The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-05
A STRANGE TALE.
The Story Of Two Men and a Big
Revolver.

George T. Ambridge Held for an At
tempted Murder-He Says He Fired a
Pistol to Secure Peace.
A strange story was told to Judge
Robinson in the municipal court. Satur-
day morning. 1t was the history OF
| W hat is alleged to he an attempt at muir
der. 1t was strange in that the two Leo
pie who mnle the charge have been on
| friendly terms with the man they ao-
| cuse and say that he has always been a
peaceable man. They allege in their ties.
| timony that the man has of late given
| evidences of an unsound mind, but this
point was not raised whom the time came
| for the presentation of his side of the
case. Instead of doing that, the accused
| took the stand and said that he was not
| actuated by desire to injure anybody,
but that on the contrary he fired revolt
yer bullet into the ceiling of room in
| order to prevent trouble by frightening
| away two men whom he thought might
have intended to rob him.
That, in a few words, is an outline Of
the hearing in the case of George L. Am
bridge who was charged with an assault
| upon Mrs. Lavinia A. Abbott. and with
an assault with intent to kill her hus-
| band, George @. Abbott. The weapon
with which it was alleged the more
| serious offence was committed, was in
court, a heavy revolver of modern make,
with long blue-blaok barrel. 1t is a
weapon which it would not be pleasant
to face. Ambridge, the accused, is a
large, powerful man, AZ years old. He
has lived here since 1879 and for II years
has been in the employ Of G. NJ. Rice &
Company, as assistant chipping clerk. He
looked to be about twice the size of Alb
Dott, who took the stand to appear
part of the state was conducted by Ooun-
| ty Attorney Libby. Hon. George E. Bird
appeared for Am bridge. The alleged as
sault took place in Abbott's house at Al
Newbury street, last Sunday night. In
telling of it. Abbott said:
at was at home on Sunday night. My
wife and two men who we're boarding
with me were there. Ambridge, who
was boarding with me, was also present.
about s o'clock, preparatory to 60
ing to bed. heard AmbridRe arguing
with somebody. I went to where he was
aud found that he was pushing my wife
away. said, what's up, Georger He
at once rushed up stairs. The two board
ers went out at my request. He came
| down with a revolver and standing at
the foot of the stairs pointed it at my
face. pushed the revolver away. and
he fred and two bullets went into the
ceiling We then struggled for several
minutes. He at last seemed to calm
down He said that he would leave the
revolver alone If I would leave him
alone"
At this point Mr.. Abbott produced the
revolver. He also showed his left hand
bandaged to cover wound received in
the scuffie.
Continuing, he said: 81 left him in
the room and went to roy brother In
laws to have the wound dressed. On
Monday afternoon, media a complaint
at the station. Ambridge is not related
to me, but we have known each other
for years, and have travelled together q
great deal, crossing the ocean once. -
Mr.. Bird then cross-examined the wit
ness.
"When came in, said Abbott. cam
bridge had my wife by the throat. /
interfered and he said, sI'll drive you
an He then went up stairs. When
saying, 'I'Il turn it against you, mean
ing the revolver, which he held. should
say, about a foot in front of my face,
pointing directly at me. Never before
had any trouble with the man. He
came home Saturday night but nothing
unusual occurred at that.time. He has
had lots of trouble. About two years
ago he lost his wife, and this loss has
seemed to impair his mind. He has
been melancholy and seemed very de-
spondsnt.
Mrs. Abbott, the next witness, was
greatly affected as she gave her testi-
mony. Once she seemed to be on the
point of fainting, and after she had tss-
titled she wept as she sat in the witness
seEt. She said:
'sIsknow Ambridge. Men By the name
of White and Kelly came to our house
last Saturday night. On Sunday eve
ming, Mr.. White was sitting by the door,
Ambrridge came up to me and pushed
me along, then my husband came in.
Ambridge went upstairs, got his revolver
and came down with 1t. He had scratched
my throat little. I saw the revolver
while Ambridge and Mr.. Abbott were
wrestling"
On oross-examination, Mrs. Abbott
said:
II did not hear any conversation On
Saturday night between White and Am
-