The Republican journal., 1898-05-19
/ On the Death of Edward Matthews.


ed in your columns not long ago since a
sketch from the life of Valorus P. Coolidge,
which reminded me of the following verses
written by o. Drake upon the death of
Edward Matthews. After enquiring
through your paper l obtained a much worn
copy of Mrs. Amanda Curtis of Searsport:
THE wATERvILLE TRAGEDY.
Indulgent friends and strangers, too,
A mournful tale tell to you,
twill greve your hearts the thing to hear
And many an eye will drop tear.
A mournful tragedy of late
A young mans life did terminate
The nurderer's hand has laid him low
Which makes our hearts with grief o'erflow
Poor Edward Matthews, where is he?
Sent head ong eternity.
The mortal debt by him is paid,
And he in his narrow bed is laid.
No more will anguish siege his soul,
No more will poison Ill his bowl
No more friendship clutch his throat
And DER his mangled body gloat.
q, '. 7. Coolidge, how could you
SO black deed of murder do?
1ou on your honor did pretend
To be his dearest earthly friend.
For weeks and months you laid your plan
10 kill your friend and fellow man,
You thought the thing to safely do,
Take both his life and money too.
ou knew to Brighton he had gone,
And watched each hour for his return.
The money for cattle which he drove
gu swore within yourself to have.
on failed in that, but did succeed
BY appraislng a mortgage deed
of every thing you here possessed
So that he could in safety rest.
The money from the bank he drew
And IN confidence brought to you.
Not aware of your intent
Alone into your office went,
You said, Dear Matthews. worthy friend
Our friendship here shall never end
A glass OF brandy you must drink,
Twill do you good | surely think
He drank the liquor you had fixed
With prussic acid amply mixed,
linen cried, Lord what can it be?
What poison have you given me? o.
You grabbed his throat and stopped his
breath
Until your friend lay still in death,
Then with Ratchet bruised his head
Alter he was enurely dead
HIS money then you took away
And hid his watch out in your sleigh
linen called toT your confederate
AND all your doings did relate,
II have secret: Flint, you said,
And if by you l am betrayed
The state will me for murder try
And on the gallows | must die
That cursed Matthews, don't you think,
Came here and did some brandy drink,
Then Instantly he fell down dead,
And | have thumped him on the head.
Where can we now his body thrust
SO That no one can us mstrust?
In yonder room his corpse is laid
L wish the river We're its bed.
The murder / have done this night
Tomorrow will be brought to light
But my good character and name
VIII shield me from all harm and blame.
We dragged his lifeless form away
Into the cellar there to lay
Until some one by chance did see
His mangled bruised and dead body
But Oh. the deed Of that black night
BY heaven was brought to MONDAY ght
The horrid deeds | can't deny,
And Oh the galows | must die
Poor unsuspectlng, murdered friend,
My earthly race must shortly end
/ must stand before my God
And feel his mighty chast ming rod.
y, Edward Matthews could you but know
The scathing pangs | undergo.
You surely would look down from heaven
And say "let Coolidge be forgive
See the murdered form displayed
When night has cast its sable shade
Around my dark and lonesome cell;
Such horrid feelings none can tell
When sleep that harbinger of rest
Has spread its mantle DER my breast
My thoughts will wander back to thee
And see thee die in agony.
o youthful days. forever past,
thought thy joys would forever last.
If l had worlds, that would l give
If once more this life could live.
But all is DER, the die is cast,
The prison walls will hold me fast,
Till to the scaffold l am led
To yield that I've forfeited.
Take warning now by me pray,
Let right and justice guide your way,
May heavens choice blessings to you flow
And save you from a murderer's Woe