Lewiston woman arrested after beating neighbor with table leg, police say

LEWISTON, Maine — Police say a 27-year-old woman burst in on a neighbor and beat her in the head repeatedly with a wooden table leg Saturday night.

Margaret Elizabeth Farnum was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and burglary, Lt. Marc Robitaille said.

Farnum and the victim, also 27, live across the hall from one another at 135 Bartlett St. and have had an ongoing feud, police said. After an earlier altercation outside, the victim had returned to her apartment, he said, believing the fight was over.

“Margaret burst into the apartment and started beating her with the wooden table leg,” Robitaille said.

Another neighbor called police at 7:35 p.m.

When officers arrived, Farnum “was pacing back and forth at the scene,” Robitaille said.

The victim had been struck in the head four to five times and was taken to Central Maine Medical Center for stitches. Robitaille declined to release her name.

He said the burglary charge stemmed from following the victim into her apartment with the intention of committing a crime.

The incident remained under investigation by patrol officer Larry Maillet.

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