Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-12
TWO STORIES TOLD.
Father and Son Give Different Ver-
sions of An Assault Case.

Livermore Falls, Me, April lift
we are to believe the story of one John
Johnson, Jr.. vino claims quite q repu-
tation as young Jack O'Rrien. the
prize fighter, murder came near being
committed at the johnson place so
called, about two miles below this viii
lagc TttC s(lly night. There are two
sides To the story, anl they vary wide
~ as to who was the aggressor.
Johnson is surely in a dilapidated
condition and the wonder is he is
alive" according to DR.. Geo II. Rand.
VINO dressed his wounds.
According TO DIR. Rand, young john
son had 10 gasheS on the head that
penetrated TO the skull, all of which
young johnson alleges We're inflicted
by an axe in the hands of his father,
John johnson, ST., ana his Stepmother
Mary Johnson.
Yesterday young Johnson sWOre out
a warrant against his father and moth
er for assault and battery. and he told
Judge Roothby the following story:
II told father was going TO hitcn
ur the horse and go to the village TO
fix a horses teeth for a man. | went
10 the barn ana htching up the team
Oh owe out, when father shouted 70 me
not 10 take the horse, alleging that
was irving to steal the team.
II said What ails You, dad" ana drlF-
ing up to the house thought TO reason
with the old man. | had n float (an IN
strllmcnt some two feet long, used Tor
filing horses teeth in my hand, and what
was nv surprise when l entered the door
70 see father standing there with an AK"
in his hands.
"Some words followed regarding the
stealing of the horse. Suddenly father
struck me with the axe. | threw up my
arms, hoping to break the force of the
bow. but was not quick enough and got
the full force of the blow on my head.
The float. which l had in my hand.
may have inflicted q wound on fathers
head. although | did not intend to hit
him, simply to protect myself. To pro-
tprt myself | tackled father and downed
him and Gisarmed him. I was holding
Ihiln down and trying to reason with him
when father called on mother for help.
She picked up the axe and tried to split
NY head open. Finally, father let me un
and mother stopped and | c"awled on my
hands ana knees to the house of our
nearest ncighbor. Mr.. Dimond, and he
carried rue up 10 see DR.. Rand.
"Having no place TO go to- [ was al
lowed to sleep in the lookup Tuesday
night"
L Wednesday. John J. Johnson, Sr.. was
arrested by Deputy Sheriff W. \. Gil
bert. and the father tells an entirely diff
ferent story.
The father went to Judge Boothby to
swear out a warrant for his sons arrest
for assault and battery and according TO
the story he told Judge Boothby his son
was the aggrcEsOr. Here is the fathers
story: II thought he intended 10 steal
my horse end skip out and so | told him
not to take the team. In spite of this he
went down to the stable and. hitching up
the team. started towards the house. He
seemed the worse for liquor and as 10
crossed the bridge leading to the house
he fell down and banged his head
against the cross ties Of the bridge.
Il had just stepped out of the door with
an axe in my hands. intending TO split
up stick of cedar which was near the
door. AS my son approached he said,
Did you say I am stealing this horse?
at which I replied. i say if you take that
horse and go off it is stealing.
Then my son raised the float and at
TEMPTED to bang me on the head. To
ward off the blow I threw up my arms
still holding the axe in my hands. The
float cut a cash in my head and l grab
bed my son ard downed him, John grip
ping my throat. l had hold of Johns
shoulders and was holding him down but
John had the use of his arms and as no
kept on banging me in the face with the
float or what was left of it. l called for
my wife for help.
"She picked up the axe and I told her
to hit John on the head and she did So
possibly two or three times. John finally
released his hold on my throat, saying
he had had enough, so l told the woman
10 let up with the axe, and 1 allowed
John to get up.
"John left the house at once and I went
over to Samuel Woods and telephoned
all the particulars in the case to DEPUTY
Sheriff Gilbert" Young johnson IS now
in the lookup awaiting trial, which will
take place Saturday. Judge Boothby be-
ing called out of town today.