Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-07
Stabbing ARRAY on Clark
Street, Wednesday,.
Trouble the Result Of Dispute
About Price Of Stove.
Chas. \. Morrill, Cuts Ira Smith 90 Head
and Arm...Under Arrest.

A stabbing aifray, which grew out of
a dispute over the price of a cooking
stove, between Ira W. Smith and Chas.
H. Morrill,, both of this city, occurred
at the home of the former on Clark
street, at about 5.45, Wednesday after
noon. during which Smith received sew
eral wounds from a jacknife in the
hands of Morrill,, which occasioned
considerable loss of blood and one Oh
which may prove serious. Morrill, was
arrested. later, at his home on Stale
street, by Night Officers Dutton and
HarwoOd and confined at the police sta-
ton and held without bail for appear
ance at the municipal court, this morn
ing. Smiths wounds We're dressed by
a surgeon, and if no complications set
in, it is not thought that serious re-
suits will follow.
From what could be learned at the
home of Smith, the wounded man, last
evening, Morrill, and a man named John
Neal, the latter being clerk at the
furniture store of the Diplock-Morril
Co., of which firm Morrill, is a member,
went to the house at about 5.45, yester-
day afternoon. with team, to look at
a stove. Mr.. smith had been at the
Il
stove and some talk had been made of
exchanging the old one in part pay
Hlent
Mrs Smith, the wife of the wounded
man. said that when Morrill, came to
the house, her husband was eating his
supper and that she was frying some
meat for him. When Morrill, came in he
asked some questions about the stove
and Mr. Smith asked him if he would
allow 50 for it. Morrill, said that it was
not worth the money, and then, after
some discussion. Morrill, struck Mr..
Smith on the head. The two men then
had a scuife and Morrill, went out into
the yard, bat did not go away.
Then came another scuffle in the
yard. during which Morrill, drew his
knife and cut Smith number of times,
once on the head. over the left temple,
making an incised wound about two
inches long and through the skin and
muscle to the bone. Another skin
wound three inches in length was in
flicted under the left side of the jaw,
" lille in the middle of the left arm was
stab wound, one inch in depth.
Smith lost much blood from his
wounds. In his yard. where the trouble
occurred. there was not much blood
but Oh the premises of Mrs. Nathaniel
Buker, which adjoins those of the
Smith residence on the north. there
We're three or four pools. After the cut
ting occurr ID, Morrill, and Neal drove
away from the house on their way
home, while physician was called and
llic injured man attended to. 1t was
necessary to take two stitches in the
wound on the head to close it.
MeanWh lille word had been sent to the
police and on learning the identity of
the nan who was alleged to have done
the cutting. Night Officers HARDWOOD
and button went to his residence. hav-
ing first telephoned City Marshal Breen,
and made the arrest as above stated,
Marshal Breen arriving at the house
as they We're preparing to leave with
the prisoner officer Dutton found the
knife in closet where the young man
had dropped it when going after his
coat. There was blood on the large
blade and Morrill, admitted the knife
to be mis-.
The young man was seen at the pO-
lice station and told the following story
regarding the trouble:
''Slnith came to my store this after
noon. ana stated that he wanted to buy
Il new stove. and wanted to give an old
one in part payment for il. l went to
the house with my teamster, John Neal
and evidently the man was enraged
because placed a small price on his
old stove. He was drunk, and before
knew ii, he nit me in the eye. His wife
WAS the only person in the house, with
the exception of Smith, Neal and my
self The act was done in an instant
and Neal and l left the house. Neal
jumped on the team, while / stood in
the yard. While I was in the yard.
Smith came from the house and struck
me again. Then l drew my knife and
don't know how many times 1 stabbed
him. l simply drew my knife to defend
myself"
Morrill, will be arraigned before Judge
Andrews at the municipal court. this
morning.