The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-08-11

PenoDScOt and dlHefent pdrlS ol ooIh-
erset Counties All outside clues prov
ed groundless. The theory that Gene
Knights, son of Nelson Eugene
Knights now serving a sentence for
murder of Alfred Corson at Dexter
and for whom Mrs. Towle was to as
sumo the duties Of housekeeper, has
| been set aside by the sheriff as worth
| less. Neither motive or opportunity
| for young Knights to commit the deed
/ have been found. 1t was impossible
| to place anyone gong to the house.
| Wild rumors of strangers or relatives
| of former husbands of the dead woman
have also been found groundless. Only
! one person is known to have been
| in the Kent yard after the time of Mr..
kents departure in the morning until
| h return, and that was Leslie E. Mar
| tin of Athens, a neighbor, living about
a mile away. Mrs. Towle had been do
ing some washing for the Martin fam.
! ily and Mr.. Martin called at LOS to
see if the clothes We're ready to be
| taken home He received no response
at the house and went on to his work
on the Hall farm about half mile
/ beyond the Kent place. When his
days work was completed, and on his
return home, he again called for the
washing at approximately sos p. m
On both occasions the screen door was
closed with the inner door ajar lead
ing into the kitchen. Loud raps at
ADD THIS TO MURDER NO
the door and also the calling of Mrs
| Towles name in a loud vo ce by Mr.
Martin failed to arouse anyone from
within, 50 the States firm belief is
that Mrs. ToWle was assaulted earlier
in the day than was at first throught
There is no possible way of determin-
ing the time of the assault by analysis
of the stomach because she was alive
until four o'clock Sunday morn ng,
during which time the stomach kept on
with its functions. For this reason
Il is impossible for that organ to assist
in determining the time when the fatal
blow was struck
One clue VIII ch has been followed
mp with considerable interest by the
officers has to do with a man, who
came along in an automobile claim
ing that he was a road inspector on
rural mail routes. He asked young
man by the name of Hall, relative to
a highway of that section and asked
Hall to ride over the road with hin
which he accord ngly did. This was
about ~ o'clock. On his return he
mentioned to Hall so the story goes
that he hadn't had any dinner but
knew where he could get some and he
went on about one o'clock apparentl,
by the Kent place. The highway de-
partment at State headquarters know
nothing Of amy such man being II
that section. The theory does no
look reasonable, however. that mar
should commit so attrocious crime
where his clothes must have become
more or less blood stained and then
come out and invite IA near neighbor
10 20 for a + de and travel round in
In l'ciuitl where the deed had been
earu.tieG. TIL t9,f That Leslie
Hari r called al the h3o~. II l.oo and
The traveller had left young Hall
about five minutes before, would prove
that the crime could not have been
committed after Hall had been riding
tn him.
BANK BOOK SHOWS 500
Beside the $35.53 Mrs. Towle was
found to have bank book crediting
her with 500,
Undertaken Ray T bbetts of Athens
was called to take care Of the remains
but cmbalming was impossible be
cause of the condition of the woman.
Jhe body Was temporarily placed in
the tomb at the village cemetery in
Athens.
The place noW owned by Mr. Kent
was in former times known as the
Amos Chapman place. Mr. Kents
home has always been in this section
of the state.
HOMES OF THREE HUSBANDS
The three husbands of Mrs. Towle
are all living. The first husband
Mely II Blackm0n resides at Rich
mond; the second husband, George
Lowell lives at Plymouth and Nelson
Towle. now 50, the third husband, IS
making his home with his daughter ir
Auburn. While the dead woman has
, been frequently referred to as Mrs
j, Lowell. the record at the Office of tho
Registor of Probate in this county
does not show that by any legal pro
cess, change from the name ol
/ ToWle to Lowell was effected.
MRS. TOWLE'S CAREER
The career of the murdered woman
has been somewhat unusual and has
attracted no little attention in Somer-
set County. She first came into the
melight in this section when she
married Nelson ToWle, veteran n
> the Civil War in MAY, 1919. 1t was
the third marriage venture for both
Mrs. Towle at the time of her mar
riage claimed that she was "A years
: old. while Mr.. Towle is now y. Inc
aged husband had been Ylng on a
farm in Cornyille and was called upon
one day by travelling crayon por-
: trait artist by the name of Dnflley. lie
learned that Mr. IoWlc Was DESTROYS
of a honsekeerer aud through h m q
meeting for the eX-soldier and the wo-
man now murdered was arranged. Az
. ter the woman had been employed Tor
=, time as honsckeeper and about two
months after the acquaintance was
formed tho couple were married Al
two different times Mr.. Towle ap-
In "a tsf "a