The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-06
Letter from SkOwhegan.
SKowHEGAN, Oct. 4, 1873.

To the Editor Of the Press:
If any person is curious to know where he may
find stupidity that is perpetual and hopeless,
a dizziness that is unreleved and genuine, or
real Sleepy Hollow that affects with bewilder-
ing drowsiuess every faculty, commend him
to the average Supreme Court In the past be-
fore Skowhegan became county seat, it was
brisk town, but since the Supreme Court has
been held in Coburn Hall there is an alarming
drowsiness creeping over the town. This is not
due to the fact that the law breakers are closely
followed by the officer bearing the sword of
justice, for there are so few criminals here that
when one does get caught half the time he es-
capes because the officials are out Of practice
The other day manacled man was brought
from the Jail at Norridgewock, charged with
store breaking. He had been caught in the act
and had been duly presented by the grand jury,
but on being put on trial his counsel found that
he was arraigned for breaking into store
in Madison that was really located in Anson.
1t was radical defeat and the man who was
actually caught stealing was practically adj
judged innocent the manacles taken from his
feet and the thief set free A lawyer that
looked over the indictment said there three fat
al defects in the Indictment. Il seems that
there should be be some measures taken to in
struct the average county attorney in drawing
Indictments if technical errors are to defeat
the ends of justice
YOUNG MURDERER.
Last Wednesday boy eleven years of age,
named Adelbert Dawes, of Madison Bridge,was
arraigned for the murder of a girl, about his own
age, last June. The details of the murder, if it
can be called such, were published at the time.
The boy caught up an old gun, and pointing it
at little girl cried OUT "Look out, / am 60
ing to shoot you.'' He accordingly snapped
the gun which proved to be loaded and the
charge killed the little girl instantly. He was
soon after arrested and has since been confined
in the Jail at Norrid gewock. There are several
versions of the sad affair. There were those
who insisted that the deed was an act of savage
ry rather than carelessness, and was in keeping
with his previous character. The more reliable
accounts, however, indicate that the boy had
no intention of shooting the girl, and did not
know that the gun was loaded, having been &C
customed to play with it whenever he chose.
The boy looks like anything but a murderer.
He does not look even vicious, but before he
was sent to Jail and terrified by the confine-
ment and thought of punishment, was doubt
less an ordinary boy of eleven years, full of
fun and animosity, as Mrs. Darlington would
say. By the direction of Judge Barrows, the
jury found the boy guilty of manslaughter and
it is probable that he will be sent to the Reform
School.
Some time since, David Fl. Carson, ESQ.,, a
;o1 oe ;,,J; Gov, tha
crime of perjury, where he was allowed to tes-
tify in a case in which he was interested 1t
afterwards proved that he had committed
perjury, and he was accordingly indicted several
terms since, tried and found guilty. Excep-
tions were filed but the Law Court overruled
them and now he has been sentenced to State
Prison for three years for lying Judge Bar
rows took occasion to say on pronouncing SEN
tence, that since parties have been allowed to
testify in their own behalf the crime of perjury
has been on the increase, and he felt it was
necessary to infict severe penalties whenever
such cases came to notice.
VARIED INDUSTRIES.
The hope of our State is in her varied indus
tries. Like some of the Western States, Maine
cannot thrive by agriculture or any single lead
ing industry, but by fostering. dozen or more
important departments of industry, she may
yet be one of the wealthiest and most substan-
tial States of the Union. In twenty years the
means of making living by labor have been
more than doubled in this State. 1t is rather
poor village that has not some manufacturing
enterprise ;iand, means of employment have be-
come so diversified and certain that well in
formed man who has travelled in nearly every
State in the Union withinia few years, remarked
the other day, that no man in Maine, old or
young, could better himself by going out of
her borders to seek his fortune if he is willing
to achieve it by honest effort. This town is a
sample of what the inland towns of the
State are fast becoming in the line of railroad
manufactures and industries. First, it makes
100000 worth of the best axes in the world,
embracing the finest patterns and showing the
most skillful workmanship. Second, an oil
cloth factory turns out $250,000 worth of the
best Third, it has paper mill that puts into
Zee Besdes these sTe oas af FACTORY
for oil cloth making, broom factory and other
industries. Just above here, in the town of Madi-
son, a company located here is operating one of
the finest slate quarries in the State. 1t seems
to possess all the requisites of excellence in
that article which must take the place of wood
in all towns. In Hartland, Archibald Linn,
canny Scotchman, with brains and Yankee
perseverance, is making thousands of the finest
wooden shawls to be found In the country, and
which can be sold in New York or Boston when
there is any sale for such goods. Another
company here has process by which slate is
''marbeized." 1t is secret affair, but doubt
less the deception is perfect, and in the future
those who please themselves with the idea that
they dwell in marble halls will TN fact be liv
ing in slate houses.
THE SOMERSET RAILROAD.
The Somerset Railroad Company, with a
courage that is indomitable, continues at the
work of building railroad from West Water
vile to North Anson. Several towns are heavi-
ly loaded with the enterprise but the road is
now completed to South Norridgewock, and the
piers for the bridge across the Kennebec at Nor
ridgewock are completed and the timber on the
ground to build it. From that point to North
Ansou the grading is nearly completed, but
there is yet another bridge to build across the
Kennebec at Madison and another across the
Carrabasset at North Arson. The company
has no rolling stock and will not need much be-
fore the road is completed. 1t is problem for
the future whether or not the road can be made
friends and projectors certainly have degree
of perseverance that merits reward.
AGRICULTURAL.
Crops this season are not over abundant.
Hay is of excellent quality, and the quantity is
above the average. Potatoes are turning out
we'll, the quality being the best. OF apples.
little can be said, as there are few orchards that
afford fair yield, and many not any at all.
The traveller will observe that such orchards as
are carefully cultivated have good showing of
fruit, while those that are left to themselves
have none at all. With proper culture, there
need not be any such thing as bearing and bar
rem years, alternately, but fruitful seasons every
year. l noticed that there were apples enough
where the trees were "mulched," pruned and
fertilized. This observation would be worth a
dollar to the farmer who mourns fmtless trees
this year if he will but 60 to work and feed
them for another season.
1 meant to say something about the prospects
of the new cheese factories, but cannot at this
time, only that so far as L have inquired the re-
suits have proved satisfactory. s.