Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-07

stefan; practice in Winthrop; on Thurs
day, Dec. 80 1870 at about lf-past 8 in the
morning, received message that there had
been an afi'ray at Mr.. Whitmans, end that
Geo. Page was hurt | found Page totally
unconscious, and breathing very hard. The
/ Doctor described the wounds that were WISH
bic on the left arm, in the ear, on the neck,
etc.-all very slight. Found no fracture on
the head; suppose there was hemorrhage on
the brain, and thought he should be kept
quiet; examined his head minutely by cutting
off the hair, but found no bruises. Thought
in the course of the day that he could not live.
He died at about half past 3. [Then DIR.
Snow described very minutcly the manner OF
! proceeding with the post norton examination,
illustrating it to the jury by skull; also
infinitely describing the condition in which
| the skull of the deceased was found,-it
showing injuries sufficient to cause death.
The cause Of death was a fracture of the
| skull. The fracture must have been made
by pretty heavy blow on a particularly thin
part of the skull. There was a good amount
of hair on the head
| Cross Ex.-Thc man died of hemorrhage
on the brain caused by fracture of the skull.
4 &. Dunton, sworn, testified.-Am ply
siclan and practice in Winthrop; was called
to make post mortem examination of Geo.
Page, with Dr. Snow on the 10th Of Deem
| Der, 1870. Witness produced for illustra-
| ton the skull of the deceased man, and de-
scribed to the jury the fracture made upon it,
which caused death. The death was caused
by hemorrhage on the brain.
s-Ex.-I never before saw skull SO
thin as this.
The prosecution here closed its testimony
DEFENCE.
Mr.. Baker occupied about fifteen minutes
| in his opening for the defence, claiming that
| tAis is a case of justifiable homicide.
Increase Il. Watson, the defendant. sworn,
| testified been connected with Whit
mans shop about seven years; took charge
OF the woods shop in October last; it was not
allowable to use for firewood any lumber
that could be used for something else; Page
sometimes got waste stuff for wood; the 10Th
of December | entered upon the work of
cutting lumber for whcelbarrows; was at the
saw-table using this pattern, when Page
came in. That morning Mr. Page with
Lawrence came into the shop; Mr.. Lawrence
went to the stove; Mr.. Page came to the
aw-table, and taking up piece Of rock
maple joist, about six feet long, said-'.ihs
is a good piece to cut up" | told him had
laid it by for wheelbarrow hubs. He said he
should cut it up if he had a mind to. / told
him he should not cut it up. He struck at
me. and | received the most of the blow on
my arm. | did not want any trouble with
him, and retreated. felt blow on my leg
and one on my back, the one on my back
nearly knocking me down. We then clinched
and think | broke his hold before We Tell 10
the floor. Mr.. Nickles took him off, ana led
him by the collar to the end OF the saw
bench got up and saw my cap lying where
we first had the trouble. | went back ard
picked up my cap, thinking the trouble all
l .
Page passed me and said-''You have been
lying about me-" / said, Il have not" lie
said-"You are a Cd d--n liar" |
sai1-''You are one" He took up the bar
and said-"I will split your Cd d-n
brains OUT" Mr.. Wood took the bar from
him, and he turned on Wood and struck him
and he then turned again on me. struck
him with something had in my hand; | do
not know just what it was; it was something
had in my hand. | was afraid of him. Saw
pieces of iron within his reach. | did not
advance toward him. After | saw him raise
the bar, all the movements l have described
followed instantly. | never gave him occa-
sion to say had been lying about him.
Cross-Ex.-I was excited before Mr.. Nick
les took Page from me. Page stood an in
slant before he turned and knocked Wood
down. The piece of wood that Page wanted
TO saw might have been good for nothing but
for fuel, at one end; the most of il good
tor lumber. | cannot tell where struck
him he had turned fully round; he had
nothing in his hand,
Mr. Wood, called by def nee. Watson was
in the habit of taking this pattern wheel
barrow arm pattern shown when he went to
look for lumber.
Charles +. Pomeroy sworn, testifed.-I
married Mr.. Nicklc's daughter; | lived in the
ell of Mr.. Nickle's house. Tuesday or Wednes
day Of the week before this affair, | said to
Page-"George, what is the matter" He
SADLY atson has been lying about me-"
He said il he had any more trouble with him
he would Kill him. | said, 90, no, George,
you would not do that; they would hang you
OF send you to State Prison" He said, Il
don't care If | have to go to State Prison or to
he'll. tie was strong man; lie had bad
temper; he could not control his temper very
well. 1 helped remove his clothing after his
death in pocket found dirk and pair
of east-iron kuuckles; the blade OF the dirk
was three or four inches long. He would
take offence very quickly. | have known Mr..
Watson for four years; work under him.
never had any trouble with him; he is always
peaceable.
Cross Ex Never had any talk with Mr..
Nicklcs about what Page said about Watson.
Augustus Thompson, swo rn, testifed-I
worked in WhitmaNs shop last season |
once said to Page-"George, what is it?'
He said, That Cd Id Watson,-Ill kill
him deader than hell" This was Saturday
before the affair. Page had bad temper;
was quick Of motion and muscular. Never
saw or heard busthat Watson is peaceable
man.
Cross-ex -Told Watson the next day what
Page said about him.
George Towns, sworn, testified. - Was
Waterman for Mr. Whitman. One night as
went into the foundry as usual, Page said
Nv Watson has been lying about me- asked
what he had been saying. He said-"W atson
says have been taking wood he better look
out"
Franklin Wood, sworn, testified On the
morning of the ARRAY in the machine shop,
Page said Watson had been lying about him,
and if he ever had any trouble with him he
would kill him. This was between 20 and so
minutes before heard Page was killed.
Wesley Williams, sworn, testitied.-W ork-
ed for ii months for Whitman Heard Page
a week before the affray say-'lf break iron
10. day with Watson, shall kill him"
Cross Ex.--Page once struck me in the