Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-02
THE WINTHROP MURDER!
Verdict of the COrOner'S
Jury.
Further Particulars Of the ARRAY.

jury on the killing of the colored man, Page,
held at Winthrop on Saturday, resulted in
further Development of facts which give
very bad phase to the affair, to say the least.
1t is the province of newspaper in matters
of this kind, to give the facts, and leave the
given before and expounded by court of
justice but it is clear that the facts in the Win
throp affray are not at all flattering to the HUI
mainly of the man-slayer, or to those who
were present in the shop at the time of the
murder-as murder is the crime for which
Watson is to be tried. After the fatal blow
was struck, the dying man was left for some
time upon the floor of the shop, without any
attention. One Of the witnesses testified at
the first hearing, that he took hold of Page
and shook him, and then nent back to has
lcork. He lay on the floor for half an hour,
when one of the workmen asked what ought
to be done for him, but the other workmen in
the shop made no reply, and he calling on out
side help, this man was enabled to get the dy-
ing negro to house. If the witness told the
truth, such cold blooded inhumanity is past
accounting for.
Before the coroner's Jury on Saturday, Drs.
viously made a post morton examination of
the deceased, made a statement of the case.
They commenced by dividing the scalp over
the top of the head. On turning forward the
front ri af tho spalp tLara match of
coagulated blood between the scalp and the
Uranium, about four inches square, extending
over the left side and front of the head. CO.
aguum was about one-third of an inch in
thickness on an average. The top of the crani-
um was next removed, and two or three oun-
ces of semi-coag ,ilated blood found between
the inner surface of the Uranium and duya ma
ter. There was also an effusion of blood be-
meath the dura mater, and likewise between
the araehnoid and pia mater The vessels
of the pia mater were very much congested
over portion of the brain. There was also
a fracture of the temporal extending along the
sUture and into the frontal bone. There was
no appearance of disease in any of the other
hemorrhage on the brain, caused by single
fatal blow on the left side of the head.
VIM. II. Lawrence was recalled, and testi-
fed that Watson struck deceased twice at the
saw. Deceased at that time had no weapons.
Watson struck three times in all. Watson had
a weapon in his hand before they clinched,
and picked it up again after he was thrown by
Page. Mr.. Wood said he ''wished it had
killed him; if he had not killed him,
should"
Franklin Wood sworn, and testified Il was
at work in the shop on the day of the tragedy,
about eight o'clock in the morning. Page
picked up piece of wood to saw for the fire.
Watson told him he could not saw it, orhe had
he would saw it if he was mind to, and re-
pcated it two or three times. Then Page went
toward Watson, who retreated few steps,
telling him he could not saw it. The next l
saw of them they were clinched together;
Page threw Watson on to the saw table after
a struggle there they both went ON to the floor,
Page uppermost. spoke to Mr.. Nickles, that
he had better take him off. Mr.. Nickles went
and took him off of Watson; Mr.. Nickles and
Page both went to the end of the shop where
was at work; Mr.. Nickles said he would
have no such work in the shops Page said in
reply he didn't want any trouble with him, but
was going to give Watson some. Nickles told
him he could not do it; they then became
r Ia a..
heard loud talk again; Watson came. to that
part of the shop where l was at work, and re-
manned there. Both commenced to talk in an
angry manner; Page turned round and pick
edup cutter bar; Watson had the wheelbar-
row arm in his hand; when Page raised the
iron in position to strike, Watson put HIM
self in the same position with the wheelbar
row arm. While in that position l went up
behind Page and took the iron from him; he
then turned upon me and struck me in my
face with his fist did not knock me down but
stunned me seme. l then heard blow,
heavy one; did not see. saw Page falling;
saw Watson with the wheelbarrow side in his
hands. Page fell slow, and gasped while fall
ing, anu III IalllnS struck tne mortclDg ma
chine, aud then slid down on the floor After
took the iron from Page he did not strike me
until had time to turn around and lay the
iron down.
At the close of the testimony, the jury re-
turned verdict that George Page came to his
death by blow on the head with stick of
wood called wheelbarrow arm, inflicted by
Increase Il. Watson, causing fracture of the
scull, and hemorrage on the brain. The YER
diet is signed by VIM. II. Libby, Coroner, and
the following jury: Levi Jones, r. T. Jones,
f. II. Mcintyre, Geo. A. Longfellow, Amos
Wheeler, and G. p. Whiting.
Mr.. Watson was then arrested and placed in
custody of the proper officers; He will be ex-
amined before Justice Woodward, at Win
throp, this morning at ten O'Clock, County At
torney Whitehouse appearing for the govern
ment, and f. o. Bean, Esq, for the defence.