Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-01-27

Kittery, Me, Jan. 2i.-One of the most
daring robberies, and an undoubtedly
successful attempt at murder were COM
mitted here yesterday afternoon between
1 and 4:3O o'clock, the victim being Mrs.
Mary Tarlton, an aged widow, living
alone in a small 2ia story house on Com
mercial street, a few steps from Govern
ment street, the main thoroughfare Of
the town. through which the electric
cars pass.
Fred Parks, % years old, who was seen
to jump from the window of Mrs. Tarl-
tons lonely house, is locked up in the
Jail, charged with the crime. The entire
community is wild with excitement, and
last night, after Parks had been arrest
ed at his home, he was openly threat
ened with lynchng as he was led through
the wrathful crowd to the Jail.
Mrs. Tarlton. who is, SIS years of age,
lived alone in her little house, which is
on the river bank, not far from the ferry,
and has always lived a quiet life, with
| but few callers, although her friends
We're many.
George A. Williams was walking along
the road yesterday afternoon, when
some one told him there was a drunken
man in the vicinity of Mrs. Cartons
house, who appeared to be acting rather
peculiarly. Williams hastened to the
house and tried the door, but could not
get in, so he ran across to one of the
ncighbors for assistance. He had
| scarcely reached the house, which was
only a few hundred yards away, when
he heard crash, and saw Parks leaping
from one of the windows of the first
floor. Before Williams could give the
alarm, Parks had ran off up the street,
disappearing into the woods.
With neighbors Williams ran back to
the Tarleton house and. after two or
three Intellectual attempts, managed
to break in the door OF the kitchen. 1t
was a grewsome spectacle that met their
gaze, for on the floor lay the woman,
her head bruised and battered, her
shoulders slashed with the butcher knife
that was near her, covered with blood,
while blood was also scattered in every
direction.
1t took some minutes for Williams and
his companions to ascertain that the
woman was alive, and when they did
So one of their number FASTENED for
a doctor, while the others bathed her
head and shoulders. The physician,
after careful examination, gave but
little hope for Mrs. Tarlton's recovery.
She was carried to neighborng house,
and every effort was made to revive her.
In the meantime the police had been
notified, and a searching party was
at once organized for the pursuit of
Parks, the party starting out within
half an hour after Williams saw him
dash off into the woods.
An examination of the house showed
that, while everything was in fearful
disorder very little of value had been
taken, although most thorough search
for money had been made.
Within three hours after the police
had been notified of the affair, they
had Parks under arrest. He was found
at his fathers house at Spruce Creek,
and was readily given up by the family.
Parks was at once handcuffed and
brought up to the Jail, but great crowd
had collected, and all sorts of threats
We're made, while his captors We're un-
locking the Jail door. Once inside, he
was locked in cell while two police
men We're stationed as guards. The
authorities do not expect any trouble
from the citizens, although popular feel
ing is at a white heat. He will be taken
to Alfred today. and lodged in the county
Jail.
Parks was apparently somewhat un-
der the influence of liquor. and bottle
of whiskey was found in his pocket.
None of the articles from the Tarlton
house We're found in his clothing. He
talked but little regarding the affair,
| but did not deny that he committed the
| assault
The physicians attending Mrs. Tarlton
! do not expect her to survive, as her
wounds, especially about the head, are
deep and of most CHASTITY nature.
| The room where the encounter took
| place gave every evidence of being the
scene of a fierce struggle, and apparent
| ly Mrs Tarlton did not succumb until
her head had been pounded almost into
a jelly, and her shoulders and arms cut
and slashed as if by a butcher. Nearly
every part of the room showed spots
of blood, and even the ceiling did not
escape being spattered.
Parks, who is % years of age, has al
ready served time for other offenses.