Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-14
SAD AFFAIR.
Unfortunate Termination Of a
Quarrel.
Two Young Men Engage in Fight With
Serious Results.
VIII Hopkins Fatally Injured by Beins
Knocked Down by James A. Getchell

quite an early hour people could be seen OF
our main street gathered in little groups dis
cussing the sad affair. Various rumor
were ahost. The facts that could be sscer
tanned at that hour were as follows:
Mr.. Jas. A. Getchell who is in the en-
ploy of Mr.. Isaac Bennett informed one o.
the police force Saturday night that ther,
had been a little trouble between himself an,
Mr.. Will Hopkins of this city up on the
railroad track. That he had left Hopkins in
a rather dazed condition. Mr.. Getchell ther
went home and the officer who had been in.
formed went TO the designated place, found
Hopkins in an unconscious condition. haC
called assistance and carried him to his faith
er's place of business ON Water street, where
he died between three and four in the morn.
ing.
The post mortem examination began at 5. 40
o'clock, under the charge of Drs. q. w. &
L. J. Martin and DR.. Crooker, and resulted
in the finding of fracture of the skull ex-
tending from an inch to the right and above
the occipital pertuberance of the occipital
bone extending downward and to the right
to the tempero occipital suture and from
| thence to the foranun magnum. The ex,
animation revealed Il normal condition in all
the internal viscera of the abdomen and
chest excepting the congestion of the lungs
There was one slight confusion on the back
of the head. The upper lip was cut on the
right side. Both lips were swollen with
considerable ecchymosis of the blood, One
tooth was knocked out There was no de
preston on the skull. At that time Nj. &.
Getchell was in charge of officers. He en-.
gagged the services of Hon. II. NJ. Heath for
counsel.
The scene of the trouble was on the rail-
road track a few rods above the Bridge street
crossing. On the west track near the pro-
jecting end of switch guard was small
two tracks were the remains of quite large
pool of blood Coroner VIM. IL. Libby and
the Jurymen, Judge Samuel Titcomb, Jas
+. Fuller, Chas. f. Grovor VIM. IL. Bruce,
W "A. NeWc mo anu L. tnlch Nisileu the
place. broken glass and a stone with
blood upon it were found and kept in cusio-
dy.
The inquest was appointed for 7.
NJ, at the Office of Judge Andrews.
The Inquest.
Before the appointed time a large number
of people had gathered about the entrance
and stairway leading to the place of holding
the inquest. The expressions that we've
heard were in favor of the prisoner.
Mr.. Getchell is a large, well proportioned
good reputation as being well disposed,
peaceable citizen while the victim acquire
the name of having quarrelsome disposition
and had been arrested within few months
for disturbing the peace. A shadow of gloom
could be seen on every face. Pity for the
deed and the sorrowing relatives, and at the
same time sympathy for Mr.. Getchell were
expressed on all sides and by the same pei
sons. Few were allowed in the room of the
inquest, owing to the small seating capacity
of the office
The first witness called was Dr. G. w.
Martin, who stated that he was called Satur
day evening at about $50 o'clock to Mr..
Burns store. There found young Hopkins
lying on the floor, bleeding at the mouth
There was a cut ON his lip and one of the in
clsors was knocked out. On the back part
of the head was a small wound but not bleei-
| ing No depression in the skull could be
| found and no change in the pupils of the
| eyes was noticed. The breathing was spas
mudlc. No wounds were found on other por-
tions of the body The young man was put
to bed. There vomited "A little and breathed
easier. Between 3 and o'clock in the morn
| ing, was called again. Hopkins died in
ab.ut five minutes after reached his bed
| side. The DIR. afterwards visited the scene
of the struggle, and found blood on the pro
| lection of the switch guard and on the ground
! Found tooth lying on the edge of a sleeper
| also found pieces of a watch chain. Didn't
| find evidences of much of a scuiile. Evi-
IDENTIFY injury al the base of the brain was
the cause of death. When they sewed up
the lip the sufferer put up his hands as If
panied. Place where hit on back of head
| too low to probably be Int by swinging
| blow from heavy substance. Fracture
might have been received from falling on the
iron. very hard blow of the fist might
have left mouth in condition in which it was
found Counsel Heath asked DR.. Martin il
| he should see the cut list of the man who
struck The blow he should not consider thai
strong evidence that the tooth was knocket
ou, by the blow of the fist. The doctor sait
he should consider that strong evidence
Thought wound in back of head occasionec
! at same time.
| Dr. Crooker corroborated DIR. Martin
Said cause of death was the settling of the
blood around the spinal cord. Blood settled
on all sides of the cord hence no dilaton ol
the pupils. Shoved that the wound in bach
was caused either by up"ard blow or down
ward fall. That an ordinary fall woult
probably have caused the wound.
Mr.. w. +. Spear then called. Getchel
came to him about nine O'Clock Saturda,
evening and said he had thumped Hopkin
and wished him to go and get him home
Found Hopkins lying where the big pool o
blood was afterwards found. Took HOpkin
overcoat, rolled it up and put it under hi
head. Then got Mr.. McKenney to bell
carry the body home. Diin't see Mr.
Getchell again that night. Found Hopkn
unconscious also on his let I'm. Vitae
turned him over but he turaed back quit
quickly on his face again. John Dutton an'
James Brennan were found near the place.
Mr. James A. Brennan then called
Met Getchell on the street before the affai
aud walked up street with him. Near tn
store of Gannett & Morse saw Hopkins
Gefchell said to him, BILLY, / want to Sc
you a minute" Witness walked ahead an
Hopkins and Getcbell came behind. After
wards lost sight of them. He and Mr.. Dut
ton were trying to find them when Mr.. Spea
met them. Thought he heard Getchell re
mark to Hopkins before witness lost sigh
of them, well, well settle it."
Mr.. Jas. S. McKenney called and sworl
Mr.. Spear came to him about nine Saturda,
evening and asked him to 90 up on the track
Had heard no threats from either of tb
parties.
Mr.. Henry NJ Breen. First heard 0
trouble between parti,s was at sparring ex
! hibilion Friday eve ing. Said Getehel
. spoke to him In joking ~sy Saturday, say
, ing. .'Guess I'll have to borrow your revol
yer for q week" or words to that effect. Sa'
Getchell after the affair when latter told hI
that he and Hopkins had trouble and that b