|
While investigating a year and a half on a single case, you would expect to find enough sustainable
evidence, clues, or stories to hold your interest.
After taking a little break from lurking in cemeteries, after watching a Biography Channel
hour long piece on Ed Gein, the model for Psycho, Leather Face, and Buffalo Bill. Sure the guy also hung out in cemeteries,
well actually dug up fresh graves and collected the body parts. I, after being completely disgusted, took a little back
step, from my weekly sojourns to the local boneyards. The creep factor will be wearing off just in time for the
Halloween season.
I have been a little thankfully distracted with a certain Boston Chronicle interview, and
an attempt to break from haunts and murder, and looking into a loose elephant, that went from a playful romp around town,
to a murder execution at the next whistle stop.
This all being said, I've dug a hole deeper into the growing legend and lore that is the Murder
Of Sarah Ware.
I've been looking into the 3 theories. I had already worked the person that was
lent money, (cough, Treworgy, cough), the drunken brawl/ card game and finally the Murderous Drunken Gang loitering on
the bridge.
Confused? Bare with me.
Hiram Woodbridge, Civil War Veteran, and local Bucksport
Boy, testifies where he was on the night of October 13, 1876:
HIRAM E. WOODBRIDGE
Live at East Bucksport. In the afternoon of Oct. 13, I was at Bucksport village--started at 5 o'clock over Buck's Mills
road, arrived home at 8 o'clock. Live 7 miles from Bucksport village. Followed road to A. Harriman's. I then went across pasture
and fields. It was back of barn near Trim's house, about 1/2 past 7; It was a dark night; had no difficulty in going across
pasture--it was the same as my pasture--no road across it the way I went. While crossing near barn, I heard some kind of a
groan; Thompson asked me if I heard it--he was with me when I came from Bucksport. Heard of fire next day. Live 2 miles on
the other side of Trim's place. I met a team just below P.O. going towards Bucksport, driving fast. After crossing pasture
I heard team driving towards Bangor. It was then as dark as at any time that night. I fix time by it's being day before fire.
I entered pasture at corner of fence below A. Harriman's. By any clock it was 8 when arrived at home--can't tell if right.
Cross Examined .--Walked out. Don't know the team nor whether one or two person in it--think one. Turned into road right
below A. Harriman's. My house is two miles from A. Harriman's. Got home at 8 o'clock.
That was court testimony of Hiram Woodbridge. Out behind the barn, the night The entire Trim Household was wiped
out and the dwellings burnt.
( Out of respect for the living relatives, I left the comparison
out, about the Abbott and Costello routine. Did you hear a groan? Ah, yes, did you hear a groan?)
The Public record overlooks Mr. Woodbridge for the next
21 years. Then this next story Starring Hiram, donated by a very thoughtful direct descendant, really knocked my socks
off.
MURDER! MURDER!! MURDER!!!
______________________________
ALMOST A REPETITION OF THE LIZZIE BORDEN TRAGEDY IN BUCKSPORT LAST EVENING== HIRAM WOODBRIDGE STRUCK ON THE HEAD WITH AN
AX BY HIS WIFE==A SEVERE WOUND IS INFLICTED AND VICTIM IS COVERED WITH BLOOD
______________________________
A little before 9 o'clock last evening the people of Bucksport who chanced to be on Main Street were startled by the piercing
cries of Murder! Murder!! Murder!!!, coming from behind the Tribou store near the water and immediately a number of the young
men who were on the street, rushed to the scene.
The night was foggy and soon they came upon a man seated on the walk that comes from the dwelling house, situated in the
rear of the above named store. "Who are you?" was the question asked by R.S. Genn being one of the first to approach him,
"Hiram Woodbridge sir" was the reply. "Send for a doctor and policeman quick I 'am murdered!", the man said. Those present
examined the wounds and found that he had a bad cut on the top of the head about three inches long and several bruises were
also discovered. His face and head was completely covered with blood and at his lay a wicked looking ax also drenched in blood.
The facts and cause of the affray as near as we can learn are these: Hiram Woodbridge is a veteran of the late war, a cripple
and is about 55 years old and two years age he married Maria Newell, an Oldtown Indian woman, whose age is about 27 years
and since that time has lived in Bucksport.
Harmony has not always prevailed in the household and last night Mr. Woodbridge came home about 8:30 but refused to eat
his supper, which was awaiting him on the table. A little liquor had served to fire both man and woman and a few moments later
a squabble begun and Woodbridge gave his wife a deep and severe bite in the arm. This completely roused the Indian blood and
almost tomahawk style, she seized an ax and struck Woodbridge on the top of the head, inflicting the wounds mentioned. He
ran out of doors where he sat down almost exhausted, thoroughly frightened and covered with blood and hair as he was found.
Woodbridge is apparently all right today but has got an awfully sore head. He don't like running up against an ax.
Sure the old adage respectfully thrown in "If you marry
a woman half your age, then yes, she will kill you." Comes into play. This was in July 7, 1897. A little more
then a year from the fateful night of September 17, 1898.
I have yet to verify the story that on the night Sarah Ware died, there
was a drunken fight outside of the local haunt, where the Saturday night card game was held. Turns out, right next door
to Mrs. Miles house. A Frances/Freddie Genn/Ginn was said to have swung a whiskey bottle at Hiram Woodbridge.
Sarah Ware returning home from Bulduc's stepped in to try and save Hiram Woodbridge, and herself was struck with the whiskey
bottle, shattering her jaw, and fracturing her skull. Do I think this theory possible? I can guarantee it was
one of the 3 possible theories. Do I think Hiram capable of being on the receiving end of a whiskey bottle. Umm,
I'll have to get back to you on that.
Why isn't there any testimony of Hiram's in the court transcripts
of the trials into the murder of Sarah Ware? This last and final piece of information should shed some light.
Those few ending lines, to me say more then the entire
rest of the page. If you notice the date, it was September 30, 1898. Hiram either died from a stroke brought on
by the fight, 10 days before. Or, the reopening of his old ax wound. Or, those involved didn't want a man that
Sarah Ware had tried to protect, questioned by an authorities. If this is the true case, then Hiram Woodbridge was finally
himself, murdered. Sarah Ware wouldn't be found till October 2. The man she was trying to protect, would already
be in the ground.
If one chooses to play the what if game, then what if Hiram was killed
in the war? Would Sarah have died of old age? What if Hiram, had investigated the groan out behind the Trim Barn?
Would he have been able to save all 3, or at least Old Man Trim, and little Josie? What if Hiram's wife had succeeded
in her attempt of murder? Would Sarah have lived to old age? If wishes were horses, I'd have a stable.
|
