Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-04
Inquest on Deaths /!
Of Marston Brothers
Widows of Men Shot Thursday N 6 h t on h e
Thomaston Road Tell of Drinking Quar-
rels Leading up to Murder and Suicide Yer
dict as Rendered by Medical Examiner Harris

An inquest was held in the munich
pal court room Friday afternoon to es-
tablish the facts in the murder and sui
eide of Ralph r. and Eugene A. Mar
ston Thursday evening on the Thomas
ton road.
Mrs. Ethel Marston
County Attorney William H. Fisher
and Medical Examiner w. H. Harris
conducted the inquest. and number of
witnesses were called, the first being
Mrs. Ethel Marston, widow of Ralph
Marston. She stated that her husband
and his brother Eugene went to Au-
gusta Thursday noon, with Eugenes
wife, and that while in town the party
got gallon of liquor which Eugene
Marston had sent for previously, the
gallon being divided into two quarts of
straight Kentucky whiskey. one quart
of cherry wine, and a quart of black
berry wine, the firm from which it was
purchased being the United DiStillery
Co. of Boston.
She then stated that Eugene and his
wife and her own husband returned
from Augusta, and went together to
the home of an uncle, Charles Mar
ston, where they got into a quarrel
because Ralph had taken some liquor
from Eugene, thinking that he had
taken too much already. She and her
husband reached home at $50 P. NJ,
and her father was there. Eugene was
in an ugly mood and wanted to fight,
and grabbed her by the arm, Ralph in
terfering and throwing his younger
brother into a corner of the room, then
4.
finally quoted down. Later Eugene
again became ugly and slapped his own
wife. Ralph reproved him for it, and
the couple started for home. Shortly
afterward her husband. Ralph Marston'
started for his work, and the next sne
knew of the affair was telephone call
telling her of the shooting. and she
hurried at once to the scene. she
stated that her husband always had
used liquor, but seldom got drunk.
Mrs. Eugene Marston
The next witness was Mrs. Eugene
Marston, who stated that she and her
husband had lived in Chelsea. She told
the same story as to the trip TO Au-
gusta, and said that she took the IL
uuor away from her husband and gave
it to his brother to take care of, as
she thought Eugene had had enough.
She stated that her husband wheeled
the baby carriage for her on the way
home from Raiph's house that night,
and that he told her he was sorry that
he struck her. He promised to go to
work at the National Home in the eve
ming and Ralph called for him on his
way to work, coming into the house.
Eugene came in and found Ralph
there, and said, What are you do
ing here?" Ralph answering, Il walk
in like a man." Eugene. then said:
"Well, you walk out like a man."
Then, the witness stated, they got
into an argument and she said that
the lamp went out, Eugene telling
Ralph to light it quick or he would
put him in his grave. Ralph went out
and started to go to his work, and Eu-
gene took his gun and followed him.
His wife went to the door and heard
him call to Ralph to stop. She next
heard loud talking and thinks they
may have fought for a moment. Next
came a shot and she screamed and ran
into the house Of neighbor, Mrs.
Perkins, who called her husband, and
they hurried to the scene, finding
Ralph alive but unconscious. and Eu-
gene, whose skull was blown in, dead.
The next witness that was called, Mrs.
Sadie Bennett, sister of both young
men, was almost unable to reply to
the questions Of the authorities. She
told them that she was at neighbours
house when she was told by some chils
dren that the shooting had occurred.
and she at once hurried to the scene,