Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-08
CRUELTY ABUSED MS wIfE.
Alvin Webster Wanted at Green's Landing fol
Assault on Wife, Now Dead.

morning, gives further particulars Of
the Charges against Alvin Webster Of
Green's Landing. whose 15-years-old
wife died recently. and who was after
wards arrested on the charge OF abus-
ing her, but escaped.
Mrs. wooster had been i'll for some
time and about two weeks ago miscar-
ried. She was doing well and seem-
ingly on the mending hand. For three
days she continued to improve. until
on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 9th.
Webster came hurriedly to the doc
tors office and asked him to come i'm
mediately to his home, saying his wife
was in fit
Dr. Noyes FASTENED there, arriving
about Is minutes after Mrs. Webster
was taken i'll. He was just in time to
see her give two or three long gasps
and expire. Webster said that he was
lust giving her some breakfast when
she was taken Ill.
The circumstances of her death were
such that whispers of foul play were
| heard around the village. one rumor
was that Mrs Websters death was from
poison. ana it was decided to hold an
autopsy, in order TO forever silence
these rumors or to obtain evidence to
convict IN case of any discovered Grim
inality
The autopsy was performed by DIR.
Il. Lake Noyes in the presence of Cor
onor f. L. Spofford, but no traces of
poison were discovered.
BY the autopsy. however. the direct
cause of the death was ascertained.
1t was found that an embolus or clot of
fibrin INSTRUCTED the heart, stopping its
action and resulting in death. Ii was
the verdict that whatever violence
caused the miscarriage also caused the
emboius.
Webster was arrested on the charge
| of assault and battery committed upon
his wife last July. this charge was the
only tangible one that could bomade.
The evidence brought out at the hear
| ing before Justice Chase of Bluehill
| was about as follows: Twenty wit
| nesses told most horrible stories of
| Webster's cruelty and outrageous con-
duct towards his wife. Married but a
year, the whole ~ months had been for
Mrs. Webster put one long period Of
| Tie HloSt tSttSSiNt SfpsS douSS at
the hands of her husband.
Neighbors told how she had shown
them portions of her body black and
blue from the effects of blows. pinches
and other cruelties, how she had come
| to them pleading to remain over night
to escape from the tyranny of her hus-
band. AT other times she had beseech-
| ed them to give her food as she did not
dare to go home to obtain it.
Concerning the assault and battery
which Webster was charged with COM
| hitting last July. two neighbors. Mrs.
Robbins and Mrs. Cooomps, testified
that they saw Webster chase his wife
out of the house. He caught up with
her and put his hand on her shoulder
pulling her down.
After she was on the ground lie put
his knees on her. then he ordered her
to get up. When she refused he started
| to get stick to make her arise.
AT this point Mrs. Robbins had been
| overcome by her feelings and tainted,
| and Mrs. Coombs assisted her to the
house, so that neither witness saw the
final outcome of the disturbance.
Webster pleaded not guilty and
claimed that his wife ran around to the
neighbors and made these reports,
which were without any foundation.
He had never seen any black and blue
marks on his wife and he had not
abused her. There were no other wit
nesses for the defence.
Up to date Webter has not been re-
taken. 1t is presumed that he passed
Sunday in hiding in the vicinity of the
Landing. Monday dory was missing
and the supposition is that he crossed
the Reach in this.
Webster is described as a tall. strong
man. weighing about $780, and six feet
in height, very active and strong. He
is light compleXioned, slightly cross
eyed and has a repugnant expression.
He has the reputation of constantly
seeking rows and this prevents him
from having steady work. He has
been by times quarryman, fisherman
and wood chopper.
Mrs Webster was about Is years
old. She was brunette and nice
looking. but her intellect was not high
ly developed.