Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-03-22

Clinton, Me, March 21.-tSpeciaD.-
This quiet little place was startled
this afternoon, by the announcement
that Jacob Dearborn Marr, a farmer
| aged about 30 years. living on Battle
Ridge, had murdered his three little
children, Alice, Helen ana Elwin, with
an AK in a fit Of insanity.
The word was first brought to this
village by Manlcy Morrison. chairman
Of the selectmen, VINO resides not 4
great distance from the scene Of the
| horrible crime. He telephuned to Wa
terVllle for Coroner Smell, Who caught
train No. - ana came TO this place.
where he organized a party consisting
Of Deputy Sheriff Colby Getchcll. who
was here on business. Constable Geo.
Cunningham, Sclectmau Eugene Mel
son ana DR.. 4. a. Shaw ana started
through Il driving rain storm over the
roughcst roads of til, season fur the
scene of the crime.
The whole ncignborhood had been ar
reused by the deed, the houses being
nearer together than Is usual in coun-
try places
Wnen the officers entered they found
a horrible sight. In the kitchen, just
where she fell. was the body Of Alice.
and upstairs were those Of Helen ana
Elwin, with their heads crushed and
battered beyond recognition. The AK
with which the deed was done laid on
the wood box where the murderer had
placed ii. covered and stained with the
blood of his innocent children. The
man himself was found in another
room and calmly submitted to arrest.
The story as gathered by the jour
nal man is about as follows:
The family. consisting Of Mr.. ana
Mrs Marr. daughters Alice and Helen.
aged Is and /. and son Elwin, aged >
years, ate dinner as usual. After the
meal had been finished Mrs. Mari went
about her usual duties. Alice attended
to the washing of the dishes at the
sink, and the other two children We're
playing, upstairs.
Without saying much to any of
them. Mari, shortly after the meal
was over, went out into the wood shed.
seized the ak and re-entered the kitch-
tii' W itIloti II " plti- ilt SN uiiS
it in the air and brought it down with
terrific force on the head of his daugh
ter Alice. He had reversed the weapon
and the pole of the AK sank deeply in
to her skull, telling her to the floor
where she gasped her life away
Mrs. Mari saw the terrible deed Of
her husband and was terror stricken.
She rushed from the room and the
house, he apparently paying no atten
ton to her. and ran to the home of
Marrs father. feeble man of 20 odd
years. who lived not far away.
Hastily telling the horrible story to
the aged man. she implored him to go
to the house to save the other children
# possible and he made his way to the
scene with feeble steps and a heart
full or horror and fear.
on entering the kitchen he found his
son standing calmly at the sink wash
ing his hands. while at his feet on the
floor and still alive, as the faint gaspS
told the grandfather. was his daughter
Alice. Il great pool Of blood and brains
about her mangled head.
The younger man paid no attention
whatever as they entered and to the
why he had done the decd, said:
"Oh. | don't know why | did it,
Anxious for the safety of the other
children. thew looked through the 9th
cr rooms and then went up stairs. At
the top of the stains lay the body of
the little boy Edwin, dead. and with
his head battered in. while in q cham
Der was the still body Of little 7-ycar-
old Helen. dead. Killed in the same
cold bloOdcd and brutal way.
The murderer paid no attention to
any Of those present, but calmly walk
ca from the kitchen to another room
and sat down to brood over his crime
or to await the officers coming-no
one knows which.
There was nothing to do, and the
grief stricken mother and grandfa Their
were comforted as much as possible
bv the Mortified neighbors who had
quickly learned of the crime and gath
cred at and about the home. awaiting
tie arrival of the coroner and doc
TOR. summoned by Selectman Morrison.
When Coroner Smell Of Waterville.
arrived at Clinton village, he found