Middlesex County Newspaper Abstracts

Railroad Mercury (Groton Junction), 12 September 1961

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN TOWN
A terrible murderous transaction occurred in this town on Thursday afternoon [September 5] last, resulting in the death of two individuals. It appears that one Augustus Read, who belongs to Dunstable, was in the employ of Mr. A. H. Fuller, drawing wood from his lot near "Community Village," so called, between the Junction and Groton Centre. Reed was on his return to the wood lot when one Charles Messer asked him for a ride. Reed took him into his cart and they went off. On arriving at the lot, Reed asked Messer to give him a lift and help load the wagon. Messer declined, when Reed insisted, and they soon got involved in a dispute which led to blows. Messer turned to leave, Reed following him, when Messer immediately drew a bowied knife (one belonging to his son, a returned volunteer) and rushed upon him, stabbing him in three places, and in the back. Reed then returned to his cart in a high state of excitement, declaring to an Irishman who was at work with him, that he would finish the devilish rascal; so snatching up a bludgeon he hurried after Messer, and struck him with such tremendous force as to break his skull, killing him almost instantly. In the mean time the Irishman, much frightened, had fled for assistance, and soon brought back some persons to hand. Reed immediately gave himself up to the authorities and was taken to the residence of his mother, in a weak state. His wounds being of a dangerous character, he gradually failed and died on the following morning. Reed and Messer, both, had been drinking freely; so, again, we have another shocking fact to record, of two men at the head of families murdering each other from the most trivial cause, while under the influence of liquor!

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN TOWN

A terrible murderous transaction occurred in this town on Thursday afternoon [September 5] last, resulting in the death of two individuals. It appears that one Augustus Read, who belongs to Dunstable, was in the employ of Mr. A. H. Fuller, drawing wood from his lot near "Community Village," so called, between the Junction and Groton Centre. Reed was on his return to the wood lot when one Charles Messer asked him for a ride. Reed took him into his cart and they went off. On arriving at the lot, Reed asked Messer to give him a lift and help load the wagon. Messer declined, when Reed insisted, and they soon got involved in a dispute which led to blows. Messer turned to leave, Reed following him, when Messer immediately drew a bowied knife (one belonging to his son, a returned volunteer) and rushed upon him, stabbing him in three places, and in the back.

Reed then returned to his cart in a high state of excitement, declaring to an Irishman who was at work with him, that he would finish the devilish rascal; so snatching up a bludgeon he hurried after Messer, and struck him with such tremendous force as to break his skull, killing him almost instantly.

In the mean time the Irishman, much frightened, had fled for assistance, and soon brought back some persons to hand. Reed immediately gave himself up to the authorities and was taken to the residence of his mother, in a weak state. His wounds being of a dangerous character, he gradually failed and died on the following morning.

Reed and Messer, both, had been drinking freely; so, again, we have another shocking fact to record, of two men at the head of families murdering each other from the most trivial cause, while under the influence of liquor!

Submitted by Janice Farnsworth

1861 Newspaper Abstracts
Middlesex County Massachusetts

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