Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-09

The examination by the two offices was held
in the Marshars Office last evening. Com.
mencinR with the stolen watch, Perry and
DAYTON, step by step. despite evasion and lies,
only too apparent. unraveled the story OF the
murder, until the boy, hedged in with false
hoods on every side in regard to the watch,
the money, and his whereabouts on the morn
ing Of Tuesday last, and seeing no refuge from
confession, told plain. stta!ghtf ward story
of the deed.
His story is substantially as follows He
has been intimate with a boy named John ret
tbs, about his own age, and who lives near by,
and the two boys knew that Howard had quite
a sum of money on his person. Cuff robbed
the old man of his watch, as the people sus-
pected, and the two boys were thoroughly ac-
uuainted with the habits of the old man and
the premises. The boys apparently had con-
siderable talk in regard to the money, and on
Monday of last week they met, when Pettis
suggested that Cuff should take a pistol which
Peltis owned, break into Towards house at
night. cover himself with a bedquilt SO thu
old man would not know him, and obtain the
money, shooting Howard in case he was dis
covered. This Cuff declined to do, saying
that Pettis wanted him to do all the work, and
that his own people would find him out; and
finally the boys separated, with the under
standing that Pettis should undertake the rob-
berry on Tuesday morning, and that Cuff should
be there to assist him.
On Tuesday morning, Cuff says, about
o'clock, he woke up just as pistol shot was
fired. Telling his mother he was going to see
about Some traps, he hurried to Howard's
house just as Petts struck the old man with
an axe on the doorsteps of the house. He
then saw Pettis drag the body to the bars and
endeavor to get it through. AT that time Cuff
was discovered by the other boy, who called
to him for assistance. This assistance Cuff
willingly rendered, and the body was dragged
into the meadow, where it was searched. The
old mans wallet, key. a knife and some to-
bacco were found in the pocket of his pants.
Pettis took possession of the money and key.
and the other articles were left on the body.
The boys then commenced the grave, digging
alternately, until, Cuff says, it began to grow
light and they were alarmed.
The corpse was placed in the grave, but it
was not deep enough, and Cuff took it out.
The boys then had consultation, and finally
Pettis went to the house and obtained the saw
and axe, and while Cuff watched, Pettis cut
off the leg. Cuff says they could not drag
HIM on the wall, for he was very heavy, and
that was the reason for severing the limb.
The boys then hurriedly carried the remains
into the woods, partially covered them with
leaves and leIt tnenl. ss ...s. .-.-
On the way home, Pettis told Cuff that he
was hid behind wall when Howard came from
the barn with the mlk-pail. The old man saw
him, and asked him what he was doing there.
Pettis made no reply, bu; fred at him, just as
he reached the door STEP. The old man sat
down his milk-pail and then fell. Pettis ran
out, attacked the victim with an axe. and at
that moment Cuff appeared on the scene.
Cuff says Pettis gave him ten dollar bill
and some scrip on the way home, but does not
know how much money he retained. The
wallet, pistol and key were thrown in the
woods. On Sunday night Pettis cautioned
Cuff against telling anything. Cuff says Pet
It's was very much frightened and auivering
all over while they were handling Howard,
but that lie did not feel scared.
Cuffs boy about feet 8 inches in height,
and is not very strongly built. He has a
thorough negro face, with very low fore
head, and thick bushy hair. His answers to
the Numerous questions Of the officers dis
played considerable cunning, and he does not
appear to be impressed with the magnitude oil
the deed. His story was carefully prepared,
but not plausible enough, and the close ques-
tioning of the officers soon broke it down, and
the abpve narrative, drawn out by pecemeal,
was obtained. At half past one this morning
officers Perry and Dayton left for Westport to
arrest Pettis, and at the hour of writing had
not returned.