Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-02
VARNEY KIMBALL CASE.
Charles SeeIey Arrested on Warrant
Charging Manslaughter. u.
Held Tor the Superior Court on Charoe of
Aggravated assault.

i-Ncr since the death of Narney kim
pan at the Soldiers Home. Togus m
def suspicious circumstances. Denutv
Sheritfs l.. NJ. Rollins and G. II Ames
nave been working on the case and
evidence having been gathered showipo
that the bruises on kimball's body were
caused by blows inflicted bv Charles
Seeley, an inmate OF the Home a war
rant charging Seelcy with mansIausb
yer was sworn out. Friday night nv
Deputy Sheriff l.. NJ. Rollins befor.
Judge Andrews. and Seeley was ar
rested that night. Seeley has admitted
that ne was engaged in fight With
hllhpall. one week ago Friday. The
'iSe came before Judge Andrews in the
augusta municipal court at > F. NJ
saturday. +. NJ. Thompson. Esq. of
Augusta. appeared as counsel for
Serley and County Attorney Heselton
for the State.
y" evidence was introduced by the
defense. Fred Boynton Of Toeus. said
III ms testimony that the fight took
pace IN his house. At the time Of the
row Seeiey was staying 1T hi; house
ana Nlmball was camping on the shore
"t tn" pond near by. where he was fish
ms. and often came to his house On
lhat Friday. he. Boynton. was lying
on his bed and Seeley was outside Of
the house. He heard loud talking as
though there was a dispute going on
Shortly after. Seeley came into his
room. followed. in a few minutes nv
kimball who swOre at Seelev ana
struck him three times. Then Seeley
slammed kimball onto the tioor ana
proceeded to pound him hard until
separated by BOynton and someone
else whom Boynton could not remem-
Der. Then BoyntOn started to return
to his bed when Seeley sprang at kim
ball and struck him hard kimballs
head struck against the door casing
and left some blood on it. He fell ont
through the door onto the gravel walk
then picked himself up and went off in
the direction Of his camp saying as ha
went. II am badly hurt" BoyntOn
said that both men had been drinking
but We're not drunk.
Elmer Thompson testified to seeing
kimball. on that Friday night. and his
face was bruised He saw -Seeley later
Who said he had struck Kimball in self
defense.
Mrs. Nellie Mullaney was the next
house at the time Her S-year-old son
Henry ran into the room where she
was and said that there was a fight
going on. She Went to the door just
in time to see kimball fall from the
doorway onto the walk. She said that
Seeley appeared sober. She has since
moved from the B0ynton house to
Whitefield Examined by Mr.. Thomp-
~. .-.il hn- tl. &c
present during the trouble. A man
named Dennis Casey. an old soldier.
The boy. Henry Mullaney said that
his mother had told him to say nothing
about the fight. Mrs Mullaney denied
his. The boy said he saw another
man helping Seeley against Kimball. |
He said that the other man kicked
Kimbal in the face The man named ,
Casey. whom Mrs. Mullaney said was
present. was not in court.
The reputation of the Boynton house
is not an enviable one. 1t has gained |
some notoriety from the rows that have
taken place there. and BOynton has. in
the past. caused the liquor officers
trouble Charles Secley has the repu- |
tatiun Of being Of a good natured dis
position when sober but rather bad /
customer when intoxicated.
The warrant was first made out
charging Seeley with murder but
Judge Andrews did not think the evil |
dence called for SO serious a charge and !
it was changed to manslaughter. Seeley |
was held for the September term Of the |
superior court on the charge Of aggra-
waited assault. Bonds We're placed at
$500 ana he was taken to the county |
Jail.
County Attorney Heselton said since
the, post norton examination resulted !
in the decision that kimball did not die
from the blows inflicted but from alco-
holism. M would try for conviction
ON the aggravated assault charge.