Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-25
A CRIME DETECTED.
Charles u. awtelie of ResdfeId, Confess
es TO setting Fire 20 his house, for the
sake Of the Insurance.

On the evening of the 9th of April, the dwell
ing house of Mr.. Charles +. Sawtelle, IN Read
field about one tn ird of mile south of the depot,
was consumed by fire. Mr.. Sawtelle and family
were on their way home from neighbors, when
they their domcie in flames, and it was with
tears in hi eyes that Mr.. Sawtelle gave the
pant iculars of the confagraton, and the destruc-
ton Of his home and his household goods 1t
now turns out that Sawtelle removed the goods to
place of safety, and set fire to the house for the
sake of the insurance!
The building and its contents were insured for
$500 in the Merchants Company, of Rhode Island,
of which Mr.. Geo. f.. MacOmber of this city is
| agent. Nr. Macomber suspected foul play, and
on Tuesday last, at hslf-past four in the morning
started with Deputy Sheriff Carr, for Readfeld.
Mr. Carr tsrtied before getting where Mr.. Saw
tell resides temporarily, and concealed himself
from observation. while Mr.. Macomber kept o.
Sawtelle had no suspic ion Of what was sup" and
he and the insurance agent went to Readhed
village, where the proper insurance documents
were produced and made out, in order to procure
the amount of insurance. Sawtelle rendered the
inventory of his goods, giving in every article in
| the house, as though nothing hal been saved. He
took oath that the list was correct, also that the
destruction Of the house by FIRE act of his.
The parties then returned, and the still unsuspect-
ing Sawtelle thought that everything had been
nicely adjusted and that he was to receive his in
surance money.
As the parties drew near TO the of the late
fire, Macomber said to Sswtelle, "Now will GO
and look at the furniture that was saved" This
surprised Sawtelle and he Immediately wilted an
put in no claim, for the insurance, said he. But
he was reminded Of the papers he had just signed
The two went TO the woodshed, opened the doors,
and there a chamber set and al the best fur
| niture that the house had contained They next
visited the corn barn, pried open dry good. box,
and found the three feather beds, comiorters, pic
lures and other things which Sawtclle had valued
in the inventory at $50.
Finally Sswtelle broke down and confessed the
whole. lie said that on the afternoon Of
the 9TH while his family was absent, he
removed from the house all the furni
ture that OF any value, storing the
goods in the two buildings above mentioned, as
they were so situated that he could do so and be
secure from observation. He then scattered
shavings on the kitchen floor, saturated them
with kerosene oil and set the whole on fire. The
result is known to our readers
Sawtelle plead that he might be let off on Civ
ing up the claim for the insurance. But he was
arrested by Carr and taken to Winthrop. where
be was ariaigned before Justice Henry Wood
ward. on the charge of setting fire to his build
ings with intention of defrauding the insurance
company He plead guilty, and brought to
this city, and placed 10 jail, but yesterday re-
leased on obtaining bail for his appearance at
the August term of the Supreme Judicsl
court. The penalty of the ofense is from one 10
twenty one years in the State Prison.
sawtele was formerly in the fish business
in this city. lie has a wife and four children.