The independent-reporter., 1909-12-16
SHOCKING MURDER
SATURDAY
Son in Anger Shoots
His Father

News were received in this town
late Saturday afternoon last of the
murder by shooting of John Buzzell.
of East Skowhegan the murderer be-
ing his son, Ivory Buzzell. II was
not however, until Sunday. that
the details of the tragedy
could be learned and even
today, Thursday, the officers of the
county headed by Sheriff Mooers are
working on the case. The facts con-
nected with the affair are about as
follows:
John Buzzell, after breakfast, Sat
urday, December 18th just what time
is not known began preparation for
coming to Skowhegan, this is of
course, according to the story which
the respondent has told for he
is the only person who knows any
thing about it. The father was in the
yard, and glancing up toward the
front of the house, he saw his son
looking out of the skylight window in
the roof. I'd like to take your pic
ture, said the father.
"You"-shouted Ivory.
Then, so Ivory says, John re-enter-
ed the house and came up the stairs
armed with a slung shot made of cloth
with a bullet or rock in it. With
this he attacked his son. He struck
him across the knuckles then clinch-
ed and wrestled around bit. "
ory succeeded in breaking away from
his father and cached for his rifle,
which stood about four feet distance.
At that, the father broke away and
rushed down the stairs.
Ivory put the rife to his shoulder
and fired. John Buzzell continued on,
out of the house into the yard and
then returned into the kitchen where
h. fell on to his face on the floor in
front of the kitchen stove, according
to his sons story.
There he laid it is believed from
about ten o'clock in the morning un-
til four in the afternoon.
About two in the afternoon, Ivory
hailed a passerby and told him to go
to Canaan Village and telephone to
Skowhegan for a coroner, as he,
Ivory, had killed his father.
Upon receiving the message, Coron-
er Addition and Deputy Sheriff Harris
of Canaan hurried to the scene OF the
crime. Reaching there they found
the dead man. as described, while w.
ory was moving about the house. Up
on stepping into the kitchen and see
ing the body Coroner Addition asked:
Who did this?"
81 am the man." said Ivory.
The Coroner returned to the kitch-
en- and he and the deputy stripped the
remains and made an examination.
After this they returned to the other
room and questioned Ivory. He told
them the story, substantially as given
in the foregoing.
Did you strike your father?" ask
ed the Coroner, having observed the
bruised and beaten condition of the
head.
Yes, | hit him with a stick"
Deputy Harris was then instructed
to arrest Ivory, which he did. When
he had hand-cuffed him, the man said
he wanted to take care of the stock
in the barn. Assured by the officers
that the stock would be looked after,
he made no further protest.
Before leaving the place, a thorough
search was made OF the premises. In
the pocket of the dead man about $14
was found, while Ivory had a little
over $4 on his person. In his effects
in the chamber there was found about
$50
When one of Ivory's trunks in the
chamber was searched a second slung
shot was found. 1t was similar to that
which lay beside the dead body of his
father.
This money and weapons as we'll as
the clothing of the dead man are now
in the possession of Coroner Addition
When John Buzzell's body was ex-
amined by the authorities his clothing
consisted of a coat and vest and trou-
sers under drawers and five shirts
Some of the shirts were wooden and
some cotton.
On the ride into town Ivory was
asked if he wanted lawyer.