Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-05
INTO THE RIVER.
Watervi|Ie Has an Alleged At
tempt at Murder.
Zedoire TaI|ouse Charges Loren Jud-
kins With Brutality AssauIting
And throwing Him From Railroad Bridge I"to
River Judkins Arrested.


A horrible attempt to dispose of Zedoire
Tallouse by throwing him from the
railroad bridge over the Kennebec was
made, tonight at 6 o'clock, by Loren
Judkins. Judkins was later arrested
The motive of the act and the story
of the attempted murder is set forth as
follows by the victim:
Shortly after o'clock this after
noon, Tallouse was returning from his
work to his home in this city over the
railroad bridge above the Ticonic
bridge. When he was in the middle
of the bridge he was met by Judkins.
The two spoke and then Judkins turn
ed around and hailed Tallouse.
Wont you have drink" asked
Judkins, at the same time producing a
flask from his pocket.
II don't know but that T will, if you
have some good stuff there" was Tai
louse's reply.
1T is brandy; the best they make"
said Judkins.
AT that Tallouse took the bottle
and placed it to his lips. Finding that
lIiC DOlliC diu Iol CoHtllI DIS
promised, but something else with Il
suspicious taste, Tallouse returned the
bottle saying that he never drank
alcohol.
At that the two separated and Tai
louise started for his home. No sooner
had he turned then. he says, Judkins
struck him. knocking him down. He
then threw Tallouse over the bridge, a
distance of 40 feet to the river below.
Tallouse as he fell struck his head
against the trestle work and was rem
dered partially unconscious. The chill
as he struck the water brought him TO
his knees and he struck out for the
shore, IS or 100 feet away.
Mr.. Tallouse is very strong man
and his strength was probably instru-
mental in saving his life. When he
began to swim he struck out for the
pier, but even when he reached this he
had the greatest difficulty in climbing
up over the pier on account of his
weakness. 1t was not until he had
struggled 30 minutes that he was able
to climb to the top.
When he reached the top he was 50
weak he could not stand There was
lO Oilc III SfSHl " WHO'LL lie iulSHl Call
and he started for home alone, SO weak
that the only way he could get over
the ground was by crawling on his
hands and knees. He travelled the
greater part of the way on the rail-
road track but when he reached the
place opposite his house he managed
to brace himself. He then was able to
stand upright until he reached his
home 100 feet distant from the track
AS soon as he entered the house he
fell exhausted. He was at once placed
in bed and DIR. G.. w. Abbott sum-
moned, who at once began to restore
life to the man. When DR.. Abbott ar
rived TallOuSe was so weak that it was
almost impossible to distinguish the
beating of the heart at the pulse. He
at once applied stimulants and by 8
O'Clock Tallouse was able to talk al
though he was still very weak.
He was seen a short time after the
Occurance of the deed by Journal re-
porter and at that time was in bed
with his head closely bandaged.
Where his head had come in contact
with the trestle work of the bridge
there was a cut about inches long
over slightly shorter. Even though
some time had elapsed since the oc-
curance of the accident the man was
then in such weak condition that he
could hardly speak. He told the story
of the cowardly assault as above
stated.
DR.. Abbott was seen, later in the
evening, and said that it was the great
est wonder that the man had not died.
When he arrived the mans pulse was
hardly perceptible. On account of the
mans age, 65 years, and the long time
he had been in the water he was very
weak. DR.. Abbott was of the opinion
that the man would recover if pneu-
monia. induced by extreme exposure,
to which the man had been subjected
while in the water, did not set in
Through DR.. Abbott's orders the man
was placed in hot blankets and every
thing done to ward off the disease 50
that it looked, last night, as though
there would not be the slightest uues-
ton but that he would be as well as
ever in a short time.
What the motive for the attempted
crime was it is not possible to def
Htcly Sdy, ultnOuSl MI. IdllOuSe says
there is but slight question that Jud-
kins wanted to dispose of him that he
might have his place as crossing tender
| in Winslow. Judkins has been doing
nothing for some little time though he
was at work on the railroad during the
summer.
At that time Tallouse was very sick
and Judkins tended crossing for him.
1t is said that Judkins had been prom
ised the place if Tallouse did not re-
| cover from his sickness.
The place, during a dark night, was
ideal for such crime. The bridge at
this point is fully 40 feet above the
river and yet is far enough from thu
street bridge below to prevent any out
cry being heard. Had Tallouse's death
been accomplished there is but slight
likelihood that the author of the crime
would ever have been determined to
certainty
AS soon ase matters at Tallouse's
house had quieted down. the matter
was placed in City Marshal Calls
hands and search made for .Judkins
Continued on page g.