Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-22
The Midway Murderer.

| the MedWay Muroefexs
William PanRburn, the old man who murdered
his wife in Midway last Saturday night, was in
Jail for the first time IN his life Monday night. The
hours passed uncomfortably with him; be could
not sleep, and was up and down half dozen times
from midnight till daylight he disturbed prisoners
in cells adjacent by his pitful means and groan-
ing. All day yesterday he was very Respondent
and hopeless; he has grown very weak, having
eaten nothing since last Saturday. He says he
has no appetite, but thinks II NAV come to him az
ter while.
| Yesterday afternoon he was visited by the same
representative of this paper IS had called on him
the previous evening, but he had quite forgotten
the interview. When informed that the substance
of his statement had been printed he expressed a
desire to have it read to him which was done, his
| eyesight being poor. During the reading he fire.
quently nodded assent. while by mighty effort he
seemed to control an inward agony that only found
vent in his mostened eyes and an occasional ejac-
| ulation. At the conclusion he said his words had
been fairly stated, and confirmed the correctness
| of the report.
A number Of people had been in to see him, he
| said, and everyb body had been very kind. Among
| the callers were two or three lawyers, but he did
not know as he wanted one If he.d did his mind
| was not right enough to talk withsone. He said
that be had not felt right all dayrbVe few min
utes before the reporter called, kbffis mind was
clear and it seemed to him though he could re.
| member everything. Now it was al indistinct
again lie had been wondering, be said. how it
could have possibly happened His wife had been
unwell, and he remembers of asking her if she
thought she would be able to 60 the river to
church with him next day. Everything up to the
time of going to sleep he can recall. After that
all is uncertain. 81 couldn't have had strength to
lift an axe over her,-it would have dropped out
of my hands" he said
"Who, then, could have done it !" was asked.
THAT is the thing; there was nobody else to do
struck her it would have woke me up. If there
had only been some one to speak word to me
should have come out of it..
"There is not money enough in all the world, or
any other temptation, that could make me do such
q thing to any human being If l knew it, much
less to her," he said.
but it was in evidence that she told her sister
only Saturday that she feared for her life, sug-
gested the reporter.
Then why didn't she sleep Alone and make up
bed for me somewhere else :" was the quick
spouse. "She never went to bed more willingly
in her life. If she was afraid, somebody had told
her lies. There was another thing at the exami-
nation that remember now, where it was sworn
| said shouldn't have wife long. don't think
l ever said it,
When asked about the axe he said he had
idea where he got it from; he never saw it before
the time he came to himself and saw it lying in
front of the bed. Alter he called in Mr.. Jones he
went back into the room and sat down on the edge
of the bed again. "If had known what l had
or if meant to do it, wouldn't have tried to es
capes Isn't that the way murdcrers do p he
asked.
At one moment he would speak of the disgrace
of being handcuffed and brought TO jail he was;
the next it would call tears to his eyes he
thought of his wife, and from talking clearly and
lucidly he would seem somewhat incoherent in his
ideas, as if oppressed with a great burden the
cause Of which he could neither remove nor I'M
derstand. Once Or twice he limited at the posi-
bilny of his not living many days, and when told
he must have better courage he said he supposed
he should 60 out again sometime, either dead or
alive.
While talking Mr.. Pangburn was lying on his
bsd his head propPed up Sy pillows and his hands
ON would heave but without the audible groan
that seemed about to follow, and altogether he
was most pitiable objcct.-[ Wing. DIST