The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-21


a Philips correspondent i the Lewiston
New Sharon tragedy, which differs in some
particulars from previous reports:
The shooting affair at New Sharon, Satur-
day evening, the 18th inst, was peculiarly
lamentable affair tor various reasons. Both the
deceased, John S. Tolman, aud the man who
shot him, John Fletcher, were very respecta-
BILE citizens, having respectable families, aud
lived in the same northumberland the fact
that Mr.. Tomau was shot down in bis own
house, IN the presence OF large and affec ion
ale family, renders the affair doubly painful.
He was SO years OF age, had by his own indus
try accumulated property worth S15. COO. H ns
brother, Ezekiel Tolman, a bachelor OF Oh
years OF age, has always lived with John. ine
facts as elected at the Inquest are suostah''ar
ly these:
Ezekiel had been sued on bond, which ne
claimed was written not ia accordancs win
the agreement of the parties, ana theIelo'e ue
refused TO fulfil, but Judgment had peen o.
taine,I in the suit against him, and on the dav
nj The calamity, one G G. Brown, a deputy
sheriff. went 10 arrest Ezekiel on the execu.
| ton. but he and his brother John resisted The
officer, and went into the chamber of he hon %
AID with weapons kept the off er at bay. The
officer then Went To New oharou Village.
ABOUT TWO miles ont, in the evening. The Con.
staoie, fietcher, arrived at the house with a
posse OF SIX or seven persons, claiming that he
hau warrant against both John and Ezekiel,
aud arrested John, bur belug allowed 10 eat
his supper, &c., be aud EZEKIEL went into the
chamuer again 10 dele themselves On the
stairs. They repeatedly told the officer and
his posse that they would appear at The village
the next Monday tnorning, and settle the mat
ter, or give themselves up, and that the Con-
stable might drive Oft enough of their stock 10
secure the tulflment of heir promise, but the
| constable wonld not consent to that.
They finally 'ered iuto an agreement that
| they would cone down from the chamber, aud
that tbose below would not touch or lay hands
of the m n grappled hold OF each, and they re-
sisted. Fletcher and three of his aids caught
| hold OF John, aud duiing The Struggle, f etcb-
| er stI ucb b. N with stick OF stove WOOD on the
| bead, ipflcting frisbttul wound, laying the
| skull entirely bare tor PIP inches. Soon al
| ter, while The three aid. bad him by the arms
hold my him, Fletcher drew revolver from his
| pocket and Fl ed at him, while standing seve-
raj feet from him, the ball entering at the groin
| They then let &c of him and ran out Of the
door His family placed him on the bed, and
| he died iU Two or three inmates.
| During the fray Ezekiel had got bis knife
| rom his pocket anu Inflicted wound upon
| the hand OF one Davis, who was choking bin
upou the floor. The blood from che wounds oil
the knife, and bullet. presented sickenipg
encot"cte, never to be forgotten by those who
| witnessed 1t.
MIR. Fleteher's friends claim that the forego.
| ing IS not true version of the affai :, bot that
the pistol was fired in self.defeuce, and there
is a great discre papcy in the story OF the re.
spective parties. On recommendation of the
ceronei's jury, who gave verdict that Toll
man was. shot by Fletcher, Fletcher was ar
rested and gave bail in the sum OF $4,000.
There are reports in circulation Which reflect
| severely upon Mr.. Flecher's aids. II was les
| titled that they thI eatened 10 buru The house
and some of Them even went around on the
| outside to look for a chance to & ndle fire.
But how much the evidence on the trial may
differ from the foregoing, it is impossible now
to tell. Toe affair has cast gloom over the
county, and the family of the deceased and
that of Mr.. Fletcher, have the sympathy of The
| whole community.