Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-08
BOTH WILL LIVE.
No Deaths in the Tragedy
at Benton Falls.
Other Features Coming Out that Puts
Matters in New Light.
Clapp Is Rather Usly-WilI Be Charged With
Attempted Murder.

The doctors feel satisfied that unless
arc encountered, John F.
Clapp and his wife, whom he attempted
to murder before he tried to kill him.
self Sunday, will live to be brought be-
fore the bar to answer for his crime. 1t
required but the needle of the surgeon
to bring John back to life and consci-
BUSINESS last evening. He knew every
thing that was going on then. When
the Journal man returned to his home
in Waterville, Saturday night, he noti-
fled Deputy Sheriff Colby Getchell of
the affair and that officer drove at once
to this place and placed Clapp under
arrest. Sunday afternoon the reporter
was accompanied to this place by State
Detective Ira M. True of Hallowell, who
is also a deputy sheriff of this county.
Detective True ordered the man
watched and placed under keeper I'M
til Deputy Getchell could get here.
Dupty Getchell arrived here about 9
o'clock. He found the surgeon at work
on the wounded man and that the
patient was apparently in his right
mind. On searching his clothing the
officer found nearly SIG, just what
Clapp said was in his pockets before
the officer looked. Clapp could talk
without much of any effort and would
talk about anything but the affair of
the day. DR.. M. S. Goodrich of Wa
terville, dressed his wounds, inserting
a tube in the operation. The surgeon
slashes at his throat, penetrating the
windpipe each time to the passage.
Several stitches We're required to close
the cuts in the windpipe and seven were
taken in the skin to close the external
wound. Clapp had lost considerable
blood but he was strong enough to
make himself heard by the neighbors
during the surgical operation.
1t was an easy matter to make insanity
the cause for the terrible crime Hhen 1t
was committed, and there seemed to be
no other excuse. The dear people did just
what other dear people do A all like
cases. they could See no reason Tor the
act but that the man WAS insans ne
evidence of the attending surgeons will
be interesting at the examination OF
Ciapp before the court, for he will be
tried for his crime. Now that first great
shock of the affair has worn away ana
slider all things in Il calm and dispassion-
ate manner. but very few believe Clapp is
il sane He is bright and intelligent
enough on every matter mentioned except
shat Of the attempted murder of his wife
TIE nearest he has. come to touching
Upon the subject was when Deputy Get
chell vas with him. He suddenly sat UP
in bed ind asked:
Where is my woman. where is my
wife,
'Oh, she is all right" replied the Off
II want to know where she is Clapp
exclaimed, eXcitedly.
She is all right. | tell you, but what
did you want to kill her for if you are so
anxious about herr
We'll. she tried to kill me-
Beyond this Clapp has had nothing to
say about the matter up to noon hour.
today. maintaining Strictest silence when
questioned about the affair. The journal
has talked with a number of the, mill
hands, with whom Clapp was employed
in the pulp mill. and they all say that on
Saturday. all day. he was pleasant and
the men and did not exhibit a single indi-
ca ton of anything unusual in his deport-
ment.
Clapp is a man of medium height:
hair and 30 years old. He has always
been considered a "trife out" as one
neighbor expressed it, irritable and at
times, ugly. These fits OF ugliness nave
irritating jest or practical joke. He had
charge of the beaters in the pulp mill and
IL. was prone to lord it over some of the
men under his charge He would fly into
q passion when crossed and on such oc-
ca,ions would act like, what some would
think, an insane man. Some OF his lei
low employees of the mill had believed
that his uginess on occasions was due 10
an .insane streak" while others think he
is of sound mind but las wicked tom
per.
The unhappy couple had a quarrel, on
Friday evening, May rs. and it is claimed
now that on that occasion he threatened
to kill his wife. Supporting the theory o.
insanity comes the information that
Clapp's sister was at one time an inmate
OF the insane asylum. This sister is tie
woman who made such lot of trouble
for the Fairfield officers. last winter,
when they were ordered to convey her to
GERS of Lowell, of which town she and her
husband were charges. On the occasion
referred to, the woman fought the ofii-
GERS with teeth and hands screaming and
raising a general disturbance. full ac-
count of which was published in these
columns at the time.
Nothing but the kindest words are said
of Mrs. Clapp. She is young woman of
only ordinary attractiveness. is remark
ably modest in society. her character has
never been assailed by the breath of
scandal and neighbors all join in paying
her the tribute due an honorable and
Clapp will be arraigned on the charge
of attempted murder as soon as his in
juries will permit of his being taken into
court.
Since noon it has been found necessary
to put Clapp in irons, as he has struggled
with his keepers and attempted to pull
open the wound in his throat. All the
forenoon lie was rational and talked on
every subject except that of the attempt
to take his wifes life 1t is said that it
came to his ears that he was not consd
cred insane by most people and that there
was a strong feeling against him in the
AT once he began to be vio-
lent and act much after the manner of
an insane person, but now the men folks
around here are more satisfied that he is
shamming.
The razor with which the deed was
found, this forenoon, short distance
from where Clapp fell. also the hats of
the couple and Mrs. Clapp's false teeth.
The razor was covered with blood and is
now in the hands of Sheriff McFadden.
The condition of Mrs. Clapp is about
the same as last night. and the surgeon
has great hopes of her ultimate recovery
The man seems to be considerably
stronger and is practically out of danger
The Journal is asked to correct the
statement sent out to some of the papers,
Sunday night, to the effect that Mr.. and
Mrs. Clamp went to her fathers home and
thence into the woods, and that she is
the daughter of John Morrill,. The fact
is they did not go to the home of her