Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-31
SAco, Jan. 30.

The trial of Mrs. Barrows for the murder
of her husband was resumed Wednesday
forenoon. Eight Witnesses were sworn for
the overnment-
Cornelius Quinn saw Thomas Bsrro~s on
the fourteenth day Of November about five
O'Clock, in Portsmouth lumber yard.
James Trefethen, aposhecary, rode With
him from Kittery bridge to the post ONCE IN
Kit,ery about half past FIVE in the afternoon.
Edward c. Nealley, coroner, testified that
he was called on the I4th of Nov. last, about
a quarter past ten at night and went to the
house of Thomas Barrows and asked for the
BODY Of Thomas Bsrrows, and was shown to
the room where it lay, by Oscar f. Blaney.
Examined the body; found wound in the
head two and on -half inches above the LEFT
ear; put in probe and it slanted downward
into the brain; another wound was through
the left arm, near the elbow; two wounds
we're in the hip. and one through the calf of
leg. Oscar T.. Blaney was there at the time
but went out and was gone about two min
utes. was in the room one hour, but Mrs.
Barrovs did not come in. Blaney said he
knew where the pistol was and would show
me. found the pistol near the barn; have
il now. II was pointed out on the ground by
Oscar E. Blaney. The body was carried to
the parlor, Oscar assisting, and he also as
sisted in preparing the body for burial. l
asked Mrs. Barrows about the shooting. She
- m the harm and /
went into the edroom TO make up the bed.
heard pisto shot; went to the window
and heard two more shots and saw Thomas
fall in front of the small door in the barn.
and saw him crawl towards the house, and
heard him call, Mary, Mary, two or three
times. He would stop and rest, and then
call. Mary, Mary. His head, she said, was
raised Just above the ground. She waited
till he crawled to the back door and then she
said she made her escape by the front door
and went directly to the home of Oscar f.
Blaney and called him. She told him that
Thomas had shot himself. Oscar harnessed
the horse and they went back to Mrs. Bar
rows house and crept in cautiously by the
back door. which was opened, and listened.
They went to the door of the room where
Thomas Barrows lay on the bed but did not
go in and then, she said they went out and
drove to her fathers house. On coming
back she said, "send for the coroner" She
said to the witness. "what are you going to
call the death, suicide from temporary IN
sanity?" | examined the house and found
traces of blood. Examined the course indi-
Gated as having been taken by Thomas, after
being shot, but found no trace Of blood.
found bullet hole in the stable door next
day. going in diagonally; found bullet in
the bedding. The witness produced the
clothing removed from Thomas Barrows and
also the bullets which were removed
from the body at the autopsy.
On the examination of the bloody clothes
one of the jury became faint and called for
fresh air.
The witness said Thomas Barrows wrote
with either hand, and nothing about the hair
or clothing indicated it had been burned.
George <. Cook of Dover, sold stranger
80 calibre revolver on the 18th or Novem-
Der. The man was a small, laboring man,
but he can't describe him or his dress.
Mortimer Payne of Portsmouth, sold six
or seven cartridges to young man "a or 25
years old, laboring man. He didn't know
the color of his complexion or hair.
Lyman 2. Spinney corroborated the testi-
mony of Edwin c. Spinney, in general.
DIR. Frederick f. Potter of Portsmouth,
testified that he made an autopsy on the body
OF Thos. Barrows, describing the wounds and
their position.
DR.. s. C. Gordon and DIR. BRAY of Port
land testified to the fatal character of the
wound in the head, and that it might be some
power of locomotion with the wound in the
hip.
Jas. r. Wood of Boston. the detective en-
ployed by the State, met Mrs. Barrows. Nov.
20, and said he was sent to assist in finding
hr Etila.t har husband. told hor ho had
some suspicion of her; that she was not
obliged to tell. but would like to hear her
story. She related the matter substantially
as stated by witness f. C. Neatly this after
noon; asked her if she thought her husband
committed suicide. She replied that she did
| said; 1.-The man is shot through the
brain, and would you have me believe that
he crawled from the barn to the house? You
either shot him or know who did it, She
replied that she never had q revolver in her
hands, and saw no one do it, but said: ~
suppose know who did it,
Her story was again repeated as formerly
told as to the place. She and Blaney re-
turned from the Blaney house to Barrow's
house, and changing her former statement
she said that Blsny went into the house while
she went to the team shortly heard two shots
fred and supposed he had finished him. She
said she had told this to no one; didn't want
to tell it before Oscar; would go to him the
next morning; we went; others were there
told Blaney what Mrs. Barrows had said
about his going into the house and the tw o
shots he covered his face with his hands ;
Mrs. Barrows said: "You might a. well
tell the truth; it will all come out"
Blsney said; 81 will tell the whole story
did kill Barrows."
lie related the trouble with Thos. Bar
rows. After supper he said to the folks that
he vas going to a neighbors, but proceeded
to Barrows' place and hid in the shed. Soon
Mr.. Barrows came out and he fired. The
FIRST shot did not take effect: the others he
did not know about as he was excited; went
home. had been there but short time when
Mrs. Barrows came; she said that Thomas
had shot himself but was not dead, and that
YOU must go and finish him or he will make
trouble. He said: II can't do that; have
no more cartridges" His wife said there
vas more and two were brought to him.
When he went into the house Mrs. Barrows
said BE sure and finish him." On enter
ing the room Thomas Barrows said: "Os-
car, think have got to go soon" He re-
piled: ayes. Tom. your time has come
now" firing one shot, and stepped to the
bedside aud took deliberate him at his head
and fred
During Blaney's confession. when be stated
that Mrs. Burrows told him to 60 and shoot
Thomas or he would make trouble, Mrs.
Rarro~s sas-. ssNn Y lx~.