Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-05
THE FAMILY TROUBLES
OF Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gowell OF
Litchfield. Aired in Court.

The family troubles of Mr.. and Mrs.
Arthur Gowell, who ike in the vicinity
of oak hill. I.itchdeld. We're given an
airing in court Friday before Judge
Atkins. The case arose out of the ae-
tion OF Mrs. Margaret GoWell, the wife.
having her husband arrested for non
support of the four minor children. 1t
seems that Mr. and Mrs Gowell to
gether purchased farm in Litchfield
last September and that after a while
the husband wished the wife to deed
over to him one half the place She was
unwilling To do this and she stated in
her testimony that from that time on
he began to make trouble and that at
fairs finally eliminated on Feb. -
last when they had quarrel and he
left, going to live with his sisters, Mrs
jay Mills and Mrs Ella Currier For
time. Mrs. Gowell testified, her hus-
band furnished some groceries, but
early In April he stopped entirely. She
then applied TO the town for aid and
later brought the action against him.
Her story Of their married life showed
that il had not been altogether happy
while his story on the stand alleged
abuse by the wife and even assaults
and threats To kill him
When the Trouble in April started.
Mrs. Gowell said that her husband
took his clothes and left and that the
next day he came and took about all
the live stock ON the place, besides
many of the farming tools, Later he
returned and began to take away the
cider in the cellar and what he did not
carry away he spilled on the cellar
flacr. She said that he took. among
other things, Doth wood saws. so that
she did not have wood TO burn.
Judge Harry Manser of Auburn was
attorney Cor the respondent an IN ms
REORGANIZATION he asked many
questions concerning the past IRE OF
the couple, especially that ot MIS-
Gowell. They were married about /
wears ago and lived most of the ume
in Lewiston or Auburn, where MT
Gowel was employed. She denied, IN
answer to Judge Mansers questions.
that her husband bought her Weddlhs
clothes. that she had attacked hef
hushand with various implements
among others a pitchfork. casekh'le
ana pieces Of wood and iron
The Respondent on the stand t"ia d
thrilling story Of assaults by A.5 80 :.
When they Nere living ia A,|.afl -
SAID, she went after him with plto
fork and he had to take horseWhlP
with which to defend himself Again
she struck him with knife III tlle
side and that he now carried the sea. >
On the DAY of the separation the VII
ness told of how his wife MT MN wv.
the head with a piece of IRON ait'
brought the blood and showed the SEA
Later that same day when he returi'cd
to the house, he said that she again
hit him with piece of wood alhl'st ~
the same place where she hit nm III
the morning. He denied ever haFlliS
hit her except with the whip.
Mrs. Jay Mills. sister of the le-
spondent. testified to the sending oil
groceries to the family and that a
memoranda was kept showing the
things sent and the dates. She identi
fled the memoranda as having beer
made by her. Percy Beals, her son
told of his visits to the Gowell place
with Mr. Gowell when they went te
take the provisions
Emelen p. Springer, one of the Sc
lectmen of Litchfield. was In court
having come at the request of Hon
10. B. Clason, attorney for Mrs. Cow