Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-14
FOUR FOUND DEAD
And Three More Unconscious
at Marlboro, Mass.
Case Shrouded in Mystery--Hints Of
Poisoning Are Heard.
Survivors Cannot Explain Authorities Dunn
Autopsy to Be Held. Today.

Marlboro, Mass, Beb. ia grew
, some spectacle was brought to the at
tention of a policeman, early this even
ing. when he went to small house in
the rear of tannery located behind
one of the shoe factories of the John
A. Frye Co. He found the house full OF
smoke. and in room off the kitchen
four persons lying on a mattress,
which had been placed on the floor, all
dead and in the kitchen three other
persons in state of insensibility.
The dead are: Edward F. Under
wood. aged so years; Olive Underwood,
aged "a. daughter of Edward: John
Clifford. the 2-year-old son of Olive;
Frances Underwood. years, daughter
of Edward.
The unconscious persons We're: Rob
ert McMullen. about 50 years old: Mrs.
Underwood, wife of Edward Under
wood, Guy Underwood. a son.
This peculiar case was brought to
light when a young woman informed
Police Officer Harnett, who was patrol
ling his beat in front of the John A.
Frye factory, that small house in the
rear appeared to be on fire. Harnett
went TO the house and forced an en-
trance TO the kitchen. The room was
full of smoke, but not sufficient to in.
dictate that the building was on fire.
The officer went to the table and
found a woman sitting beside it. She
did not answer, so the officer threw
open the windows to clear the smoke.
Then he perceived an elderly man ~
ing on a lounge and young man sit
ting in a chair beside the stove.
Harnett succeeded in rousing only
the old man, but as he could not talk
intelligently the officer went into the
next room. On the floor covering a
mattress We're four persons and the
officer found as he stopped over them
that they We're all dead. All were
partially undressed. In the kitchen
was small wood stove in which a fire
was burning but there was little wood
in it.
Officer Harnett Immediately sent
word to the police station and the mar
shall and the medical examiner re-
sponded. The unconscious persons
were taken to the station in hack and
physicians summoned who gave treat
ment TO save the lives of the unfOrtu-
mates.
A little later all the persons We're
identified as in the above list Two
hours later the four bodies were taken
to the city morgue and the medical ex-
aminer began an inquiry to determine
the cause of death.
The inquiry continued until quite late
tonight and after it was over Medical
Examiner Hcitt and City Physician Der
vinan held conference, the subject of
which. however, Is not made known.
When DIR. Hoitt was interviewed, he de-
clincd to express an opinion as to the
cause Of the four deaths or what, if any
thing, had developed in his examination.
lie, however. admitted that he had en-
dcavored to get in telephone communion
ton with the district attorney. An au-
topsy will be neid, tomorrow, but the
time has ret been set.
The Underwood family who We're evil.
IDENTIFY in very straitened circumstances.
moved into the small house in which they
We're found, few days ago, and the fur
niture had not been arranged in the sew
ers,l rooms. Tonight, it does not seem Z,
asphyx;ation, although everything tended
20 strengthen that belief when the bodies
We're first found.
Mullen and the son. Guy, had been re-
vived sufficiently to talk: but little could
be learned from them. They acted as if
under the influence of a drug.
The discovery of the condition of these
people was almost by coincidence. The
young woman Olive was sent for, last
week. TO- go to work in one of the shoe
shops. Today, she failed o appear. and
this afternoon. another Young woman
called at the Underwood house to ascer-
tain if she would be at work in the
morning It was this young woman who
found smoke coming from the window
and returned to tell Officer Harnett. The
latter said he did not know his in
formant
was greatly disordered, furniture being
thrown hap hazard about the rooms.
There was both wood and coal in the
house. of which the l'nderwoods were the
who were seen during the evening, are
positive that they saw members of the
Underwood family about the house dur
When asked for his opinion as to
when death took place. Medical Exami-
ner Hoitt said the bodies were cold when
been dead some hours He aid not be-
ieve the family suffered or died from
exposure There was no food of any
kind found in the house. tonight, and the
three persons cared .or at the station
house eagerly drank the milk given to
strengthen them
The Underwood family had lived in va
rious places in this city for several years.
Mr. Underwood WEES a. box. maker by
trade, but had done some railroadlng.
McMullen appears TO have been board
err with the family; The police say that
the family was we'll known 70 them and
it's reputation was not Of rhe best.
The police have been unable TO maxi
much Roadway in the case. They are de-
pending upon the result Of the autopsy
to give them facss 70. work on. Late. to-
night. City Marshal Pope said that
among the things found IN the kitchen
wasfa bottle which had contained liquor.
After careful consideration he had four)
IFt;le TO strengthen the theory of asphyx-
the poison theory. which has grown
stronger. 49, sssf r. ssS Il gvf
officer Charles Small Of lie Newt Az
burn beat. seized s6 gallons Of beer, Sun
tlav morning. s