The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-05-23
Police Chief Peabody Arrested.
Charged With Assault With Intent to Kill
Wounded man Expected to Recover.


RoCkLAND, Me-, May II. Chief of
Police Jesse w. Peabody of Thomaston
was arraigned before trial justice C. E.
Meservey this afternoon on the charge
of assault with intent to kill. The COM
plainant was John L. Dickey of Thorn
aston, father-in-law of Guy Libby, who
lies in critical condition in Knox hos
pital from the effect of a bullet wound
while Libby was striving to evade ar
rest for non-payment of a dog tax.
Probable cause being found, Mr.. Pea
body was held in the sum of $500 for
the September term of supreme court.
The bonds were purpOsely placed at
low figure in order that bail might be
obtained.
The prosecution was represented in
today's hearing by County Attorney
Philip Howard, who produced dozen
witnesses to testify as to the pursuit
and shooting of Mr.. Libby. The first
shot was fired by Chief Peabody into
the air after Libby had run from Main
street to Beechwood street. The second
shot was fired by Chief Peabody while
standing near the engine house, which
is between BeechWood street and the
jail One witness, Fred Swift, who &C.
cupies tenement few yards from the
scene of the shooting, testified that the
officer stopped and took deliberate aim
before firing the shot which took effect
Libby and his pursuer were at that time
about so feet apart.
J. Henry Feyier, who was first at tie
Jail after the shooting, told of the CON
versation between the wounded man
and the chief of police.
I'm sorry this happened, but you
ought to have stopped when | called
Chief Peabody said.
80, you'd shoot your own WIFE" the
wounded man is alleged to have answer
ed
Chief Peabody's own story of the af-
| fray as told in the stand was Substan-
TALLY as follows:
81 had warrant for Mr.. Libby and
| when | found him on the car yesterday
afternoon proceeded formally to arrest
him. | then told him to go to Judge
Linscott's office and settle the matter
When the Car stopped and Libby start.
ed away in another direction l called
for him to stop. AT that Libby broke
| into a run. | called for him to stop
and when he failed to do so | discharg-
ed my revolver into the air. Still Lib
| ny k6pG OIl IuuuluS, Will lAC III pulSult
| cooked the revolver so as to be pre-
pared for emergencies, but with nc
more intention of shooting him than
had in the first place.
"When / neared the engine house ]
stepped into rut or hollow and the
shock threw me backward, causing the
weapon to be discharged. Even then ]
did not know that Libby had been hit
and the first real knowledge l had OF
the fact was when Libby partially re
moved his shirt, displaying the wound.
The courtroom was densely packed
during the hearing and majority O.
the spectators were manifestly hostile
to the police chief. During the count!
attorneys seaching discrimination
they expressed their sentiments audibly
and greeted with misses one of the de
Tending attorneys statements that tn,
State had lot of ''clackers" in tn
audience.
Mr.. Libby passed sleepless but fairl.
comfortable night, and astonished tn
surgeons by his encouraging condition
this morning. DR.. E. B. Silsby state'
, that if no complications like blood poi
soning, or pneumonia, set in, the pa
tents chance of recovery should b
fairly hopeful. Mr.. Libby has wifi
and three children, the oldest only
years of age.