Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-02
ALMOST MURDER.
Maynard Shea Shoots Jennie
!. Day at Gardiner.
Was Drunk--Fired Through Door,
Woman Will Lose One Hand.
Shea Surrenders but Remembers
Nothing of the Affair.

Gardiner, Me-, Sept. 1.-(SpeciaD.-
AT the John Milton house on Lincoln
avenue, opposite the old Merrill trot-
ting park, Maynard Shea shot and Sc
riously wounded Jennie 1. Day, who
with him, Mrs. George Gordon, Charles
and Harry Shea, live in that place.
The affair took place at about 315
Monday afternoon, and at about 4
O'Clock the police were notified by Fred
Potter, who was driving on that road.
Before the shooting Maynard Shea
had been in the city, and purchased
of Bartlett & Dennis some grain and
groceries. He also drank heavily be-
fore returning.
On his return to the house Mrs. Day
became frightened at his behavior and
fled to the upper part of the house,
fastening the stairway door.
Shea called for her to come down,
saying that if she did not unfasten the
door he would shoot her. She i'm
mediately came down the stairway, and
had her hand on the door latch, when
he fired through the door, filling her
right hand full of small shot and
slightly wounding the left arm.
She fled to the next house, owned
by Silas Taylor, and was followed
down the yard by Shea, who threatened
to shoot her in the back if she did not
stop. She, however, kept on, and Shea,
becoming frightened by the neighbors
who were gathering, dropped the gun
and fled to the woods back of the trot-
ting park, later returning and recover
ing the gun.
When news of the affair reached the
police, City Marshal Andrews, Officer
Burns, A. J. Burns, F. c. Emery and
a Journal reporter went at once to the
scene, and on the way stopped at Tay-
lor's house, where DR.. Crocker was
dressing Mrs. Days wounds, which
We're exceedingly painful, and groans
from the sufferer We're plainly audible
to those outside.
When the doctor left the house he
replied to inquiries regarding the eff
fects of the wounds, that the left hand
only was severely injured and that it
would be necessary for that member
10 be amputated. The amputation was
later performed, the hand being taken
off at the wrist.
Inc scene u the SIlcolliiS5 liC<>t ~
ceived the attention of those invcs-
tigating. Blood was seen on the door
steps and in the entry, which was not
more than four feet square. 1t was III
this entry, from which Il door opened
into the stairway where Mrs. Day was
shot. that Shea stood when he fired,
and the muzzIe of the gun was held
close to the door when fired. The shot
fore q hole about an inch in diameter
in the door.
Mrs Day, nearly crazed by pain, ran
up the stairs and through the cham
Der above. leaving a trail of blood on
the floor and partitions before fleeing
to the neighboring house for aid.
1t was not at first known that Shea
had returned for his weapon, which
was a single barrel shot gun, and the
officers made a thorough but fruitless
search about the house and premises
in homes of finding it. Traces OF the
criminal were also looked for, but THIS
roo proved in vain. An old coat be-
longing to him was found in the drive
wav but that gave no clue of any
value.
The house was of the meaneSt dis
cription: was scarcely furnished at all
and was sickening with filth. For a
long time the place has been a source
Of disgust and annoyance to the
neighborhood, but complaint had not
been made against the occupants, as
the latter had cautioned the people
in that vicinity that it would not be
safe thing to do.
Shea had but little money, as he
spent nearly all he obtained for liquor
and a bottle containing small quantl-
tv of whiskey was found in q closet n
one of the lower rooms.
Search was made without avail for
Shea and plans were being made to 10
cate him, Tuesday, but at $50, he in
company with his mother, drove up
TO the police station and surrendered
to Deputy Sheriff Burns
Shea claims that he remembers
nothing at all about the affair, saying
that he was drunk and cannot tell
where he was or what he did. 1t IS
evident, however, that he realizes the
had box in which he is.