The Portland daily press., 1875-07-20
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS In MAINE
The Midway Murder!
Details of a Horrible Crime.
A MAN Chops His XNife's Head Nearly of
Woman-His Account Of the fair, etc.

BANGOR, July 19-Between o'clock Satur-
day night and daylight Sunday morning a
most horrible murder was committed in the
town of Midway A man named VIM. Pang-
burn, aged 50 years, killed his wife, 81 years
old, nearly severing her head from her body
with an axe as she lay asleep in bed.
The execution of the deed caused no noise,
and others sleeping in the next room were I'M
disturbed by any movement or outcry. Pang-
burn made no attempt TO escape and at day
light was found sitting in the doorway. He
directed the attention of the people in the
house to the room where his wife lay dead, and
it was not till three or four hours had elapsed
that he was taken into custody, having re-
NAMED about the place the whole time, SEEM
ing hardly to aprpehend what had occurred.
This morning a preliminary examination
took place resulting in his being fully COM
mitted!for trial at the August term and on
this evenings train he was brought to Jail in
this city. The material evidence elected at the
examination showed that he frequently quar-
relied with his wife, that he had recently
threatened her, and that she had told her SIS
ter with whom they were boarding, Mrs. Jones,
that she was afraid of her life.
In an interview with Wing and Courier re-
porter this evening, Pangburn talked freely of
the affair. He said he and his wife retired at
O'Clock Saturday night, and for some time
| were talking pleasantly together of house
(which he had rented and into which they were
to move very shortly The next he remembers
is that he was sitting on the front edge of the
had having to on tho hack side He
has no idea whether he had been there half an
hour or three hours, and as he gradually came
to himself, by the light of the moon he dis
covered an axe lying on the floor by the side OF
the bed, and wondered how it came there.
Next he noticed how pale his wife was, her
face being turned towards him. He went up
to her, put his hand on her head and found
it was cold. He did not notice any blood, and
picking up the axe carried it out of the room.
When Mr.. Jones got up to kinile fire shortly
after. Pangburn sent him into the room where
the body of his wife was lying. The head was
nearly severed from the body, having been
struck at the base of the brain. He says he
must have thought he was fighting some wild
beast to strike such a blow. He says he does
not think any one else could have done it, but
has no recollection of participation in the trag-
edy, for which he expresses the greatest sorrow,
saying he would not have had it happen
for the whole world
The murdered woman was his second wife,
by whom he had nine children, six of whom
are now living. He formerly. lived in Mon
quart parish of Kent, N. B., but for the last
two years has been in Midway and Vim.
Since last March, he has been at his old home.
| where he has some property, and had some
business affairs to settle, and he only returned
to Midway last Friday. He says his wife was
good woman and that they never had any
serious trouble, and that he loved her. While
jealousy is assigned as the cause by his family
connections and neighbors, the attendant Cir
| cumstances are of such peculiar character as
to strongly suggest insanity.
Pangburn if man of good height, has near
| ly white hair and face that is not unprepo-
sessing, while in general man ten or twelve
years younger than his actual years.
Accident to a Belfast Vessel
OAK BLUFFS, July 19.-The schsoners JOSH
in, Getchell, of and from Belfast for Rondout
with cargo of stones, and Jesse Williamson,
Jr., Stewards, from Port johnson of and for
Portsmouth with coal, were in collision off Rob
inson's Hole, Vineyard Sound this morning.
The Joshin was cut down to the waters edge,
forward, losing bet bowsprit and all her head
| gear, cat -heads, knight-heads, bulwarks, sc.
The Jesse Williamson, Jr., lost her bowsprit,
headgear, cutwater and started her water ways,
The Williamson towed the Joshin to this port,
where both vessels will repair
Especial to the Press1
Anti-POwers Delegates i'm Dover.
BANGOR, July 19.-The Republicans of Dover
held their caucus to choose delegates to the
Congressional Convention, Saturday evening.
Although the friends of Mr.. Powers had the
caucus called several miles from the village, it
was one of the largest ever held in the town.
The following named delegates were chosen by
a vote of SO to %: S. A. Brown, G. S. Lougee,
Edwin Lambert, D. E. Dinsmore. They are
for "anybody to beat Powers
Saved from Suicide.
Howard Kingsbury, druggists clerk, made
most deliberate attempt at suicide at the
boarding house of Mrs. Powers, on Hammond
street. yesterday afternoon. He swallowed
about 30 grains of morphine donned his best
suit of clothes and stretched himself upon the
bed to die, with his hands folded over his
breast. A friend happened in as Kingsbury
was nearly gone, summoned a doctor and the
poison was pumped out The would-be suicide
left several letters on his table directed to va
rious persons, which stated that he committed
the deed on account of "fancied wrongs"
Many who are intimate with him think the
daughter of his boarding mistress was the
cause Of the act. Kingsbury's father is
prominent dentist in Philadelphia.
Burglary.
BDDEFoRD, July 19.-Burglars entered the
store of j. w. Stockman of Biddeford, and
carried off about $40 worth of cigars, between
Saturday night and Monday morning.
Maine Schooner Sunk
VINEYARD HAVEN, July 19.-Schooner Will
lie Harris of Machias, Maine, from Port John
son for Salem with coal, was run irto and
sunk Saturday night at midnight in Vineyard
Sound by the schooner Narragansett of Will
mington, Del. The schooner remained above
water half an hour, giving the crew an oppor-
tunity to get away in their boats. The schoon-
er lies in about ten fathOms and mastheads out
of water, andis i'll a dangerous position for
passing vessels. Gay Head light bears from
the wreck southwest and Tarpaulln Cove Light
northeast by NORTH about three and half
miles. The schooner is insured.