Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-06
MADISON
Stabbing ARRAY as Result of
Family Trouble Causes the
Arrest of the Father

Andrew Petley who was one of the
, principals in the stabbing ARRAY Of
Saturday evening, was arraigned at .
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon before Judge
Frank Withee in the court room at the
rear of Fireman's hall. Neither side
was represented by council. Petley plead
not guilty. DR.. J. A. Thibodeau was
called and stated that he dressed Mrs.
Petley's wounds Saturday evening
There was one cut on the side of the
necks and two beneath the chin. none
of which were dangerous. He stated
that the wounds were made with some
sharp instrument. The next witness was
Mrs. James Hodgdon at whose home the
row occurred. Mrs. Hodgdon stated in
substance that Petley and his wife had
been estranged and Petley had been to
his old home in Canada TO secure WORK
but had failed. On his return to Arson
the last of the week he desired to patch
matters up, and Mrs. Petley was advised
by Mrs. Hodgdon to do so. Mrs. Petley
after considerable conversation went out
with her husband. In the evening Pet
ley threatened to kill himself. About II
o'clock after more conversation Petley
suddenly seized his wife and inflicted
the wounds and then fled. This testi
mony was in part corroborated by Mrs.
Hodgdon's daughter. Mrs Petley stated
that she and her husband broke up
housekeeping two weeks ago and he
went away, came back the last of the
week but was not given a very warm
welcome. She was positive in her as
sertion that he was not drunk when the
assault occurred. She stated that she
was afraid of Petley and that he had
threatened to kill both herself and the
children. She also stated that the
wounds were inflicted with a knife. Pet
ley took the stand in his own behalf and
stated that the beginning of his trouble
was the opposition of his wife's family
to her living with him. He said he came
back the last of the week and tried to
make up. He drank whiskey several
times during the day and in the evening
on the refusal of his wife to go out with
him he wanted to kill himself Later
when she did go out with him he drank
a pint bottle of whiskey and could re-
member little of what happened later. He
said his wife had tried to poison him by
putting bicloride of mercury in his cof-
fee. This accusation was Indignantly de-
found probable cause and held Petley
for the April term of the supreme judi
cial court. He was unable to furnish the
bond of $500 required and was taken to
the Skowhegan jail.
The women of M. S. Perkins G. A. r.
Circle are making preparations to hold
a public campfire at the Methodist church
next Monday evening in observance of
the anniversary of Lees surrender. The
program will consist of patriotic
speeches, music and recitations.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard Gibbs and daugh-
ter Shirley and Charles Clark returned
Tuesday night from st. Petersburg, Fla,
where they have been passing the win
ter.
F. c. Clark returned Wednesday fore
ton.
John r. Trickey, DR.. w. H. Kennson |
and John Defletre left town Wednesday |
for Bangor to attend the State |
convention as delegates from |
the town of Madison.
H. A. Johnson, E. L. Perkins, j. c. |
Randall and D. M. Nichols, assessors |
for the town and village corporation, are |
making the annual rounds for valuation. |
Miss Alice ]. Spear has recently ac- |
cepted a position as pianist at the Pas
time moving picture theatre, taking the |
place of Mrs. Alice Gallagher, who will |
cave town for Augusta next week.