Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-11-26
BRUTALLY BEATEN.
An Assault Which Will Prove
Fatal.
Charles A, Luce Struck Down by John
AulYerhill.
His Assailant Confined Behind Prison
Bars.

For some weeks the sabbath stiffness Of
The Capital has been undisturbed and the
Augusta pahlic had begun to think that the
lotg chain of disgraceful rows, which during
the summer and early fall. occurred with
distressing regularity every Sunday, had
been broken. Yesterday. however, was com
mit,cd deed the brutality of which 10 scarce
ly less appalling than it, consequences. Mr..
f. stone, coal dealer OF this city, had hired
Mr. Frank Hart to haul up Just above the
steamboat wharf the gundslow containing his
donkey engine, and AS the ice was fast clos
ins the boat in the job was begun yesterday
morning. To assist him, Mr.. Hart employed
hr C. A Luce of this city, the well known
building mover The pair began work early
/ in the morning and had the tackles and cape
tern nearly in readiness to begin work, when
a crowd of loafers collected and began to
oversee the work, Among these was John
Mulverhill alias "Muldoon" who made
himself particularly obnoxious to Mr.. Luce
by DONG every thing in his power to annoy
and hinder him in his work. At last Luce
lost his patience and pushed him out OF the
way, and paving no further attention to him
went on with his work. Mulverhill watched
his chance and when he saw Luce was not
looking, struck him with all his might Just
above the left eye, knocking him down. lie
then kicked him twice in the head, and turn
ing on his heel walked away Although
there were six other bystarders. none Of
them interfcred, aud they scattered in all di-
rections, leaving Luce lying unconscious. =
II Is supposed that there he remained over
an hour for about / 30 he was met by on
GERS Doe and Mckenney walking up Rnes
liill, lie told them that "Muldoon" had
''done him up" Luce reached his home on
Gage street, and when his wife returned from
church, shortly after noon, she found him
"ndcaVoring to wash the blood from his face.
What's happenedY" she cried. Her hus-
band looked up, pointed To his head, and
after ,ainly endeavoring to speak. fell heav
lily back against the partition. Mrs.. Luce
managed to raise him upon the lounge near
by, and there he lay perfectly uaconscious
for several hours. City Marshal Morse soon
arrived and told the injured mans wife the
story of the fight. At this time il was sup
posed that Luce was merely dared and ina
short time weuld nsaken from his .tupor
much refreshed. No medical aid was sum-
moned and beyond washing away the
blood from his face, and appl ying a bandage
to the injured eye nothing was done for him.
AZ o'clock he seemed no better and Drs.
G. W and r. j. Martin aud W. Scott Hill
were summoned
Ihey at once perceived that blood vessels in
the region of the brain were ruptured. The
face about the left eye was terribly bruised
and the pupil dIlated. The patient had bled
rrofu.oly at the nose. After an eIaminatio.
the hemorrhage was pronounced fatal. The
news was broken to Mrs. Luce who took it
more calmly than was expected. Mr. and
Mrs Luce moved from Fairfield TO Augusta
sl1 years ago and have ever since resided
here. They have no children. MIR. Luce
Is a sou of the veteran Charles Luce Of
Fairfield who has been in the moving busi-
ness for nearly sIty years.
Johnny Mulyerhill the assailant, 10 we'll
known IN this city lie is the only son Of Mrs.
Catherine Mulverhll, who lives at the foot
OF Crescent street. For some years he has
borne the reputation of being a hard ticket,
and when in liquor, as is usually the case,
Is very quarrelsome. Three weeks ago he
was before Judge Andrews on the charge Of
fighting and was dismissed on probation. a.
Ia. uUr "a. s;, a.,
Of town. With Jef DIXON and viii Was
gait, both of whom were present when the
ahray occurred, he was arrested yesterday
afternoon, and the trio are now in iaiI Mul-
Verhill appeared perfectly unconcerned
" 'en told of the state in which Luce lay,
and 7tirely denied all knowledge of how he
mt his 7juries. When taken W the lock-
mp h' ~m'iled sang and was as gay as pos
sible. Behind the prison bar. last svenlus-
however, he " sspe,ea5 Ehr with sob. long
and loud impioIed the turnkey to release
him. lie is but nineteen year. Of age. Az
the time the fatal blow was struck he was
somewhat under the influence Of liquor.
Later.
when the doctors left Luce about sP. M.
they agreed that he could live but . few
hours at most At midnight, however. hi,
condition seemed little more favorable.
lie breathes with difficulty but his cireuI.-
ton Is much better and his pulse more regu-
lar He has not been conscious since 2 p.
" and there is but one chance in a thou
sand that he survives the night.