Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-12
Williams Benefited
BY Institution Life
Declares DIR. Tyson

~ SSASSA w - = = - SOOe
Perhaps few Augusta people
knew, that the man In the custody
Of a Franklin county official, Satur-
day noon in a Water street restaur-
ant was none other than John Ben
jamin Williams, who has been under
observation of Dr.. +. c. Tyson of the
Augusta State Hospital for the mast
few months, following the murder
August q, Of Joseph NJ. Thorne, a
New Sharon farmer. Williams was
being taken to Pennington for tlial.
DR.. Tyson SAID, Saturday to
Journal reporter, that Williams is not
feeble minded but yet, is not of the
high type of mentality. During mis-
stay at the Augusta institution Will
.iams has gained 40 pounds in weight,
has found much diversion in the
forms ct occupation offered the pa
tents at the Hospital and was most
loath TO leave the place where he has
been under examination since Con-
Tossing that he killed the New Shar-
on farmer.
The story Of Williams life IS so
much like that of SO many other So
called local characters Of any rural
community. When 10 years of age
he was cast aside and has had to
Shift tor himself. He has been
hunter ard Il trapper. Each COM
munity has individuals, more or less,
who are ranked as queer" but as
one leading State official said, "Thc
community does not try to do any,
ticed until they have committed some
crime. Whereas little kind treat
ment and attention might turn the
U.bO1a fro 11 Of thpir 1ivoSo
In connection with the New Sharon
murder it will be recalled that Joseph
NJ. Tho.ns was shot and killed on
the morning of August 81 and his
body Vas cut up and hidden in the
woods by tho slayers. Williams. who
had for several months worked sor
Thornc. confessed and has been held
since. Ho gave as his reason for the
deed, that ne and ThOrnc had lad
Il quarrel over the latter's wife and
that ThOrne would have killed him
if lie had not shot Thornc.
The trouble originated the Fri
day night before when Thornc, it is
alleged, who was jealous of Williams
attentions to his wife, had row
with Williams. which ended with
ThOrne rushing to his room. pre-
sumably for q revolver. Williams
ran from the house and through the
window saw Thornc threatening his
wife with a revolver. Williams ran
nearly all of the way to the mouse
of a man named Newell got his gun
which was there and ran back to
the Thorne house. He took several
bran sacks from the house of
neighbor and using these bags us
bed he passed the night in the open
near the Thorne house.
According to his confession, about
o'clock. Saturday mon ing. Will
liams. from his place in the bushes,
saw Thorne driving his cows t. pas
ture. The pasture is along q cross
road about half mile from the
Thorne house and Williams hurried
to the pasture. reaching there be-
fore Thorne arrived and without the
latter knowing he was there. After
Thorne had let the cows inc the raS-
ture he went to 4 pig pasture which
was nearby and Williams cIawled to
the shelter of a small clump of
spruces nearby. 1t was but short
distance from the clump of bushes to
the pig pasture and from the cover
of the bushes he shot Thorne. using
.3o1 Winchester automatic rifle.
II was at the time standing side
to Wi',iams.
The dismembered body was tounI
later ty searching parties after The
alarm had been raised by Mrs.
ThOrne who told neighbours that Will
ljams had done something u f.cr hus-
land.