The Somerset reporter., 1901-11-07
Murder at Chesuncook.

County Attorney Durgin of Piscata-
quls County, commenced an Investigation
of the case of the murder OF Thomas
Zero, Thursday, Oct. 81, at the Chesun-
cook house, going across the lake later
to the scene of the tragedy. The clerk
at the Chesuncook house related the
story of the affair as follows:
A little before 10 o'clock Tuesday
forenoon the people at the hotel noticed
flag moving on the shore across the
lake near the Gero house. Thinking
that assistance was required for some
reason, some of the men went across.
They landed about the same time as a
man named Bridges, who is a brother of
Mrs. Zero aud who had been summoned
by the l2-year old son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Zero, who had rowed across for him to
ask for aid. Proceeding TO the Gero
house, horrible sight met the ewes
of the party. Stretched on the ground
in the yard near the house WAS the bod Y
of man partly covered by a cloth.
The body was awfully mangled and was
covered with blood, but was easily reeog-
nized MS that of Thomas Zero.
1t Is said that Mrs. Zero attempted
ed. DR.. Hunt of Greeuville accompanied
the officials to Chesuncook.
Reports point to Mrs. Zero as the
guilty person and tend to exonerste
Gibbons aud Hoyt, who, IL is said, were
held merely as witnesses.
The little hamlet in which the Gero
house stands, consists of few dozen
houses scattered along the shore OF the
Lab
not savory one and the reputation
borne by the Gero family is not to It's
credit. The murdered man Is said tC
have been rather an defensive man,
but his wife, according to one guide,
"could lick any man Ia the vicinity
The Zero house is said to have been q
road house where liquor was served
and when asked as to its reputation the
guides shake their heads obviously, and
say that they had expected there would
be trouble there sooner or later.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Zero had been mar.
ried before this union, and there
are several children. A son of Mr.. Gero's
by his first marriage, arrived Tuesday
night and it is said that at first he would
not speak to his stepmother, although
they appeared to be friendly enough.
Mrs. Zero was Bridge before hel
marriage and is sister to the man Bridge
who was murdered in this vicinity sew.
eral years ago, being shot through a win
dow by a st. Francis Indian after a
game of cards.
Mrs. Gero admitted that she and her
husband engaged in a struggle over the
knife, but says that he stabbed himself
after they had parted. She does not say
how he managed to do this. The knife
with which the cutting was done has
disappeared and the officers have not
been able to find it. The affair occurred
after o'clock Tuesday forenoon.
A coroner's jury was impaneled with
Sheriff Leonard as foreman. The Jury
Immediately crossed the lake to the
Zero cabin where they viewed the re-
mains of the murdered mar. DR.. Hunt
made an examination of the wound. It
was found that the man had been
stabbed but once, and that in the right
leg near the hip. This cut severed an
artery, causing the man to bleed to
death, probably in 10 minutes after the
wound was Inflicted.
The body was ordered buried and
Mrs. Zero, who had been detained by
Constable l. NJ. Barnes, was given in
charge of Sheriff Dearth. The Jurors
and officers then crossed the lake to
Chesuncook and proceeded from there TO
the Half Way house where the hearing
was resumed. After hearing the testi-
mony at the Half Way house the
coroner's jury reported a verdict,
charging Mrs. Zero with her husbands
murder