The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-30
Thomas Ney Tried to Separate Two
Fighting Men.
AND ONE OF THEM BURIED A
KNIFE IN HIS BODY.
1t All Came About Through Too Much
Rum and a Man Who Wanted to Sing
Brave Constab1es Who Allowed Ney's
Assailant to Escape-The Victim Lies
at the Point of Death.


at the Point of Death.
Waterville, August 29.-Thomas Ney,
to his probable death by the hands of
Thomas Donahue of Massachusetts, at
Averill's boarding house at North Vassal-
boro. The affair took place Saturday
night at Albert Simpsons 8 on the Vassal-
boro road to this city, there being present
some twenty men who are employed at
| the Vassalboro woolen mills Donahue
was such q desperate man that three con-
stables who were called up on were afraid
to make an arrest and the fellow escaped
to the woods. Deputy Sheriff Getchcll
was called for and with a number of
others is making search for tho missing
man. Ney was examined by DR.. F. G.
Thayer, Sunday afternoon, who pro-
nounced his chances for recovery not over
one out of a hundred.
Vassalboro, August 29.-The fraoas
wherein Thomas Ney was stabbed oc-
curred at about 7.30 in room back of
Simpsons grocery and meat store with
|
beers are sold, there being bar in charge
of Tim Finnegan. A number of the mill
employees had been drinking hard stuff.
Iom Donahue was singing song when
the crowds attention was demanded by
Benjamin Callberg for like amusement.
Donahue took exceptions at this and
wanted to fight, drawing a jack knife
which he attacked Callberg with just as
Thomas Ney entered the door. Ney en-
deavored to separate the pair when he in
turn was struck at, receiving jab in the
center of the abdomen, which penetrated
his bowels. Some person or persons then
grabbed him and threw him through a
back window, breaking sash and glass.
Ney landing.on the grass outside. In the
scuffle which ensued Pat Finnegan re-
ceived a slash in his back, arm and breast.
Billy Crawford got cut on his wrist,
| Ed. Goodson was slashed in several places
/ and then Jim Carruthers downed Dona-
hue and knocked the knife from his hand
| but not before he received long cut on
| the left side Of his face. Simpson, the
proprietor of the place, alleges he was not
in the room when the fight took place,
but was in front of his store bartering for
some pigs. There was SO much disturb
ance that Overseer Marshal Tellison was
attracted from the mill office some five
hundred yards distant and made for the
place. He was here attracted by deep
groans frlm back of the store and with
d. G. Durham and John G.. Seeny, in
| vestigated the premises, finding Ney ly-
ing upon his back as before stated. He
complained of stomach pains and on
opening his clothes it was found he was
bleeding badly from an inch and half cut
in the abdomen, from which the man show.
els were protruding to the size of a hand.
He was taken to Averill' s boarding house
where he boarded and Dr. Hall called.
who dressed the wound after a fashion.
Meanwhile officers Rosceo Thomas and
Seth Whitney arrived and with aid
were called upon to arrest Denahue, but
it is said they feared the man so that no
| attempt to this end was made
Later Deputy Sheriff Getchell of Water
vile arrived. but could find no trace of
Donahue. The description of the man
was sent all over the state with a request
to arrest him. Donahue is very dark
complexioned, wears black moustache,
close cut hair, had and black suit. He
drew his pay of $2s Saturday noon at the
mill. At 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon
Surgeon f. G. Thayer. assisted by Drs.
Hill and Maberry performed an operation
upon Ney, whose pulse was then 14O. At
10 O'Clock Sunday night he was sinking
rapidly. Benjamin Callberg and James
Carruthers have been arrested and brought
to Waterville where they will be held for
examination. Those seeing Donahue
state he was not under the influence of
liquor to any extent. but was ugly.