The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-22
Murder of a Wife.

Murder of a Wife.
On Sunday the inhabitants of Midway
and vicinity We're Mortified at the dlscov-
cry of murder which had been commit
ted in their midst over n ght. The victim
was n woman sixty-one years old; the
perpetrator her husband, man her SEN
ior by twenty-one years. The details OF
this uNoricide by an octogenarian are sut-
ficiently sickening to crafty the most
morbid taste for tragedy, while the case
presents many circumstances OF a most
unusual if not inexplicable character.
The name of the man who committed
the crime is William Pangburn, aged
eighty-two the 10th of March last His
wife was boarding or living with her Sis
ter, Mrs Mary Jane Jones, and he had
only returned from the Provinces on Fri
day last, where he had been since last
March. lie stayed with his wife on Fri
day night; on Saturday he visited several
people III the vicinity, returning TO the
house Of Mr.. Jones, and Saturday night
Mr.. and Mrs. Pangburn retired in good
season. When Jones got up Sunday
morning to kindle the fire, he found
Pangburn already up, by whom he was
told to go into the bedroom. Mrs Pang-
burn was found dead in bed, with her
head nearly severed by blow from an
axe, struck at the back OF her neck. Di
rectly after the discovery the household
was thrown into the greatest confusion,
and as the terrible news passed rapidly
through the town the widest excitement
prevailed 1t was not till three or four
hours had elapsed, however, that any
movement was made Ior the arrest OF
Pangburn, who remained about the place
without showing any desire to make his
escape, and when taken into custody did
not offer the slightest resistance.
The execution of the deed caused no
noise, and others sleeping in the next
room were undisturbed by any movement
or cutlery Pangburn made no attempt
to escape and at daylight was found sit
ting in the doorway. lie directed the at
tention OF the people in the house to the
room where his wife lay dead, and it was
not till three OF four hours had elapsed
that he was taken into custody, having re-
manned about the place the whole time
seeming hardly to apprehend what had
occurred.
This morning 4 preliminary examine
ton took place resulting in his being fully
committed 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 quarrelled with his wife,
that he had recently threatened her, and
that she had told her sister with whom
they were boarding. Mrs. Jones, that She
was afraid Of her lite
In an interview with 4 Wing and Cou-
rler reporter this evening Pangburn talked
freely Of the affair. He said he and his
wife retired at 8 O'Clock S5s,tul, day mig lit,
and Tor some time were talking pleasantly
toge her OF a 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
bed, having gone to sleep on the back
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 discovered an
axe lying on the lloor 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. lie
went up to her, put his hand to 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 klndle 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 FIGHT
will 10 ,tril- L.
He says he does not think any one else
could have done it, but has no recollection
OF participation m the tragedy, tor which
he expresses the greatest sorrow, SAYING
lie would not lave had it happen Tor the
whole world
The murdered woman was his second
VIE, by whom he had nine children, SIX
of whom are now living. He formerly
lived III Monquart parish of Kent, n b.,
but Tor the last two years has been in Med
way and VIM Since last March. he has
been at his old home where he has some
and had some business affairs to
settle, and he only returned to Midway
last Friday lie say y his lie was :, good
woman and that they never had any Sc
rlous trouble, and that he loved her While
jealousy IS assigned as the cause by his
family connections and neighbors, the at
tendant circumstances are of such a pecu-
liar character as to strongly suggest in
sanity.
Pangburn is a man of good height, has
nearly white hair and face that is not
while in general a man
ten or twelve years Younger than his act
ual years. Bangor Wing