The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-05
bridge. When he pointed the revolver at
NV br.Lora Cr,dov pjoht ha hr,uoht

it down and said, I will turn it against
you In the struggle which enued,
Ambridge said, I've got more. My
husband replied, Remember, George,
there is hereafter After the scutfie,
Ambridge sat down in a chair and soon
went to bed. He married my sister and
l lave known him many years. he
attended to his business regularly and
was a good boarder. He has not been
right in his mind, but 1 never have had
the slightest trouble with him.. He is
not a man, as far as know. who has
been in the habit of drinking.
James Kelly testified that Sunday
night Amhridge said to Mrs. Abbott,
"Your sister was a fool to marry me-"
She said TO him, "George, what's the
matter with you?' He replied, "Never
mind.'' Then he started to strike Mrs.
Abbott. White and myself interfered.
Ambridge said, "Get out, ali of you."
Then Mr.. Abbott came i'll.
Cross-examined, the witness said that
he been drinking a little. Next saw
Ambridge on Monday morning.
81 am sure that Am bridge hit White
when the affair took place Sunday
night" said Kelly. II did not notice
any signs of intoxication about Am
BRIDGE
Mr.. Bird called only one witness for
the defence. The respondent, Ambridge
told his version of the affair in cool,
straightforward fashion which increased
| the interest in his rather extraordinary
tale. In brief, he said that he fred the
revolver into the ceiling Of tho room in
order to Brighten Kelly and White. As
motive for this proceeding he stated
that neshad several hundred dollars in
money onIhis.. person and that he did not
know but that the men might try to rob
him. In reply to Mr.. Birds questions,
| Ambridge said that on Saturday even
ing, March 81, when no went home at ten
at night. he found Mr.. Atkins, who is
Mrs. Abbott's father, Kelly, Abbott ana
| man whom he described as the un-
known, together in the house. He
heard the unknown man say to Mr.. At
kins: "Did this man marry your daugh-
tera" Atkins-replied yes, whereupon.the
unknown responded. E4'Well she was a
blanked blanked fool" This remark,
Ambridge said he did not heed as the
man who made 1t was drunk. He was
away from the house all day Sunday, Ie-
| turning in the evening. In describing
what happened then, Ambridge said in
substance: 81 went into the kitchen. 1
was going to my room when the un-
known tried to tripsme. seized him by
| the collar and held him down. Kelly was
en- coming through the dining room.
went upstairs anC got my revolver. I
had $500 and did n It know but they were
going to rob me. When I camel down
put up the revolver and discharged it
through the ceiling. Abbott tried to
take the pistol from me. let him pull
until he got tired and then put the
pistol in my pocket. Abbott went out
and did not see him until Wednesday.
did not touch Mrs. Abbott. When
came down with the rev Oliver she was
not In the room at oil. pointed the re-
volver at the ceiling, not at any person.
Abbott pointed the pistol at himself be-
cause he grabbed it by the muzzle had
1t by the butt. did not say would
tx them all, Mrs. Abbott came into the
kitchen after the whole thing was over
and said: Il am glad they have gone.
I have had enough of their drinking"
In conclusion, Ambridge denied that
he intended to harm Abbott or anybody
else.
On cross-examin alton, he said that he
had had the pistol four or i've months.
He did not tell Deputy Hartnett where
it was at the time Of his arrest because
he did not feel obliged to tell where he
kept his property. He fred the pistol
SO, that Kelty and the unknown man,
| who by the way is the White referred to
by other witnesses, should not come
back. They had just left or were leav-
| ing the house at the time.
Abbott then took the stand again and
repeated his story Of the affair, claiming
| that Ambridge tried to shoot him and
| that the attempt was not successful be-
cause of the vigorous struggle made for
the possession of the revolver with Abb
bott hanging onto the uzzle and Am
I
| bride clinging to the other end. Mr.. Abb
bolt became an animated witness and
gesticulated freely as he acted out the
scene. In reply to Mr.. Birds questions,
Abbott said: 81 was scared. was
thinking of the other world. feel sure
that Ambride said sTo hell with the
hereafter when I said to him, 'Remem-
Der there is a hereafter. When said to
him at last, George, remember other
days, saw a change come over his face.
The excited look was gone and he prom
ised to put up the pistol. Then 1 let him
have it, I staid away from home that
night because I thought if Ambridge
saw me there with my wounded hand,
it might excite him again.
The attorneys argued the case briefly.
Mr.. Bird apoke Of Am BRIDGES good char
aeter, his sobriety and industry and
sruged that 1t WAS unnatural TO suppose
that such a man would change in a
moment and attempts to kill lifelong