Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-26
Williams Acted Queer

Complaint had come from the au-
thorities at Augusta that Williams
was there and that he had been act
ing in a strange manner. The Home
authorities were advised to go and
get Williams as it was feared that. he
might cause some trouble. But be-
fore the Home authorities had got in
touch with Williams he had come
back to the Home on his own volition.
When he reached the Home it was
quickly observed by the medical men
that Williams was not acting as if he
were in his right mind. He was ad-
vised to go to the hospital where he
would be treated. Upon entrance in
to the hospital his watch, money and
other things which were found upon
his person were taken from him. At
that time no fire arms were found
about his body.
The shooting occurred in less than a
half hour after his arrival. There
were others in the room at the time
of the shooting and Williams was
quickly placed under guard and taken
to the guard house. There a heavy
guard was placed upon him.
Due to inability to reach Medical
Examiner Harris, Governor Francis
+. Hurley, upon authority received
from United States District Attorney
John f, a. Merrill in Portland. ap-
pointed an emergency examining
board. Major B. F. Hayden, chief
surgeon at the Home was appointed
to act with Captain Brewer and DR..
Whitford. This board made an exam
ination of the body of DR.. Ovidiu.
Their findings are under seal and will
be turned over to the United States
Marshal and other Federal officers
who are to arrive in the morning.
A second board was appointed to
make n thorough investigation into
all circumstances attending the
shooting and to report at the hearing
10
o'clock. The members of this board:
Major Hayden, Colonel Cook, Major
Perkins.
1t is the consensus of opinion of the
inhabitants at the Home that Will
liams committed the deed in a fit of
mental arrangement and they can
place no motive for such a crime.
Governor Hurley of the National
Soldiers Home speaks of the affair
with the greatest sadness. The shoot
ing has cast heavy gloom over the
home. DR.. Ovidiu was general
favorite. He had been here for the
past 10 years and leaves his wife,
who was formerly Winnifred Dudley
Of Augusta, and one daughter, Char
lotte, aged three. They had been
married about five years. He was
about 40 years old and was born in
Roumania. He went to Philadelphia
when a young man and secured his
medical education there. Two broth
ers and a sister also survive.
Williams, the man who is held, is
aged about 36 years, is tall and well
set up. He is a barber. He has not
been able to work for any stretch of
time having trouble with his leg.
He would work for few weeks,
having been employed in Augusta,
Gardiner and Hallowell and then
would come back to the Home to
rest. He came to the Home from
Texas and very little is known
about him.
Williams, upon his last leave Of
the Home, had been trying to get
back. He had talked with the gov
ernor and was told that he would
be placed in the hospital if he did
come back. Williams, SO some of the
acquaintance say, has religious
fanatic spells and carries the belief
that a certain religious sect is con-
spring against him. He has told, so
Governor Hurley said, that he would
get DIR. Ovidiu. But it is the general
opinion that he would have shot
anyone who got in his way at the