The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-01-19
COOLIDGE MATTHEWS
MURDER TRIAL
Recent Waterville Fire
Recalls Story
No Modern Trial Has Caused More
Interest Throughout New England.

ago UIlUBS W uiiuu " luhuJ Vi tuS
residents the famous Mathews muir
der case which occurred in 1847. 1t
is we'll remembered in this county
and the story Is one of interest.
1t is extremely doubtful If any muir
der cases and trials of modern times
caused any more interest throughout
the New England states than did the
Mathews murder. From the story
told by old residents and as CLEANED
from old papers and records, the eX
element that ensued after the body
of Edward Mathews was found on
woodpile in the cellar of the Shorey
& Phillips building, was intense. Wa
terville was very small place then
and the business of one person was
pretty we'll known by everybody else.
There were less than 1000 persons
here at the time, and the streets were
not lighted as they are today. AS a
consequence a great deal of terror
reigned among the timid folks and
many there were who would not go
into a dark place, and to venture into
a cellar after nightfall would have
been a terrible thing.
The Waterville Historical society
has preserved the papers of the day,
giving the accounts of the murder
and the trial. The testimony and
court proceedings were recorded in
pamphlet and several of these are
owned here now. One is in the rooms
of the historical society.
DR.. Coolidge, according to the story
was a dapper looking young man who
had a good practice there. His finan-
cial standing never seemed very
solid and he was constantly borrow
ing money. At one time he wanted
to borrow $500 from Edward Math-
ews, a drover. Mathews could not
furnish the whole amount, and was
asked by Coolidge to secure what he
needed to make up the sum, from his
uncle, John Mathews. Coolidge how
ever, pledged Mathews to the great
est secrecy Mathews gave his word,
but in order to get what money he
wanted from John Mathews, was
obliged to tell the latter for whom he
was getting it.
On the night of September 80, a
party was held at a tavern in town
and Mathews attended. Between 8 and
8 o'clock he went to the office of DR..
Coolidge and there it is supposed that
doctor. Whether or not note was
given is not known. On the morning
of October A. the body of Mathews
was fuond lying on the wood in the
cellar of the same block of buildings.
VICTIM POISONED
The examination of the body re-
vealed that a blow had been struck
with a blunt instrument in the head,
but the appearance of the body was
such as to make physicians believe
that the blow had been struck after
! life was extinct. An examination of
the stomach, lungs, brain and other
organs was made, at which Dr. Cool
idge assisted. The stomach was re-
moved, and Dr. Coolidge coolly sug-
gested that it be thrown away. The
contents were saved, however, and
examined by Prof LOOMS who resid-
ed there, and traces of prussic acid
were found all through the body. Ev-
cry indication of poison was shown.
John Mathews was out of the city
when the body was found but when
told of it, at once suggested that
Coolidge might know about the case,
AS Coolidge was known to have or
dered chemically pure hydrocyanic
acid from Hallowell and Boston,
prior to the murder, suspicion was
fastened upon him and he was arrest
ed. This evidence, with the fact of
the borrowed money made the case
look dark against him.
Added to these things was the
story of Thomas Flint a student in
the Office of the doctor. He told how
he was called upon by the doctor on
the night of the murder, 60 go to the
office. There the doctor told Flint
that Mathews had come in there, TAX
Ell drink of brandy and had fallen
down dead. After locking the door,
Dr. Coolidge said, Il am going to re-
veal to you a secret which involves
my life. That cursed little Ed Math-
ews came in here, drank some brandy
and fell down dead. He now lies in
the other room. | have thumped
him on the head to make folks think
he was murdered"
The body was then taken to the
cellar, to be found on the following
Friday. The cellar door, opening to
the rear of the block, was left ajar,
so as to give the impression that the
victim had crawled in that way.
1t is generally supposed that Cool
idge intended If possible to throw
the body into the river. He had pur
chased cask from a saloon and
others thought that 1t was his inten-
ton to place the body in the cask