Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-27

ward the sheriff found this note. writ
ten on a pad of cheap writing paper:
May IS.
How long the time seames, but I
shall be going soon, good by, Alton,
God bless you.
Your Papa.
The careful manner in which the
whole tragedy was carried out is en-
phasized in the manner in which he
wrote a farewelh note to his boy. To
write it, he put on his eye glasses,
took a pencil and after writing it, laid
them carefully down.
1t is the opinion that he shot him.
self while lying on the lounge for the
reason that the revolver lay on the
lounge beside him.
He had been shot through the ear
and the wound apparently had been
self inflicted
Constable Berry is prosperous
farmer and former selectman. He is
about AZ. Wyman was 81 years old.
Crime Apparently Planned
Every indication seems to show that
Lincoln Wyman planned to shoot
Howard Berry and no one else. 1t has
even been found that he called up Mr..
Berry's wife Tuesday morning to find
if the constable had started for his
place.
The deadliness of his rage is indi
Gated by the finding of a slug embed
ded in the shingles of an ice house,
which stands in the yard. This is in
direct line from the doorway where
he stood and where Berry stood by
the auto, when he was shot.
The slug evidently taken from some
small rifle or revolver was apparent
ly put into the shot guns shell, in an
ticipation of shooting the man who
came with the doctor.
E. r. Boothby who talked with wy
man Monday, noticed that he, who is
known to be a moody man, had some
thing on his mind. In talking with
him he could not interest him in any
conversation and many times did not
receive answers to his questions.
Another thing that might indicate
that the man was preparing himself
for an ordeal is the fact that in the
pantry on a self was a half pitcher
full of hard cider and a half emptied
glass of the cider.
Sent Boy from House
Before the arrival of the constable
Wyman sent his boy Alton to pas
ture down behind the house. The boy,
who is IA years of age, is badly af-
fected by the tragedy. He is very we'll
liked in the neighborhood and his life
alone with his father has not been OF
the pleasantest. He will say nothing
at present because his father request
ed him not to do so.
wyman lived for several years in
the West and with with his brother
in Iowa when the latter was shot in
a saloon.
1t is recalled that at different times
he has quarreled with his wife. on one
occasion himself, taking paris green
to frighten her, and within a few
months, in anger against his wife and
the hired man he is alleged to have at
tempted to shoot the hired man. At
this time the wife took paris green,
and for weeks was critical yill 1t Is
said she is now at Wayne and is still
suffering from the effect Of the poison.
Berry is about 40 years Of age. He
is one of the most prominent citizens
in town. :,
The home about which the tragedy
took place has a previous tragic his
tory. 1t is the old Deacon John O.
Palmer place.
Automobiles Arrive at 1880
A rather odd feature of the affair
is that both sheriff parties. who were
notified by telephone, had to make
a trip Of approximately 16 miles by
automobile. Sheriff Stevens started
from Auburn at 9.45 and arrived thre
at about 1890 Deputy Sheriff VIII
liams was at North Jay and both au-
tomobiles coming in opposite direc-
tions, drew up in front of the Wyman
homested at the same time.
Coroner Doe also came from Auburn.
| making the trip in two minutes short
Of an hour. He Immediately made an
examination Of the body and his opin-
ion was that the bullet from the as