Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-05
CRIES OF MURDER
Start|e the Citizens of the
Quiet Town Of Clinton.
John Webber Shoots Wife Fatally and
tnds His Own Life.
Jealousy TIE Cause-Their Three Children See
Part Of the Tragedy.

N-'' 'CiiiEoIt, t!le GtSlueflIS on lttlll
road street, We're startled the screams
of q woman and cries of Murder.
MURDER"
several people rushed in the direc-
ton from which the cries came among
whom was Henry Winn, who found
Mrs. John l.. Webber sitting on the
platform in front of the house occupied
by herself and the family of Wilbur
Dickey.
When asked what was the trouble
she cried:
Il am shot. My husband has shot
me. He is now upstairs and | think
he has killed himself
Mr.. Winn and others entered the
house and went upstairs, which part
was occupied by Mrs. Webber. They
found the husband, John L. Webber
lying in the northeast corner of the
room occupied as Il dining room-dead
with a bullet wound in the right
temple, about half way between the
eye and ear.
Mrs. Weber was found to have sus-
tanned tAree wounds-two in the right
breast. ana one in the left shoulder
She remained conscious.
DR.. A. A Shaw and DR.. Austin We're
called and attended the injured
woman.
She was suffering considerable pain
and there was much hemorrhage.
The surgeons did not probe the
wounds for fear of exhausting the in
jured woman, bat they gave no hope
of her recovery.
They ascertained, however, that one
bullet had penetrated the right lung.
AS stated, Mrs. Webber, remained
conscious bur IS not allowed 70 talk.
The story Of the cause for the act is
built on jealousy and several separa
tions of the couple.
Mrs. Webber left her husband. last
Wednesday. fssl came to this village
Dickey house.
She brought her three children, girls
aged s, and years. with her.
This evening, about O'Clock. Weber
came to town and called on his wife
What occurred between them is only
known from what the eldest child tells.
The little girl says:
Mamma had set the table for all of
US. A plate had been laid for papa. We
all sat down TO the table to eat supper.
Para stood in the floor between the
table and the bedroom door, He said to
mamma:
What | want TO know is, arc you GO
ing back with me?'
She said: No, | shall not.
Father said: If you don't go, / viii
kill you
Mamma said: You have made that
threat before many times.
He didn't say any more but took Il
revolver from his pocket and began
shooting right at mamma.
I'VE all ran out of the house, and that
is all [ saw"
Webber was a well-to-do farmer, living
about four miles out on the road to
Canaan.
He owned three farms. lie was about
IS years old and prior to his marriage
WAS aways considered IA sober and re-
spectacle citizen.
The couple had uuarreled and separated
MANY times. but on recount of the chill
dren. Mr. Webber overlooked many Oh MS
wife's faults. which were very apparent
to all who knew her.
bn who figured III lile
sensational case at Pittsfield two years
ago in which two well-known young
men of that town were charged by her
with having abducted her. conveyed her
to a room and there committed crimi-
nal assault upon her.
She was a niece of Foster Nelson, ana
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. horace
Goodwin. who were killed on the rall-
road street crossing in this town, py the
Flying Yankee two years ago.
She was 2S years of age, of medium size
and fair looking.
If has been a well-known fact TO all
the neighbors that Webber was jealous OF
his wife and complained of her gong
with other men. and that he had before
threatened to kill her.
AT the time the tragedy occurred, Dep
utv Sheriff Jaauith was notified and In
tnrp notified Coroner Edwards of Water
ville
corouor Edwards arrived here shortly
after 8 O'Clock, viewed the remains. ana
o,derad webbers body prepared for bur-
;,l deeming an inquest unnecessary,
At y o'clock, Mrs. Webber was alVe
and conscious. and the doctors said that
iy,.,
she might live for some tiihe anu one
might die before morning her coiioi''oh
is very critical.