Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-01

pany. construction work would have
had to stop more than a year ago.
Discharged Mill Hand
Continued from Page one)
the double action Smith & wesson re-
yolver held in his left hand.
Wife of Devine Faints
When Mrs. Devine learned that it
was her husband who lay crumple0
on the landing of the stairs, between
the spool and card room levels,
swooned, and after she was revived
was taken to the family home at Is
MOI ton Place in a historical condi-
ton.
The critically wounded overseer
lived with his family on Gilman
street. and as soon as she learned of
the shooting, his wife FASTENED to
his bedside at the hospital. Two
young sons were playing in the
neighborhood and knew nothing of
the terrible thing which had befallen
their father until more than an hour
afterward, when friends gently IN
formed them that they had better
return to their home as their father
ndQ Deen injured.
overseer Was Popular
Oscar Johnson, the spinning room
overseer, had only been employed at
the Edwards mill since March LIST of
this year, coming here from New
buryport, Mass, where he had been
engaged in similar duties in textile
mills there. He had become popular
with the mill hands and was consid-
fy-cf o1Q a
pable foreman officials at the mill
yesterday afternoon declared en-
phatically that there had never been
any difficulties with the hands in
Mr.. Johnsons department, and on the
contrary the good feeling between
the spinners and their overseer was
most remarkable.
Devine had more recently been oc-
cupied as a rowing man, though he
was formerly an overseer in the
spinning room, himself. His recent
duties were to take the bobbins from
the card room to the spinning room
and distribute them to the looms.
- Told Work Not O. x.
On Monday forenoon, Mr.. Johnson
sent word to Devine through the so
called second hand, that his work of
late had not been satisfactory and
that he would have to improve or be
laid off. Mr.. Devine was apparently
incensed and put on his coat and hat
and left the mill. He returned about
2 o'clock in the afternoon and en-
gagged his overseer in an argument
over the lay-off. The conversation
between the two men took place near
the spinning room Office and was
overheard by two other employees,
Joseph Quirion and Omer Gilbert.
Devine Showed Anger
According to the developments of
the argument as revealed by the Of
fetal investigation Of the fatal shoot
ing by County Attorney Frank e
Southland and Chief of Police William
j. Skehan. Devine asked the over
seer in regard to his job. Mr.. john
son informed him that he was done
for the present.
Il am all done, am II" Devine
queried.
Yes, for now" the overseer re-
piled. Perhaps later there will be
something else
pursued, his voice raised somewhat.
That's what / told you," Mr.. John
son replied emphatically, and at that
point the aisgruntled workman
struck at the overseers head, crush :
ing the straw hat which he wore, and
knocking it from his head to the
floor, where it still reposed an hour
later, mute evidence of the first hos
tile move of the tragedy.
Overseer johnson reached forth II
restrain Devine, and at the same
time Quirion and Gilbert stepped
forward to prevent further blows.
The angered man speaking to Gill
bert, who was holding one arm, said,
"Omer You let CO."
You get out of here" Gilbert re-
piled, and the overseer also ordered
Devine to go down stairs.
Shoots from Pocket
Alright, as soon as you let CO."
the discharged employee responded,
and without further words the men
released him and with Johnson on
his left the two men started down
the stairway to the spool room floor
Devine's left hand was in his coat
pocket and as the two men descen-
ded the stairs side by side, he press
ed his finger to. the trigger of the
double action revolver. still in his
pocket, the flrst bullet entering
Johnsons right side. The wounded
man turned to defend himself when
the second bullet was fired into his
abdomen, and he collapsed on the
stairs.
Devine leaped the remaining stairs
to the spool room level. and ran in
to the Office on that floor. Quirion
and Gilbert had started at the sound
of the first shot and they followed
him into the Office and pushed him
out into the stair-well again. The
man had drawn the smoking revolt
yer from his pocket, and as he start
ed down the stairs to the card room
level raised it to his left temple and
fired once. He crump1ed against
the wall on the landing at the turn
of the stairs, and was dead, when
the others reached him.
Odor of Liquor on Breath
Investigation of the shooting and
suicide by the authorities brought
out the fact that when Devine re-
turned to the Edwards plant yes
odor of alcohol was noticed on his
breath. He had been a life -long
resident of this city and was gen.
orally reputed to be peaceable,
quiet and industrious man.
Besides the widow, Mrs. Julia De-
vine, who has also been an employee
at the mill since she was eigat
years old. the deceased is survived
by brother, Frank Devine of Lynn,
Mass. Mrs. Devine was in a state
Of collapse and unable to talk on
the affair.
At the hospital last night. where
the twice-shot spinning room over
seer lay in a most critical condition.
it was decided not to make any
further move in the matter of prob
ing for the bullet, which still re-
posed somewhere in his abdomen,
until after an examination today.
The first bullet fired passed through
Mr.. Johnsons side and out below
the left ribs. This bullet was found
In his clothing at the hospital. 1t