The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-08


conscious. Mother bathed his head in
cold water soon after that. ] asked her
what she had given him that he went to
sleep SO quick and she made no reply. She
then went after Mr.. Wise came back into
the room and Immediately after went up
stairs. When she came down she said it
he died she had killed him. "God forgive
me did not intend it." She said she had
given him morphine md taken dose her
self, and il he died she should die too. ]
then sent Sarah TOR DR.. Soon afterwards
DR.. came and ordered me to to make some
coffee for him. lie sent my husband to
Landing for stomach pump. ] waited
on him. Before made the coffee the DIR.
and husband assisted mother up stairs.
She had fallen upon the floor or chair.
DIR. Richards was unable to fix his stomach
pump and went to village for another hut
did not get one. We dill NIL we could for
him before he died. Ma did not come
down stairs before he died. She went up
stairs Immediately after the DR.. came.
Heard her vomiting up stairs. Sat. night
before he died Sunday ] saw mother in
possession OF morphine. She was in sitting
room. She compared it with Linscott's.
Never saw her with any at any other time.
Sunday A. NJ, saw cup on shelf in kitch.
en-; it was OH the highest shelf Took
cup down; white sugar was in il, and ac-
conlng to taste there was something else.
tnsted bitter. ! saw nothing besides SUI
gar. Never put the cup there nor before
saw its contents. 1 afterwards took down
the cup and shew it to DR.. Richards. lie
tusted il. got him piece Of paper and
he put part Of the contents in IL. Tho re-
mainder put in stove. had 10 previous
knowledge that the cup was there. Was
present at the nffair OF the bottle. When
father came home went out to chaise first
He was out of the chaise standing OH the
ground. Was well ut that time. Mother
came out behind me Went to chaisc.boX
and took out bottle Of brakes btiers;
looked ut il and threw Il at him. lie was
OF one side of the chaise and she on the
other. IIe had Just dropped tho chaise
arms. II struck him above the temple
breaking the bottle and knocking him back
senscless. Mother said nothing and left
for the house. went to him and lifted up
his head and remarked that / thought he
was dead. Several times ! spoke to him.
At first he made no reply. For while he
could not collect himself He went on to
linharncss his horse. The wound was bad
" swollen. lie did not have his senses
that night. Mother did nothing, made no
inquiries nor came to see him that night.
About midnight informed Him OF the
canse OF wound, when l went down stairs to
battle his head. Previous to death no had
not slept with mother. Once before that
first night he went to her room but could
not got in, and came back. No trouble that
week more than usual. Some time last sum
mer I heard her strike father up stairs. /
went up and sho struck him twice with
ruler. The blows drew blood on his fore.
head. The blows took away his senses. She
then retreated to her bedroom he followed
and struck her in the side with his hand.
Owen parted them. He fastened his Office
door She went after an axe. and said she
would kill him if she could get at him. She
told him to open the door, and he did 90.
She caught up mortar pestlo and went to-
wards him Owen took 1t away from her.
Last winter father fastened himself into his
There were three doors in tho room;
M stairs. There was an entry between his
room and mine. Sarah slept with me. Mrs.
s. slept down stairs in tho bedroom his
room was over the kitchen, and hers of the
sittingr room my room was over the sink
room. My father slept alone. On the day
previous he had been to the Port. Returned
homo Just at dark; camo homo alone; had
been drinking some. lie retired at 8 or o.
Mother and were up. knew at the time
hat no fastened tho doors, for got him
rope ut his request. saw him fastcn the
,thor two doors; door leading down front
stairs raw him fasten the other door he
put his knife over latch this door leads in
10 On adjoining room to mine i heard him
fasten the other door with rope. This was
before went to bed. ! lay down ON tho
outside of my bed soon after undreescd and
got into bed. Think Sarah was not asleep.
Mother went down stairs into sitting room
meanwhile. Household was Sarah, myself,
ather and mother. Next thing | heard was
mother cutting at the rope In the room; ]
think I had been asleep; got up; followed
her into his room. When I first saw her
tho was just going into his room. and asked
her what she was In there for; she raid she
wanted to SEQ his pocket-book to get what
money he had. She looked In his pocket.
book and then went down stairs; father was
.slesp; he breathed naturally. I then went
70 my room, partly undresscd and lay on
outside Of bed. Mother had light. Lit
nine afterwards. fell asleep; do not know
now long | slept when was awakened by
,roan from his room; went In. When
opened the door tho smell Of ether met me;
,dor considerable powerful. Mother had
ust stepped down front stairs. She had
,ottIe half full Of ether. Had cloth and
amp in one hand and bottle In tho other.
'Size bottle shown by witness.) Called
She wanted to know what wanted. asked
,cr what she was In there with ether for 7
She said she had none; but letting 20 the
ioor saw her slip the bottle into her pock-
i. She told mo to 20 back to bed. Did 80.
She went down stairs. Father asked me what
was the matter, before she opened the door.
Ny mother did not tell me, to my re-
about giving him morphine.
have heard mother say she would not
i've with him this winter unless he lcit oil
said she'd do something dies
I told her she'd better not threat
IN. She said she did not care-she'd do
desperate, IL she had TO die in
States prison. She said she'd be willing TO
lie there IL she killed him first. This was
about year ago.
AtAlired she spoke about my being o wit.
ness against her. She said ! needn't tell
,very instance against her. Told her that
should tell tho truth about Il and answer the
questions asked me. Father and mother did
not sleep together by night as q customary
hing for year or two before ho died. With
in year mother has said she did not love
father.
Cross ramined.-I am the wife Of Owen
Stevens. Married the Sd day Of July last.
Father was intoxicated the next day. Had
been drinking; was intoxicated on my mar.
rage day. went to Portland next day.
Wednesday, and came home Saturday. Bi.
On Trip was there when got home Satur.
Jay. Don't recollect where went on Sum
day. (IOoks at small daryl Staid at
home. Father had boon drinking; same