death,
In manner which is as vet unexplained,
but which at present bears every indi-
cation Of the murder of tile woman by
the man and the latter's suicide.
At O'Clock in the morning, Mrs. Wal.
ter Chaplin, the wife of Falls Villages
postmaster. Walter Chaplin, was found
dead Oh the floor of the Chaplin dining
room. A few feet away was the dead
body of Charles Mead. popular young
man. about 70 years OF age, and the son
of Rev. II. Il. Mead. formerly Congre-
g1tional preacher here, but now OF Scot
land, a small town in eastern Connect.
cut. Not far distant was revolver and
several of the chambers were empty.
Bullet wounds in the bodies of the dead
couple told the story. In part, but the
mystery surrounding the circumstances
leading up 20 the double crime Is as yet
unsolved
MIR. Chaplin. who is the postmaster, by
appointment of President Cleveland,
has, during his administration of this
small office, confided the business of the
Office to his wife. in order that he might
attend to other business. He has been
for some time the superintendent of the
fish hatcheries in Sheffield. Mass, owned
by Henry Bishop. a well known railroad
Tn, ~,
as superintendent. have rendered it nee
essary for him to spend a large part of
his time In Sheffield. and it was his Gus
tom to run to his home in Falls Village
three or four times a week
Mr.. Chaplin was not as his house Fri
day night. and Mrs. Chaplin was sup
POSED to be spending the night alone in
the house. with her l0-year-old son, Jo-
seph Chaplin. 1t was a trifie after Z
O'Clock i'll the morning when the boy
arose, and, dressing. made his way to
the other parts of the house. Reaching
the dining room door, he sought 10 open
1t. but found it partially blocked by a
weight. The little fellow at length sue
'eeeded In forcing it open. to find lying
against it on the floor the body OF his
mother. He did not wait to investigate
further. but ran from the house to neigh
bors and gave the alarm.
The Chaplin House was soon the scene
of the greatest excitement, and in short
order practically the whole village was
wild at learning OF the disgraceful dis
coreries detailed above. The village au-
thorities Were soon at work. A message
was speedily sent to Coroner Higgins at
Winsted, who replied that he would
reach the scene at the earliest possible
moment.
The excitement had In no way subsidized
at $3.50. when an express train rolled in
from Massachusetts, and Postmaster
Chaplin aliyhted and proceeded to his
home. where he purposed to spend Sun
day. The terrible news, which was bro
ken to him by friends. he was utterly un-
prepared for, and the man was well nigh
Frustrated. BY order of the authorities
the bodies were left in the positions in
which the yhad been found, until the ar
rival of the coroner.
! Meanwhile the vicinity of the Chapin
residence was the Mecca for all Falls VIII
lage. and the villagers gathered in little
knots to discuss and explain the tragedy.
The latter proves to be quite a task.
How young Mead happened to be in the
Chapin home is not known. He had been
a frequent caller upon Mrs. Chaplin, who
was in the neighborhood OF 2S or 30 years
of age. 1t is said that there has BEEN
some talk concerning the relations of the
couple. but it has merely been of gos-
sipy nature. The citizens Of the town.
while free to talk among themselves
concerning the matter, became ext
tremely ret:csnt when approached byI
others than their immediate friends.
Mr.. Chaplin. the afflicted husband, re-
fuses absolutely to say anything. and isl
receiving the consolation OF his friends.
The family Of Mrs. Chanin, who wasl
a Falls Village girl. are also Frustrated, |
and are completely at loss to explain
the fearful tragedy. The premises which,
afforded the scene for the deaths are not |
now open to the public. Whether or not |
there was struggle has not yet beenI
and the full details cannot bel
known until Coroner Higgins has inves-
tigated.