Mary Elvira TREFETHEN0132
(02 April 1810 - 23 January 1899)
Married Seth STERLING & William Sterling TARLTON


PARENTS: William TREFETHEN0104 (11 October 1761 - 1812) and Susan RANDALL
(Transcribed from the New Hampshire Gazette, 28 January 1899 by Glenn Bailey)

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

An Aged And Respected Lady of Kittery Murdered.

Mrs. Mary E. Tarlton, aged eighty-eight, a widow woman, of Kittery, was found at her home at 4:35 on Monday afternoon in an unconscious condition [lying] on the floor in a pool of blood and with a number of horrible cuts and bruises about the face and head.

Shortly before she was found Frank Parks of Kittery, who bears a bad reputation, was seen to jump through one of the kitchen windows of the house and dart down street.

George A. Williams, a well-known employe[e] of the navy yard, saw him come through the window and at once gave chase, but young Parks was a swift runner and soon eluded him.

Parks’ object was robbery, as it was reported that Mrs. Tarlton had considerable money in the house and as she lived alone he had planned to rob her. She was a remarkably well preserved woman for her years and from the appearance of the room she gave him a warm battle.

Frank Parks, the young man charged with the crime, is now under arrest.

Town Wild With Excitement.

The town of Kittery has during its history witnessed many exciting scenes, but Monday evening eclipsed everything on record.
The news that a terrible crime had been committed - that one of the old and respected citizens of the town had been almost murdered by a ruffian, spread from house to house and in less than half an hour the main street, from the Piscataqua house to the home of the near-by murdered woman - Mrs. Mary Tarlton, situated on a lane off Government street, was thronged with excited people, all anxious to assist in the capture of the criminal who had committed the dastardly deed.
One of the first, and the first reporter to reach the scene of the crime, was a representative of the Gazette and when he arrived at the Tarlton house there was a crowd in front and all were engaged in rehearsing the [and] details of the work of the fiend who had inflicted the wicked looking cuts and bruises upon the body of old Mrs. Tarlton.
When the Gazette man entered the housa a ascene of confusion met his eye, but after offering a few suggestions the excited throng of people within the house were able to render valuable assistance to Dr. Shapleigh, who was busy attending to Mrs. Tarlton’s wounds.
The Gazette man suggested that the kitchen, with its horrible scene of blood stained ceilings and furniture, remain undisturbed until the authorities gave the order, and then caused the kind-hearted women to cease their work of covering up the evidence of the crime by removing all the implements used by the murderer and the ruin he had done to everything in the room.
Through the thoughtfulness of Dr. Shapleigh a number of hot water bags were immediately obtained from the neighbors and as sonn as he had applied restoratives the unconcious woman regained consciousness and recognized the doctor and told of her suffering.

Told The Gazette Representative How He Struck Her.
To the Gazette man she described her assailant and said he had struck her with a syrup bottle on the head.
She said he came to the back door and she let him in, but could not tell his name. He had a dark mustache and was a young man.

The Scene of Horror.
The kitchen of the Tarlton house was bespattered with blood from the floor to the ceiling. Under the table, just inside the door, was a bottle which contained pieces of flesh from the face of the victim. Behind the sofa was a common butcher knife, which also contained blood.
A can of raspberry preserves had been smashed and covered the space in front of the stove.
The almost lifeless body of the woman was found just in front of the stove, in a pool of blood, and kind-hearted neighbors had removed her to a sofa in the same room soon after she was found.
Her head was a mass of cuts and bruises, while her face had been hammered almost to a jelly.
Her left eye had been gouged out and horrible gashes extended from either corner of her mouth to her ears.
Her hands wer slashed and cut as if she had grabbed hold of a knife which the would be murderer had used.

From The Man Who Saw Parks.
George A. Williams, whose premises adjoin those of Mrs. Tarlton, saw the murder make his escape from the Tarlton house and tried to catch him. Mr. Williams was interviewed by a Gazette reporter at his home very shortly after the discovery of the terrible crime. He said: “When I came home about half-past four o’clock my wife told me that a half-hour previous she had seen a young fellow acting suspiciously about the Mrs. Tarlton’s house. He had appeared drunk. She thought that I ought to go down and see if things were all right.
“We have always been solicitous about Mrs. Tarlton’s welfare, living, as she did, all alone and being of such an advanced age. So I went down to her house at once. I could not open the back door. I rapped upon it several times and finally Mrs. Tarlton called from within ‘The door is locked, Mr. Williams.’ Thinking that she might have had a fainting spell, I went across to Frank Kuse’s to get Mrs. Kuse to come over. I had hardly got the other side of the fence when I heard a great smashing of window glass back at the Tarlton house.
“I turned and hurried that way and saw a young chap coming out through one of the dining room windows. He made off through the yard as fast as he could go. I pursued him, but he had too much of a start and outstripped me. While chasing him up the street, I met James Boardman, and asked him who this fellow was. “‘It’s Frank Parks,’ said Boardman, ‘Why, what’s he done?’
“I told him that the fellow had just broken out of Mrs. Tarlton’s house. Then we went back there and found the old lady lying in the kitchen.”

The Capture of Parks.
As soon as possible after the crime was discovered and it had become know that young Parks was implicated in the affair, a searching party was organized to capture him. On a call for volunteers some forty young men, and old, most of them residents of Kittery, stepped forward and offered their services.
This strong party, armed with revolvers and clubs, and headed by Constables Perkins and Lambert, started for the home of young Parks, which is in a lonely, out-of-the-way place in the northern part of the town. He was known to have gone in that direction, as he was seen by several townspeople.
Conductor Thomas E. Wilson of the P.K. & Y. electric road, saw him go over the hill towards that part of the town called “Shantyville,” and disappear in Spinney’s woods. The searching party divided up into several squads, and each headed by a responsible party, scoured the woods thoroughly, all the time approaching nearer and closing in around his home.
Some one must have been on the watch, for no sooner did the first party come in sight of the house than Parks was seen to leave by a rear door and start across the fields. He was quickly headed off, and seeing escape cut off in that direction, turned back and re-entered the house.
In a short time the building was surrounded by a silent, but grim and determined crowd of men, who cut off every avenue of escape. Constables Perkins and Lambert then started for the door, but before they got there it was thrown open and Mr. Parks, father of the boy, stepped out and said: “He is in there, go in and get him.”
The two constables and Mr. Elroy Cottle went into the room and without any trouble, slipped the iron bracelets on the wrists of the suspected man. He made no resistance, but seemed to be in a kind of drunken stupor.
He did not deny committing the crime, but talked in a maudlin manner all the way to the town lockup. Arriving there, he was searched, but beyond a half pint bottle of liquor, nothing was found on his person.
He was left in irons and two keepers, William Jackson and George Chickering, placed guard over him. A crowd of several hundred people surrounded the lockup, and numerous threats were made, but it was among the younger element, and they soon dispersed.
This is not the first time that Parks has been in the clutches of the law, he having served three different times in the Alfred jail. The police of this city have a warrant for his arrest, and have been looking for him for some time past, but he had always kept on the other side of the river.
Mr. Clarence M. Prince, the well-known provision dealer, says that Parks has followed him a number of times when he wa[s shutting] his store, and he always thought that perhaps he was looking for a chance to rob him, as at times he carried a considerable amount of money with him.

Sketch of the Victim.
Mrs. Tarlton was a most estimable woman and was extremely well liked by all her neighbors. She has one son, Mr. Seth Sterling, and one daughter Mrs. Emily Morse, resideing in Kittery, both of whom were nearly prostrated with grief over the terrible affair. She also had two daughters residing in other cities: Mrs. Charles Rollins of Haverhill and Mrs. Abbie Ferrie [Ferris?] of Fort Schuler, New York.
She has one sister, Mrs. Abbie TREFETHEN, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. William B. Rand, on Green street in this city. On account of Mrs. TREFETHEN’s advanced age, she having celebrated her ninety-third birthday last week, she was not told of the terrible crime on Monday evening.

Mrs. Tarlton Dies.
Mrs. Mary Elvira Tarlton died from the injuries received at the hands of Frank Parks shortly after one o’clock on Tuesday afternoon. She did not regain consciousness after midnight and slowly faded away until death released her from all future suffering. Parks will now have to answer to the charge of murder.
Before she lost consciousness for the last time she conversed with her son, Mr. Seth Sterling, for several minutes. She told him that after Parks had entered the house he choked her and then threatened to kill her if she did not give him all the money she had.
This frightened her so that she took down a small black walnut box containing a little over twenty dollars and gave him. The small box was still lying on the table in the kitchen on Tuesday evening when a Gazette representative called at the house. Mrs. Tarlton soon relapsed into unconsciousness again, which ended in her death as above stated.

Committed to Alfred Jail.
Word was received from County Soli[c]itor W.S. Mathews of Berwick that he had another case on hand and consequently could not be in Kittery Tuesday. He gave orders not to have the evidence of the crime disturbed at the Tarlton house and instructed that Parks be arraigned before a trial justice without bail, there to await the result of Mrs. Tarlton’s injuries. At nine o’clock Parks was brought before Judge Neal at the latter’s residence. He appeared to be unconcerned at what was going on and paid more attention to the irons on his wrists than anything else. Jidge Neal read tow warrants before him, one charging him with intent to kill and the other aggravated assault with intent to commit robbery. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and outside of the plea the only thing he could be induced to say was: “I know nothing about it.” Judge Neal ordered that he be taken to Alfred to await the result of Mrs. Tarlton’s injuries. Constable Perkins took his prisoner to the Kittery Junction depot in a team and boarded the 10 o’clock train for the east. Parks was without counsel and the only friend he appeared to have in the world was his father who bade him good bye and handed him a sum of money.

The County Takes Up The Case.
County Attorney William B. Matthews of Berwick arrived in the town on the Flying V[...], accompanied by Coroner Freeman C. Ham of South Berwick on Tuesday. They were quickly driven to the house where the crime was committed and took charge of the [...].
The work of empanelling a jury was the first thing on the docket and the following gentlemen were sworn to serve on the same: Daniel A. Hall, Nathaniel Milliken, Isaac Lambert, John W. Green, Elroy Cottle, and Moses A. Safford, all of Kittery.
It was a weird sight and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry by those who were in the little room.
Undertaker Ham of this city held a small kerosene lamp, which threw out a dim and uncertain light, while the six jurymen went silently about their work of examining all the gruesome details in the little ten by twelve kitchen. The bloddy butcher knife, which is one of the implements it is thought that Parks used when he committed his awful assault on the old lady, still lay on the floor back of the lounge, and was carefully examined by the jury.
After thoroughly examining every little detail in the room and getting every scrap of evidence, the jury proceeded to the sitting room and looked that over. The window where Parks made his escape from the house was pointed out and County Attorney Matthews ordered Constable Perkins to have the sash removed just as it was and kept for evidence.
The bloody butcher knife, and the remnants of the bottle which was also used in the murderous assault, were carefully done up and placed in the hands of the constable.

Daughter Reads Awful News in the Papers.
Mrs. Tarlton’s daughter, Mrs. Charles Rollins, who lives in Haverhill, was telegraphed to come here soon after the crime was discovered, but was not told what had happened. She took the first train on Tuesday morning for Newburyport, where she had to wait over an hour for a train to this city. While in the waiting room there she heard some ladies talking of the horrible crime committed in Kittery. Becoming interested in the matter, but never suspecting the truth, she purchased a Boston paper. What was her horror to see in big headlines of the brutal assault committed on her aged and beloved mother? What anguish must she have gone through while waiting for a train on the journey, hoping that it was some terrible mistake or that it was not near so bad as pictured? She arrived at the old homestead in time to see her mother before she breathed her last, but was never recognized.
The other daughter from Fort Schuyler, N.Y., was also called home, and was expected on the Pullman on Tuesday evening. It was a sad gathering of these children of an honored and beloved mother and they have the heartfelt sympathy of everyone in this vicinity.

TREFETHEN Arrested and Released.
Charles TREFETHEN, who was with Parks on the day that the awful crime was committed, was arrested about 9:30 Tuesday by Constable Perkins, and placed in the lockup for safe keeping over night.
Next morning he was given a strict examination by the county attorney, but as it was found that TREFETHEN had nothing whatever to do with the crimes, he was released on his own recognizance as a witness in the case.
TREFETHEN is a drinking man, but is not malicious when under the influence of liquour, but was unfortunate enough to be with the murderer on the day the deed was committed.

The Inquest.

The coroner’s inquest was held at the Kittery lockup Tuesday forenoon behind barred doors, and not one word was given out for publication.
A Gazette representative called upon Moses A. Safford, Esq., one of the jury, but this gentleman declined to divulge any of the proceedings, as County Attorney William B. Matthews had deemed it best not to have any of the terrible facts placed before the public just yet.
The witnesses at the inquest that morning were as follows: George A. Williams, one of the first men to enter the house after the terrible deed was committed, and who saw Parks come out through the window and run up the street; Mrs. McDuffie, of Rochester, who is living at Mr. Seth Sterling’s home, son of Mrs. Tarlton, the victim; James K. Boardman, the brave young man who assisted in the capture of Parks; Seth Sterling, the grief stricken son of Mrs. Tarlton; Charles TREFETHEN, who was with parks on the day of the murder; and George W. parks, father of the assasin. County Attorney Matthews adjourned the inquest until Saturday next at [eleven] o’clock, when the remainder of the witnesses will be examined, but returned to his house in [Berwick] on the ten o’clock [train]. Coroner Freeman C. Ham [of South Berwick] went to his [house] in the afternoon. Frank Parks will be brought to Kittery next Saturday from the Alfred jail, when he will be re-arraigned on the charge of murder.

NOTES.
It is learned that Monday Parks spent the afternoon with a man known as Jummer TREFETHEN; and that Parks [met] Samuel Johnson at Kittery Junction and licked him until he gave him $1 to stop. He also tried to have a fight with Station Agent Damon at the Junction, but Damon kept in his office away from him.
Parks has never been known to have done but a half day’s work, and yet he always had plenty of money. At one time, when chickens were being stolen all about town, he was detected by a young man named Sterling, grandson of Mrs. tarlton, who had him arrested and he served time for it.
A crowd of several hundred people was at the ferry landing when the crowd returned from the scene of the crime.
Mrs. Frank Kuse and Mrs. Isaac Lambert were among the first persons to reach the scene.
Mrs. J.W. Richardson and other ladies rendered valuable assistance at the house. Constable John perkins found a number of citizens anxious and willing to assist. The prompt work of the local authorities was praiseworthy.
Mrs. Tarlton lived in a most pleasantly situated cottage.
The county attorney was notified on Monday evening.

Again from Glenn Bailey:
I have had a chance to rummage in my Sterling notes and confirmed that Seth B. STERLING, was born on Monhegan Island, in 1809, son of John Sterling & Patience Brow (grandson of Josiah Sterling & Mary TREFETHEN), married his first-cousin once-removed, Mary Elvira TREFETHEN, and
“... was lost overboard from the schooner Experiment, in 1835, off Cape Sable. He was 25 years of age and left a widow, Mary TREFETHEN, at Portsmouth, with two sons, Thomas and Seth” (Nathan Goold, A History of Peaks Island and Its People, Portland, ME (1897)).
SOURCES:
  • 36. TREFREN, Leitha S.1321- Correspondence, 135 Clover Lane; Medford, Oregon 97501. Leitha passed away during February, 2001
  • 58. STERLING, John- Correspondence, 10 Signal Ridge Way; E. Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818
  • 133. Vital Records of Kittery, Maine to the year 1892; Maine Historical Society, Picton Press 1991.
  • New Hampshire Gazette, 28 January 1899
  • Nathan Goold, A History of Peaks Island and Its People, Portland, ME (1897)



    • Updated March 27, 2021 by Andrew Trefethen
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