Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-19
MYSTERY DEEPENS.
Grace Marion Perkins Returns
Home With Lover.
Remains Of Murdered Girl Returned
to Bridgeport, Ct.
And the Bridgeport Police Are as Much in the
Dark az Ever.

IuIuuiepVio, IHdSS., CeIt. lo-ssTdce
Marian Perkins, who was supposed
to have been the victim of the horri-
BILE crime which was revealed when
the dismembered portions Of a young
wOman's body was found in Yellow
Mil creek. near Bridgeport, Conn.,, and
whose father, Frank w. Perkins of
this town, has positively identified the
remains as those of his daughter,
stepped off the Providence train, Sat-
urday afternoon. in company with her
betrothed lover, Charles, Bourne, who
had gone away with her. and who has
been searched for high and low, but
without success, by press and public
Miss Perkins father was not at
home when she returned. He was on
his way from Bridgeport with the
mutilated corpse which he so conf
IDENTIFY claimed to be his daughter. and
arrived in Middleboro with it, late to-
night. Meanwhile. his daughter, alive
and well. slept under his roof
The news at first went about the
town that Miss Perkins and Bourne
had returned as man and wife. This
was denied By the relatives of the
young couple. 1t was, however, stated
that they would be married, tomorrow.
privately.
So positive had been Mr.. Perkins in
his Identification that all arrange
menfs for the funeral had been made
and the grave dug in the family lot
in the town cemetery. which is oppo-
site the Perkins house. These will not
now be needed.
Mr.. Perkins declares that the an
pearance and marking of the body
body found in Mill Creek were those of
his daughter. Hair. eyes. teeth, all
parts of the description fitted to a nice
ty. A facial blemish just above one
eye was there.
But here comes the flaw in the iden-
tification. The mole, in the poor,
hacked body found at Bridgeport, was
over the right eye. In Miss Perkins
1T is over the left.
Mrs. Perkins noticed the discrepancy
and held out that her husband had
therefore been mistakened in his
Judgment. But he stuck to it, insist
ed that her memory was at fault, and
eventually succeeded in silencing her
doubts.
since Mr.. Perkins had stated that he had
Identified the remains, the entire com
munity had been wondering at the where
ia a OF Charles Bourne, who was
known TO be much attached to Miss Per-
kins, II appeared that his uncle. Charlie
thompson. was fully informed as to his
nephew movements. and practically had
charge of the return of the coun,a 10 This
town.
Mr.. Thompson refused absolutely to
lax about the affair, Saturday night but
It was learned that his nep.ie.w had noti-
fed him as to the time of his departure
from Providence with Miss Perkins. and
MI. Thompson was therefore fully pre-
pared for the appearance of the much
wanted young woman.
VI the Perkins family no one was in.
formed of the young R,dy's being alive
except her sister Hattie. and even she
was not told until late Saturday after
noon. Mr.: Thompson did this so that
there would be no crowd at the station
when the train came in, and only Mr..
Thompson and Miss Hattie Perkins were
on the platform.
Carriages We're already in waiting, ana
after the messenger had been dispatched
to the Perkins home. Miss Perkins and
her sister stepped into another carriage
anu were whirled away TO the joyful yet
tenrfui greeting with their mother.
In the meantime. Mr.. Thompson had
hustled Charles Bourne and his brother
George. who had met the couple on their
way from Providence. into another car
ssiSc. dhu tue Two uTOVe rapidly TO the
Bourne house. only a short distance
away.
As a lawyer had been engaged a day or,
two ago, when the sensation first start
ed, Mr.; Thompson. upon the advice of
that Individual, refused to have anything
to say about the movements of his
nephew. The lawyer said that at the
proper time there might be "a statement
made regarding the affair. but under the
present. conditions he should refuse to
permit either of the Bourne brothers or
their uncle to say anything.
Al the Perkins home there was a SINH
lar reticence on the part of the family
until by frequent urging Mr.. John f.
Merrick, an uncle Of the young woman.
N the. absence of her father, gave out
he following statements:
We think that Grace and Charles
Bourne have been married. as they have
been of on frequent trips during the past
.wo or three months. Grace knew noth-
ng of the sensation until Friday morn
ing. when she read of 1T in the papers.
She sent a letter ito her mother only 10
lays ago. but the latter never re-
.eived it."