The Portland daily press., 1873-09-18
ATTEMPT AT MURDER.


About half past one yesterday afternoon an
Enclishman, named James Harkins, entered
the front yard of Mrs. Susan Berry, his moth
er-n-law who lives at No IA South street, and
deliberately shot his wife, who was engaged in
hanglug out clothes in the yard. 1t appears
that about two years ago Harkins, who was
widower, about q years of age, married a
Young Nova Scotia widow PANIED Rachael Nc
Kinney but 20 years of aSe, and who had one
child Before the first year of their welded
life had closed, his drunkenness and brutality
so thoroughly disguised the wife that she was
forced to leave him. At that time they were
residing in this city, and upon separating from
him she went to live with her mother, who re-
sided at No. IA South street. Harkins was
blacksmith by trade. and had worked for c. &
G. NJ. Stanwood, 173 Commercial street. In
February last he went to New Hampshire to
work, and the wife supposed she was rid of
him for good. She saw nothing of him since
until yesterday. when he suddenly appeared be :
fore her 10 the yard under the Influence of Ii
quor and asked her if she would live with him
again, declaring he would kill her if she refus
ed. She told him that he was drunk and had
better go away, and when he became sober she
would talk with him. She had barely got the
words out of her mouth before he drew a re-
voIver and fired. He was standing very close
to her at the time and she received the ball in
the upper part of the breast. After firing Har-
kins threw the pistol away and started upon
run up South street to Spring, and through
Spring to Oak, up Oak to Congress, and up
Congress to the City Hotel. Mr.. Edwin F.
Harmon of Buxton Centre, who was passing
down South street on the opposite side at the
time of the shooting, and who saw the act com
mtted, endeavored to stop Harkins as he came
out of the yard bnt without avail. He then
gave chase to him as fara Oak street Others
joined in the chase but Harkins eluded the N
all and went into the City Hotel at one door,
passing rapidly cut at another, and continued
his fight down Green street to cumberland,
and up Cumberland to Washington, and thence
to Walnut to his brothers residence, where he
was afterwards arrested by Deputy Marshal
Bridges and officer Horr. This rapid fl ght
through so many streets, for so l"ng distance
of course created good deal Of excitement as
people could not imagine what it was about.
The wounded woman was taken at once into
the house, and Drs. Weeks and Foster sum-
moned. Upon probing the wound it was found
that the ball had entered the lungs. The wo-
man might recover, but it would be impossible
to determine that fact until after twenty four
bonrs had passed.
The pistol was picked up by lad and hand
ded to DR.. Weeks, who delivered it to Marshal
Parker. The affair created an intense excite
ment in the vicinity where it occurred, and fol-
a long time after the shooting took place the
house, yard and street near by were thronged
! with men and women, who gave vent to the
| strongest feelings ag inst Harkins.
Harkins, upon being taken to the police sta
ton, though still laboring under the Influence
of liquor, was able to give coherent statement
of the affair. He says he loves his wife in
tensely, and her leaving him almost crazet
him; that last Christmas he threatened to shoe
her unless she returned to him; that he wen
to see her yesterday to try and induce her Il
live with him again, and acknowledges that b,
| told her that unless she would return to him HI
would kill her. Finding that she declined t.
s.ccede to his request he drew the pistol from
his pocket and shot her.