Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-17
JURY DISAGREES
(Continued from Page One)

L
was nearly SO years of age and that
he was born in the Mount Lebanon
district of Syria. He came to America
in 1904, going first to Canada and then
coming to Waterville. After staying
there for time he went to Massa-
chusetts to work in a mill. A short
time later he took up the profession
of barbering, learning at a school IN
Boston. He worked at the trade In
Boston and in Pawtucket. r. l., for
time and then returned to WaterVllie,
where he met and married Mary
Thomas, also of Syrian descent. She
was seven or eight years younger than
he. In 1919 he went into business for
himself after having worked in two
or three shops in Waterville. Shortly
after that he bought his little house.
which was situated within short dis
lance of the shop. Until 1921, he de-
clared that his wife and himself got
along in a very pleasant manner. They
had no children.
Tell Of Suspicion
The first instance which stamped IT.
self upon his mind was about four
years before the shooting when one
evening. about 7.30 o'clock he went to
the house by a back path I'm order to
get something which he needed. When
he entered the kitchen his wife appear
ed from bedroom door and
she was somewhat excited. At
the same time he heard the
front door open and close ana
he ran to look out and see who
had been in the house. He opened the
door and saw Nimon karter in the
yard, he having nearly reached the
street. When Karter saw that he had
been seen he turned around and as
sumed a threatening attitude. At this
the respondent reentered the house,
as he declared Karter to be too big
man for him to handle. Returning to
the kitchen the respondent looked in
tently at his wife but said nothing,
and then returned to his shop. He
declared that he was greatly upset BY
the happening and that he did not
sleep at all Well that night.
Did Not Believe wife
In the morning his wife had told him
that Nimon was not at the house for
wrong but that he had been
there simply to read to her letter
which he had received from the old
country At the time he had express
ed his disbelief of that statement on
the ground that Karter although able
to read print could not read handwrit-
ing. Later, at noon. Karter had come
into his barber shop and had declared
himself innocent of any wrongdoing-
To this Shecrallah had answered that
he knew why Karter was at the house
and that IL he ever went there again or
spoke to his wife he would kill him.
Karter had laughed in a sneerng
manner.
This occurrence at the house had
recalled to the respondents mind
time before, when Nimon karter
had come to his shop apparently
tired, sweaty and looking kind of
wild" He had in the belief of the
respondent, something on his mind.
Said Nemer who was in the bar
Der shop at that time had found a
hair on Nimon's shoulder and had
spoken to him about it. Nimon had
said nothing. Shecrallah had thought
that it looked like his wife's hair but
having no suspicion of anything
wrong had dismissed it is impossi-
BILE.
Avoided karter
He stated that Nimon Karter had
come into his shop on several oc-
casions after he had ben found at
the house of the respondent and
that Shecrallah had tried to keep
away from his as much as possible
with the result that Nimon had dis
continued this practice. Whenever
Karter had seen him however, he
had looked at him in sneering
manner.
The respondent testified that on
a rainy day in 1924 he had been
standing in the door of his shop
when he had seen his small child,
born after the first occurrence to
which he had testified, playing out
in the rain. He had taken her up
and carried her back to the house.
Stepping into the kitchen he had
placed her upon the floor and when
he looked up he had seen his wife
coming from the bed room and look
ing into the room he had seen Nj
mon Karter. Karter then came out
into the kitchen and spoke to Shec-
rallah.
Threw Chair at karter
The respondent declared that he
had been so incensed that he seized
a chair and threw it at Nimon. He
then seized another and hurled it,
and reached for a third, which he
was prevented from throwing when
his wife caught hold of it. He then
rushed into the bed room after his
revolver but could not find it as
Mrs. Shecrallah had removed it
from its accustomed place She att
the same time called to karter to
beat IT. which he lost no time in
doing.
crazed Over Affair
The respondent testified that he
was nearly crazy then and that he
went to his shop, scarcely knowing
what he was doing. Upon return
ing to the house that night he had
looked everywhere for the gun but
could not find it. He had been I'M
able to sleep and at o'clock that
morning he had risen and dressed.
His wife, who was sleeping in an
other room with their children,
heard him and came out. She beg
ged him not to leave her, saying.
please don't leave me, I made a
mistake. Kill me, but don't leave
me-" To this he had replied that he
would not leave her because of her
unborn child, but she had made him
promise that he would not leave her
before she would let him go to a
restaurant after something to eat
When he returned she had asked
him for forgiveness to which he had
answered all right" He could not,
however, sleep that night.
Later he had had trouble with his
eyes and had been obliged to stop
work for time. He had procured
some glasses and then in short
time the trouble disappeared and he
returned to his shop. This he at
tributed to his mental condition.
Says karter Threatened Him
He told of numerous times when
Nimon Karter had threatened him
and insulted him, these things prey
ing upon his mind to such an extent
that he kept out of Nimon's way is
much as he cnnId Thir h,d Coma 4 a