The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-02-24
A MURDER IN BELFAST
A Woman the Victim. Two Men are
Under Arrest.


A Woman the Victim. Two Men are
Under Arrest.
Belfast was the scene of tragedy last Mon
day night, in which rum and jealousy led to a
quarrel that eliminated in murder. The victim
was the divorced wife of Henry NJ French,
farmer on the Patterson road in East Belfast,
and is survived by the following children:
Della, wife of Frances Gray, Minnie French,
Eva, wife of Fred. F. Thomas, and Elmer and
Maurice French. After her divorce from
French she married Elbridge Thomas, a fisher
man, who makes his headquarters at Owls
Head, and who came to Belfast Tuesday. sum-
moned here by her death. She was born in this
city and her maiden name was Richards The
others concerned were Ira S. Grady and Sydney
Bennett. Grady is blacksmith and former
resident of this city. He went from Belfast
to Brooks and latterly had been living in Isles
boro. His wife died some years ago and he
has three children, now residents of Brooks,
He is good workman and when himself a good
citizen, but is addicted to drink. 1t is said that
he had not indulged for some time and came
over from Islesboro intending to go to Brooks
to visit his children. Bennett came here from
East Boothbay some six or seven years ago
when the Morses of Bath filled the ice houses
on the east side and had since been employed
as a teamster and laborer. Those who had
employed him say he was an inoffensive man,
but his drinking habits debarred him from reg
ular employment. He has wife and two chill
dren in this city who are in destitute condition.
1t will probably never be known exactly what
took place at the home of Mrs. Thomas on
Cross street. Bennett had been about the
house much of the time and Grady had been
in the habit of calling there. They were both
in the kitchen Monday night and all were more
or less under the influence of liquor. Shortly
after 10 o'clock that night two men employed
at the Coe-Mortimer plant were passing the
Thomas house and hearing groans went to the
back door and entered the kitchen. Seated at
table and leaning against the wall was Mrs
Thomas, partly unconscious. The room was in
confusion, with evidences of a scuffle. Police
man Arthur F. Beach was notified, other of
ficers called and DIR. Elmer Small summoned.
DR.. Small at once had the woman taken to the
hospital and she died not long after reaching
there. She had wound in the side about
three fourths of an inch long and as she had
not bled much externally it was thought pos
sible that she might have died from alcoholism
or heart failure; but an autopsy held Tuesday
is said to have shown that death was caused by
single cut or stab in the heart, made by a
small instrument like knife blade.
Grady was found in room in the Commercial
House lying bed with his clothes on and
apparently helplessly drunk. He has denied
all knowledge of the stabbing, saying that he
does not like Bennett and had left the house,
leaving Bennett there. He admitted that he
and Mrs. Thomas had a slight mix-up, but said
that he did not stab her. The police found a
pocket knife in pocket of Grady's overcoat.
Bennett was arrested later at his home, and at
first denied any knowledge of the affair but
later admitted that he was at the Thomas
house. He said that Grady and Mrs. Thomas
had row and that he heard Mrs. Thomas
scream, "My God, I'm stabbed" He did not see
Grady stab her, but the woman had slapped
Gradys face and Grady was scuffiing with her.
The body of Mrs. Thomas was taken to the
undertaking rooms of Charles r. Coombs
Tuesday and the autopsy held there that after
noon. Meanwhile County Attorney Buzzell
and the city officials have been at work on the
case.
The inquest was called at the city building
at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and Coroner
Charles R. Coombs impanelled the following
jury John Sanborn, Charles F. Thompson, Eu-
gene R. Conners, James F. Fernald, Clifford J..
Pattee and Orrin j. Dickey. Miss Ruby Good
ell acted as the official stenographer. The fol-
lowing witnesses were summoned: DR.. Elmer
Small the physician called to the house after
the stabbing; Drs. G. c. Kilgore and O. S. Wick
cry, the physicians at the Hospital; DIR. E. A.
Wilson, who with Kilgore and Vickery per-
formed the autopsy; Mrs. Joseph Estes and
Miss Minnie French, who called at the house
early in the evening; Joseph Decrow, who
heard Bennett talking about the affair; City
Marshal Hammons, night watch Packard and
Beach, and officers Shute and Baker, besides
the men in custody, Ira Grady and Sidney
Bennett, and Sheriff Amos F. Carleton.
The funeral of Mrs. Thomas will take place
at her late residence, Cross street, this
Thursday, afternoon at o'clock. Rev. Ashley
A. Smith of the Universaist church will offici-
ate.