Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-29
TAKEN TO JAIL.
Bessy, the Bowdoinham Would
be Wife Murderer,
Lodged in Auburn Jail Being Unable
to Secure Bail in $4,000.
His Wife Still Alive But Has a Small Chance
for Recovery.


1870 A. M, Hinkley's hall was well filled
with quiet, law-abiding citizens to listen to
the hearing before L. M. Fulton, Esq, in
the case of the attempted murder by Melvin
Bessy of his wife, Sophia, Sunday evening,
as wired to the JOURNAL. The prisoner
was brought into court by Deputy Sheriff
Cornish, we'll dressed and sober and refec-
tive in appearance, accompanied by his
counsel, H. r. Drew of Richmond. His
left hand was bandaged, showing signs of
iojury from the afffay.
Judge Fulton called the prisoner to the
bar and read the warrant. sworn to by Geo
A. Furbush, charging him with assault with
intent to kill. The prisoner PLEADED not
guilty.
County Attorney Newell in opening the
case, stated in substance, that during his
official career, he had never been called up.
on to act in case like the present, and
was made sad now on being called upon to
represent the State in the pre- mises. He had
been Informed that up to short time, the
record of the family had been good and
quiet, but he also had been given to under
stand that lately, the respondent had been
in the habit of indulgng 10 old cider as q
beverage, and in consequence he had, last
Tuesday, brutally assaulted his wife,
thereby forgetting his marriage VOWS
and that on Sunday, in company with one
Geo. Clarke, he had gone up the country
for the express purpose of procuring the
means to fortify his own feelings of
hate by borrowing this Dutch courage. and
thus equipped, returned, and with malice
aforethought did deliberately assault his
wife with intent to kill, and expressing
himself as satisfied when assured of his
success. Please the court, as this case is
manifestly beyond your jurisdiction but
one duty remains, to bind the prisoner
ove..
81 do not believe in the extreme penalty
of death by hanging for murder in the ma
jority of cases, but when there are positive
proofs of deliberate attempt on life, well
planned, with malice aforethought, hang
ing is too good for such.
In behalf of the State, the following wit
nesses were sworn: DR.. /. G. Irish, Geo
A. Furbush, Geo. Clarke and Levi Leav-
iii.
DR.. I. G. Irish testified: "About p
NJ, Sunday, was called to attend woman
said to be bleeding to death. Found Mrs
Bessy on the floor, bleeding from wourd
in neck and back, the principal one being
n the neck. AT first appearance would not
have been surprised had the woman died al
once. The wound in the neck involved the
windpipe. Had the assistance of Dr.
Palmer. The wounds appeared to
hnun ,oIa Shoy
instrument. They were about one inc b
externally and two in depth
There were three wounds in all. two in
her back and one in the neck. Found Dr.
Palmer supporting the woman. She was
conscious, but very weak Here the doc
tor gave names of persons present in the
room.
George Clarke testified: 'Have lived in
Bowdoinham about one year. Knew The
prisoner we'll. Was out in the country
with him, last evening. for the first time
Was asked by him to go, on my way to
supper. Went up on the Ridge road
Stopped at the third house beyond Charles
Tarr's, but do not know the name of owner.
On the way up he talked about his wife
Claimed she did not appreciate his having
team, and said there would be trouble in
The villsge on bis return. Procured cider
in jug and got home at o'clock"
Cross.exam ned by defence: SCOT home
at 7 o'clock. Drank from the jug on the
way. home. After we arrived l took two
drinks. Bessy took four. Bessy certainly
was more drunk than l was"
George A. Fairbanks testified: 81 mar
ried the daughter of Mrs. Bessy. Knew
of trouble between the prisoner and bis
wife. He had been ia the habit of getting
drunk and beating her. Last Tuesday night
she escaped from him by crawling through
a window. Saw him last evening. He ap-
peared all right. Asked me if his wife was
not in my house. told him
she was. He said he had come
,hinss for her, and wanted me to tell her
to come for them. She said she did not
feel very we'll, that he could send them up
to me. He asked me if he could go up and
see her. l tried to put him off, but finally
we went up. Twas sitting with my wife on
one side of the room. He and his wife
were at the other end of the room, on oppo
site sides. My wife and were looking out
of the window. He was talking with his
wife. All at once heard door slam and
turning around, saw Bessy standing over
his wife with knife in his hand. My
wife called to him not to strike her mother.
He struck at her."
Here the knife was produced and ilen-
tilted as the one in Bessy's hand.
Furbush continued: ''Just then Mr..
Leavitt came in. We carried Mrs. Bessy
down stairs and called in DR.. Irish. Never
heard any threats"
Ctoss-examined as to the prisoners condi-
ton, replied that he did not appear drunk
and did not smell any liquor.
Mr.. Leavitt, who occupies rooms in same
building where the crime was committed,
testified:
Heard a disturbance, then the scream
ing of q woman and cries of murder, help
Could not at first locate the sound, but in
about three minutes went in and found
Mrs. Bessy partly on sofa and Bessy
standing over her trying to use
a knife. Could not identify the
knife. Saw him trying to stab
his wife. Mrs. Bessy was apparently try
ing to get up. l caught him BY the wrist
and neck. He allowed that he wanted to
kill her and Wae WILING IN die. that he