Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-30
prohibit all persons entering exoen. M-s

| prohipAt niA persons entering except Mrs
Stanley, to whom gave a written per
init; gave directions that every thing tina
could be done for the comfort of the famil,
and children, to be done; even ordered my
men to empty the slops. Saturday night, a.
threats had been made, l requested and wa.
granted police officer to remain with my
keeper. Igave orders that nothing should bt
passed to the family through the windows OF
the outside, but that wood and fuel should bt
passed by my men to them.
nrst requested Mr.. Bradbury and Mr.
Clay to leave, and then ordered them to leave
Mr.. Bradbury said "Purse-proud mani Op.
pressing women and children! You shall
be put under bonds to keep the peace" Twas
| IN the house on Monday; also on Tuesday
Dr. Cole said the child could be removed with
perfect safety. l went to Mrs. Stearns' room
and said-"Mrs. Stearns, wish you to dis
tinctly understand that no more food, fuel or
water shall be furnished you by me-" told
them they might pass from the house just as
soon as they pleased. l never offered any
violence, nor to my knowledge did any of my
men. My men, so far as my knowledge,
were quiet and orderly. l did not order the
hound to be taken to the house; Mr.. Mitchell
took him there; the dog was months old; it
was very harmless ANIMAL the next day it
was placed in the stable and there kept
The furniture was placed in the Hallowell
House, for safety and protection from the
weather. l did not attempt to have any control
over it after it was placed there.
Cross Ex,<Mr. Sewall told me the Stearns
were indebted to him some $4,000. He told
me that if Mrs. Stearns needed money to aid
her in moving from the house, to let her have
from $50 to 500 on his account. Was not
informed when l bought the house, that the
Stearns' claimed the house. Either at the
first or second time saw Mrs. Stearns, she
said it would take four weeks to move She
did not say 'IF ! am obliged to move" &C.
Mr.. Sewall did not agree to indemnify me for
any damages that might grow out of procu:-
ing possession OF the house; nothing of that
kind was said Had the conversation with
Mr.. Stearns and his son two or three weeks
after my first conversation with Mrs. Stearns.
Received from Geo. Il. Stearns letter dated
Sept. 2sth; received letter from Mr. Sewall
sept 10Th; will not say positively that also
received telegram from him. The letter of
sept 18th informed me that the deed was
ready. went TO Boston and saw Mr.. SewalI
the 2sth of Sept. / received my deed before
| received Mr. Stearns' letter. called with
Mr.. Owen the 9th of Dec. for the purpose of
taking possession of the house. told them
that they would finally have to leave the
house if it had to be torn down. The dog
without my order. The next day it was put
in the stable to give an alarm by barking
should any demonstration be made against it.
1t was a Russian blood hound. Think nv
conversation with Mr.. Stearns and son was
about two weeks after my return from Boston
My notice to the family to quit was sent about
the time Mr.. Stearns informed ME they had a
claim to the house.
Re-direct.-Mr. Sewall told me the claim
of the Stearns to the house was perfectly
frivolous; that he had paid out for the Stearns
family $4,000; but that with the $4,000 re-
ceived from the sale of the house, the indebt-
edness has been reduced to $50
Mr.. Libbey here read the letter from Mr..
Sewall, alluded to above
II. S. Owen, sworn, testified-Resided in
llallowell in 1869; was called upon by Mr.
Sampson the 9Th of Dec. to go with him to
the Stearns house, we went about O'Clock.
Mrs. Best was at the door--She SAID "How
do you do, Mr.. sampson walk in; do walk
in" She called Mrs Stearns who soon came
into the room. Mr.. Sampson said to Mrs.
Stearns that he had come to take possession
of the house; Mrs. Stearns appeared to be
surprised, and Mr.. Sampson said he had been
advised by good counsel. She said great
deal in short time; / cannot repeat all she
said. Mrs. Stearns said--''Mr. Sampson do
:.
said-'No"; that he had seen Mrs. Simon
Page and Mrs. Stanley and provision had
been made for their comfort until their de-
parture for N. Y.
Cross-Ex.-l was then in Mr. SIMPSONS
employ. Am not now in his employ. He
wished me to go with him as witness, to
take possession of the house. l have stated
word for word, the conversation with Mrs.
Best at the door, before we entered the par
lor-by her invitation. Mrs. Stearns object
ed to go to Mrs. Stanley's or to Mrs. Pages.
and Mrs. Sampson said his horses were at her
disposal to take her to the Augusta House or
to any other place desired. l took out the
windows Saturday, about 10 or II o'clock in
the forenoon. ! took out the windows from
the outside. 1t was cold that morning. /
replaced the windows that fore.oon, after
Mrs. Stearns had left the room.
IL. X. Baker, sworn, testifed-I made
notice for Mr.. Sampson to Mrs. Stearns to
give up the house in the fall of 1S69,-cannot
state the precise time; delivered it to Mr..
Sampson; did not see it afterwards
Isaac +. Thompson, sworn, testifed-Was
Deputy Sheriff in 1869 and resided in Hal
lowell. notice was handed to me by Mr.
Sampson to serve on Mrs. Stearns. / served
1t by leaving the original at Mrs. Stearns
house and kept copy; have the impression
t''"N ASNN N's ASNuAh NPoh ~ anu gave IL W
Mr.. Baker-it may be gave it to Mr.. Samp-
son. placed the original notice in the hands
of Mr.. George L. Stearns, who came to the
door.
The copy of the notice, served on Mr.. Stearns
having been lost, Mr.. Baker and Mr.
Thompson were recalled for the purpose of
fully proving the fact that such notice was
served.
David b. Low, sworn-Was employed by
Mr.. Sampson in 1869. Went to the Stearns
house Dec. 9th, 1869, by orders of Mr. Samp-
son, to assist in removing furniture; was as
sisted by Mr.. Winslow and others; we
handled the furniture very carefully; saw
nothing injured; staid in the house all night;
was awake all night; saw six shooter on
the bed; 1t was not used nor attempted to be
used in any manner; no noise in the house to
my knowledge; saw nor heard any dog;
heard no singing nor slamming of doors. Next
day helped remove furniture. Once entered
Mrs. Stearns room Monday night without be-
ing called, for the purpose of borrowing a
~. Al l.