Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-22
HUSKY YOUNG FINLANDER HELD
AS RESULT OF BRUTAL ASSAULT
ON BROTHER N-LAW AT Vienna

On the testimony Of his sister that
he struck her husband down with
his fist broke a chair over his head
as he lay on the floor. tried to brain
him with a six foot club, and threat
ened to kill the entire family during
a drunken brawl, John Larkso of
Vienna was found guilty in Munich
pal Court Wednesday on charge of
assault committed against John Hill
of the same place, and Judge Cony
ordered him held for The Grand Jury
at the January term f the Superior
court in the sum of $500. The nee
essary bail was not forthcoming and
Larkso was sent up on the hill to
await the action of the Grand Jury
at that time.
The case occupied most of the time
at the morning session of the num-
icipal court Wednesday,, and as the
story of the fight in the Hill home
was unfolded through the testimony
of the witnesses, it proved to be a
blood curdling tale of brute ferocity
induced by liquor. Mr.. and Mrs. Hill
and the respondent, VINO is Mrs. Hills
brother, are Firms, and the testimony
of the woman was presented to the
court through the medium Of an in
terpreter, Konsta A. Mi;.kola.
The Warrant was sworn out and
the arrest made by Deputy Sheriff
O. #. Trask of Vienna, who when
called as the first witness for the
state, told of being called to the
neighborhood where the Hill farm
is located on the road between New
Sharon and Vienna, Tuesday morn
ing. AS Mr. Trask approached the
house he heard screams and cries of
persons evidently in agony. On en-
tering the house Mr.. Trask said that
! he found things in a terrible state of
upheaval. three doors battered down,
two windows smashed out, sash,
glass and all, chairs and furniture
demolished, pictures and mirrors cast
about the rooms, and blood spatters
and stains on the walls and wood
work.
Hill, who is q small man, and his
brother law, Larkso, who is
brawny, blonde young Finnlander,
were grapoled in conflict. The sher-
iff succeeded in getting them out of
the house, and as they reached the
ward, I.arkso again struck Hill down
with a blow of his fist. The officer
and his assistants manaclcd the men
and they were brought to the county
Jail in this city, where it was neces-
sary to call physician to dress
Hills wounds. The man was found
| to have q severe abrasion on the
forehead. evidently inflicted by
club or heavy instrument. His face
was badly mauled, and as he sat in
municipal court room YESTERDAY
morning he looked as though he had
been through mangle, head band
aged. both eyes terribly discolored
l.:
| The victims wife, Mrs. John Hill,
was sworn as a witness, and through
| the interpreter told the story of the
! mornings happenings. She said that
| lust before nine o'clock Tuesday
! morning, as she was dressing the
: children, q four year old boy ana
! six months old twins. her husband,
and Iarkso, were in the room occu-
! MED by a Russian named konstan-
tine Pshenechuy, and had been
/ drinking some kind of strong liquor
which had evidently been brought 10
7 the Hill home by Pshenechuy. Hill
and her brother got into somo argn-
ment. and I.arkso struck Hill in the
face. knocking him across the stove.
which was upset, and then breaking
| n heavy wooden chair over his mead
as he Law prone on the floor
| Mrs Hill cried out to her brother 10
| ston. and she succeeded in getting her
husband and the children into another
| room. and locked the door against
| Larkso. whom she described as acting
like a flend. The latter broke down
| the door with n nine-pound sledge
hammer and. Selling the four-year-old
boy. rushed through the kitchen to-
4. ward the woodshed with Mrs. Hill try
| ing to rescue the badly frightened
| youngster. and her injured husband
also doing his utmost to hold Larkso
| back AS they reached the shed Lark
so released the boy for a moment and
! he made his escape out of doors. scan
| tily clad as he was. Larkso seized
six-foot pole and struck at Hill, cry
ing out that he would kill him. MRS.
| Hill escaped through the cellar with
the SiX-months-old twins.
Hill when called to the stand tesu-
fed to taking few drinks with Lark
so and Pshenechuy Tuesday morning.
but could recall nothing of the hghting.
He said that his brother-in-law was
| n good fellow when he was SOBER. ana
he did not want to see him 60 to jail.
Attorney Burleigh Martin, represent
ing the respondent, in addressing the
| court said that there. was no question
of the assault, as Hills condition bore
mute evidence of the terrible beating
he had received at Larkso's hands. Mr..
Martin said that he believed that the
ends of justice would be met if Larkso
were ordered to leave the community
and State, with suspended sentence
hanging over him. Judge Cony recalled
that Larkso had been before the court
in similar assault case at previous
time, and stating it as his opinion that
Larkso was a dangerous man to be al
lowed his liberty. he found probable
cause for holding him for the January
term OF the upper court.
The case attracted many interested
j observers of the proceedings, many of
the people present in the courtroom
being neighbors of the Hill family,
who have a reputation of being hard
working and generally peaceable citi-
zens of the community.