The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-04
CRIME I'm PIsCATAQUIs,

Trial of Edwin ID. Mechanism for ArsYn
DOVER March 2.-EdwiniD. McCauslin was
arraigned on the indictment against him for
arson. The Jury being empanneled the court
adjourned for the day.
The grand jury found against McCauslin two
indictments-the first for setting fire to the
house of Wealthy G. Stubs of Guilford, on
the night of October 80, 1874; and the second
for burning house owned partly by Stillman
Rose and partly by himself. for the purpose OF
defrauding the insurance companies of $780,
The first Indictment is the one on which he
was arraigned to-day. The case OF the govern
ment rests purely on circu mstantial evidence.
Three days before the fire McCauslin left Gull
ford for Lewiston, and on the night of the fire
he arrived at Dexter on the train and hired
team to 90 three or four miles. Between that
hour and the time of the fire there was ample
time for him to drive to Gulford, only twelve
miles distant. Shortly after midnight he re-
turned to Dexter, and his horse showed evil
dences of hard driving. When the scene of the
fire was investigated not far from the house
marks were found that showed plainly that
horse and carriage had been hitched there.
These facts, taken in connection with the fact
that McCauslin had had some trouble with his
wife, who occupied the house, and which sug-
gested motive for the commission of the
crime, excited suspicion against McCauslln
and on his return to Gulford he was arrested,
taken before justice, bound over and commit
ted to the Bangor jail. A. M. Robinson OF
Dover, and Eon. Josiah Crosby of Dexter, APP
pear for the defence, and Attorney General
Plaiseed and County Attorney Everett manage
for the government.
The Testimony,
DOVER, March 8.
The opening of the case by G. A. Everett,
County Attorney, who is associated with At
torrey General Plaisted, occupied about two
hours.
The first witness introduced was MIR. Coombs,
who testified as to the correctness of plans
made by him representing localities and dis
tances in Gnilford and Dexter.
George I'll. Woodward was next called and
testified to but little excepting the discovery of
the fire.
Ansell Jackson, chore boy in the house burn
ed, testified that he fastened the doors OF the
barn on the evening before the occurrence of
the fire about eleven O'clock and that the stable
window at thas time was boarded up. Some
Importance may be attached to this testimony
as the hens and ducks in the stable the evening
previous were discovered to be outside after
the occurrence of the fire.
Wealthy G. Stubs was next called and tes-
titled to some unmportant facts.
Further examination was postponed by the
adjournment of court.
Rocklana Ward Elections.
RocKLAND, March Sat the adjourned
ward elections to-day Republican councilmen
was elected in ward and Democratic alder
man and two councilmen in ward 1. This com.
pletes the City Council The board of alder
men standing five Republicans to two Demo-
Gratis, and the common council fifteen Republic
cans to six Democrats.
Heavy Snow Storm at PASSPORT.
EAsTPoRT, March 3.-Heavy snow storm
Yesterday. No trains arrived to-day. Blocked
up on the railroad.
Lewiston Mills ON Full Time.
+ LEWISTON, March 3.-The mills in this city
are again running on full time.
Appointments for Maine.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The President NOM
mated Edward Small pension agent at Bangor,
Me- ; B. f. Hamilton postmaster at Biddeford.