Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-28
Brutal Attempt at Murder
Startles BoWdOinham.
Melvin Bessey Attacks His Wife with
Knife, Cutting Her Throat.
Victim Will Probably Die-Jealousy Said 10
Be Cause Of Deed.


Bowdoinham has a sensation, and when, to-
night, the wild rumor of an attempt to mur-
der was heard on our streets, the people
quickly gathered about the house and in
knots to learn the particulars of the terrible
deed and gather such information as to the
motive as the unhappy assailant would give.
following facts.
About a year ago Melvin Bessey and wife
of Fairfield, moved to this place, where
Bessey secured work as teamster at
Fogg's saw mill. Bessey is man about 40
years and his wife about ~. She had been
before married.
Trouble has come up between husband
and wife and frequent quarrels have been
reported. About week ago, Bessey went
on little spree and family row ensued,
after which Mrs. Bessey had her household
goods moved to the residence of daughter
by her first husband, Mrs. George Fur
bush. Since then the couple have kept
apart and peace has apparently reigned.
Sunday, Bessey went out into the coun-
try in team with a man named George
Clark, who works in the kindling wood fac
tory. They found plenty of old cider, and
on returning home, both we're rather ixtoxi-
Gated and Bessey was in an ugly mood.
Clark says that Bessey talked about bis
wife and threatened that he would kick up
a row when he got home, tonight. He kept
his word, to the letter, but the result will
probably give him more time for quiet re-
Election over his ungovernable temper and
insane jealousy than he will relish.
On arriving home, he was in desperate
frame of mind, ugly and murderous. He
deliberately sharpeped his jack-knife and
prepared to carry out his evil designs.
Leaving his home he went to the tene-
ment house where Mrs. Bessey was stop
ping and proceeded to her room. There a
quarrel ensued, hot words passed and the
brute, drawing his keen bladed knife sleshed
the defenceless woman across the throat,
striking again and again, with the strength
and fury of demon.
Covering before him and trying to ward
off the fierce blows the woman gave scream
after scream. In the Baptist church, next
door to the house, the clergyman was
preaching upon the subject, Murder" but
hardly expecting so horrible and startling
illustration of his text. The CONGREGATION
rushed out and found that man who lived
in the same house had been aroused by
Mrs. Bessey's cries, went in and pulled
Bessey away from his victim and that
Bessey had disappeared.
Everything was done to help the injured
woman. She was placed on the bed, cloths
applied and medical aid sent for. Drs.
Irish and Palmer were soon in attendance
and found that the condition of the woman
was exceedingly dangerous. The throat
was cut and slashed one cut having nearly
severed the windpipe, the opening beng
large enough to admit finger. The other
cuts on the throat were not of so serious
nature. On the back and shoulder blade
were one or two other cuts, but not danger
Gus.
The wounds were dressed and at late
hour Mrs. Bessey was alive. The doctors
say there is chance for recovery, though
slight. Internal hemorrhage may set in
with fatal results.
The daughter, Mrs. George Furbush,
was slightly cut on one hand, in her en-
deavor to protect her mother from the as
sault of the infuriated man.
The authorities were notified and after
visiting the scene of the attempted murder.
Deputy Sheriff Cornish and Constable Hig-
gins went to Bessey's house, where he was
found and put under arrest. He made but
little resistance to the officers and is now in
the lookup, securely handcuffed and
under guard.
Deputy Sheriff Cornish has gone to
Richmond to notify and consult With County
Attorney Newell. Bessey will probably
have hearing Monday morning, and if
Mrs. Bessey is then alive. be held to await
the result of the wounds.
Bessey is man of five feet, five or six
inches in height, slim, of light complexion
and has slight mustache. He has borne
good reputation and the general impres sion
has been that he was good workman and
a good, decent fellow.
Mrs. Bessey's reputation has been good
and she is spoken of as a pleasant, kind
hearted, respectable woman.
The only explanation of the motive is
that Bessey had become insanely Jealous
over some fancied reason and brooded over
it till his mind became filled with his fan
cied wrong and he determined to put an end
to the trouble by taking her life. He ac-
knowledges that he attempted to murder
her, but refuses to make much talk.
The house in which the crime was COM
mitted is situated on the north side of Main
street, nearly opposite the post office and
but a short distance from the depot, Next
door in the Baptist church, whose congrega-
ton this evening was so terribly shocked by
the deed.
Should death result, the story told by
Bessey after the deed, the threats made in
presence of Clark, and the fact that he was
caught red. handed in the deed will undoubt-
edly place him behind the granite walls of
the State prison at Thomaston for the re-
mainder of his life. The deed seems to
have been deliberately planned and executed
and was cold-blooded in the extreme.
The town is greatly excited over the
trsgedy and many people were up late into
tho y,suhf