The Portland daily press., 1885-08-12
THE GARDINER MURDER.
A Fatal Fight Follows a Friendly
Drink.

Following are the details of the stabbing
affair which occurred in Gardiner, Monday
evening, and reported in our telegraphic col
umns yesterday:
In company with FRIEND Michael Brasnehan
came TO Gardiner on the evening train for the pur-
pose OF seeing the place. After a time they went
To- To- saloon to get drink. While there Wilbur S.
wood OF Burnham, entered and asked them to
take something They did so, and soon after
James Bennett, a laborer at Iceb0rO. and Brasne-
nan went over to the Maine Central depot. Wood
followed, and began to talk of his smartness Ben
nett remarked that he would like to spar with him
a little. Wood said NO. keep away or I'll shoot"
Bennett replied. and made a few passes at him.
Wood put his hand to his back pocket Bennett
struck him and Wood drew common two-bladed
jack knlte the blade of which was about three
inches long, from his pocket and stabbed him in
the breast Brasnehan, hearing the talk of shoot
ing, interfered to take the weapon from Woods
hand; but he was too late to prevent the knife
stroke. Bennett fell crying, ''Im stabbed" He
lived only about fifteen minutes. Brasnehan re-
eelyed three bad cuts in the right arm Just above
the wrist and one across the lower knuckle of the
nngers OF the left hand. His vest was also cut in
the right breast, but the knife did not penetrate
the lining The back of his coat had four or five
cuts, none OF which penetrated to the body.
Officer Burns states that he had just made the
rounds Of the Main street and returned to the po-
lice station for moment when he heard a whis-
tle Recognizing it as the whistle of the night
watchman at the depot, which is but short dis
tance away, he hurried down and met a man run
nlng toward him who said, do you want me?
asked the officer. II stabbed man down to the
depot. Don't put me into CELL" The officertold
and went back to the station and locked him up.
Upon returning to the depot Immediately after, he
found Bennett lying on the platform, and sent inn
mediately for a physician. Dr. Strout came in a
few minutes and pronounced him dead. The body
was then removed to the police station. A post
mortem examination was made Monday evening
An external wound was found about two inches to
the left of the sternum between the fourth and
fifth rib. Upon examination it was found that the
blade had cut off the fifth costal cartilage, one
half inch inside Of where the cartilage joins the
rib. 1t entered the left yentrice of the heart
transyerseiy, penetrating in its passage the lower
border of the upper lobe of the left lung
Bennett, the murdered man, was a native of
Ireland who had been in this country but two or
three years. He had been employed at Iceboro
since April last, and had the reputation of quiet,
peaeeabe fellow. He was about 23 years old,
with dark-brown hair, and a light sandy NOUS
tache. His height was five feet, six inches, and
his weight about 1876 pounds. He drank occa-
sonally, but not to excess. He was never quar-
relsOme. So far as can be learned he had no rela-
ton In this country. He was in the habit OF max
ing regular remittances to his parents in the old
country.
Wood has rather an unsavory reputation. He
has been at workk at Iceb0rO but short time.
He is man of about &c years of age, sandy com
plexion, light m0ustache, about feet inches in
height. At the preliminary examination before
Judge Larrabee yesterday forenoon he pleaded
mot Guilty." and was committed to the Septem-
Der term OF the Superior court. He showed no
special emotion at the examination. He was TAX
en- to Augusta jail in the afternoon. He was al
ways quarrelsome when he had been drinking,
and has a habit of drawing his knife for emphasis.
Brasnehan, Benefits companion, states that
Bennett was not under the Influence of liquor.
They had been at work all day, and Bennett took
only two drinks of whiskey and glass of beer.
Brasnehan was the only immediate witness of the
affair, although young man who had known Ben
nett at lceb0ro was enough TO hear the cry of
the murdered man when he fell. He ran to him
and took his extended hand but only to receive
the grasp Of dying man.
There is considerable excitement in Gardiner.
The police station was crowded yesterday morn
ing with people anxious to see the body. The bur-
ial took place yesterday afternoon. Brasnehan
will be released as soon as he recognizes.