Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-06
Story Of Assault by Kerr
on His Brothers Life.
Remembers Drinking Whiskey,
But No Shooting Affair.
after Evidence is Given Kerr is Held
For December Term.

Bath, Ne, Nov. 5.-(SpeciaD.-Th
effects Of drinking cheap whiskey, ea-
pecia!ly the kind which 1etails for 80
cents Il quart, We're We'll cxenlplificd in
the trial before Judge Staples this af-
teroon in which James Kerr appeared
as the respondent on the charge of as
saulting his brother, William w. Kerr,
last Saturday afternoon with intent to
kill.
Mr. Kerr, the elder. who sustained the
bullet wound which graZed his cheek
last Saturday night, was the first wit
ness and told of his brother having
three quarts Of whiskey come LAST
Thursday night and he himself had had
a few drinks from the lot and then OH
Saturday he had a gallon come for
himself He said his brother did not
appear to be under the influence of
liuuor when he left him about 430, but
upon returning home he was net by his
wife and her daughter who told him
that james was playing with a reVol-
Yer and when they reached the house it
was impossible to get in as all the doors
locked, and he was obliged to break
in the stable door and get into the
house and upon so doing laid down on
the couch for rest. While there the
brother came down stairs and q few
words were passed, whereupon Kerr,
the elder. jumped to his feet but was
promptly pushed back by his brother,
who fired one shot at him. They
clinched and in going from the dining
room to the kitchen, the brother fired
another shot which graZed the elder
brother on the cheek and he snapped
the trigger two or three times more
but the revolver refused fire. The
brother remarked I've shot you and
killed you and now let me say a
prayer." With that parting statement
the witness testified that his brother
jumped through L window and dlsap-
pcarel The testimony of Mrs. Kerr
and her daughter, Myrtle Green, cor
loboratel that of Kerr in the main.
Young Kerr in telling his story said
he did not work Friday or Saturday on
account Of a cold ana commenced
drinking the whiskey to break 1t up.
He testified that he and his brother
drank up a quart Thursday night and
Friday. ON Saturday he and his
brother went at 1t again and according
To his testimony they We're about m
the same condition. Flndlly MS Droth-
en- poured him out a drink of his sup
NV. which had just arrived ana lnat
seemed to finish him. From that time
until the middle of the night he was IN
= daZc He testified of meeting u
friend on Commercial street who said
the police were looking for him as ne
had shot his brother. He remembered
az telling the friend that it was no
such thing as lie hadn't done any
shooting. Then everything seemed |"
lc i blank until about 1870 or ii
o'cInck. when he woke up from Il
slumb,r in the grass on North street
and II was while walking down town
that he met another person VINO tod
him that all Bath was searching LOT
him for he had shot hts brother. nc
decided to go straight to the ponce
station and give himself up ana reach-
N There about midnight.
Judge staples found prohapie cauS'
ana on account of the enormity OF IN,
crimc held him for the grand Jury a'
the december term of the supreme
iudiciaI court in the sum or *loo"'