The Portland daily press., 1882-11-30
THE DAVIS CASE.
FURTHER PARTICULARS CONCERN.
ING THE MECHANIC FALLS
TRAGEDY.
What Davis Has To Say.
Lewiston Journal.1

Lewiston JOURNAL.
We published on Saturday, an account of the
arrest Of one Frank Davis, In William Har
lows house at Mechanic Falls, and Davis con-
fession that he is guilty of the robbery COM
mitted two years ago in Auburn. When the
dead body of Mrs. Harlow Davis aunt) who
Suicided by hanging herself from stump fence
was found in the edge of the woods last Sun
day, the police officers suspected that motives
resulting from the arrest Of Davis and the dis
covery of the stolen goods in her house, might
have induced the poor woman to destroy her
self. Her tragic death, on Sunday following
so closely the disclosures made at her house on
the day previous, were enough to produce a
sensation in the village. Rumors of various
kinds, duplicating several persons in the Dwi-
nal robbery and previous crimes were set afoat
The fact that Mrs. Harlow had the key to the
trunk in which the stolen goods, amounting in
value to SIT, were found, was the chief basis
for the theorywhich connected the suicide with
the robbery and arrest.
Deputy Sheriff Keene of Mechanic Falls
and the Auburn police have been at work on
the case, since Davis imprisonment, in the
hope of making further developments, or se-
curing Davis partners in the crime, If he had
any. On Monday, they examined Davis in
Auburn jail, and endeayored to elicit further
facts from him. Davis stoutly maintained that
he, alone, was guilty, and he was guilty Of
nothing but what he had already confessed.
Tuesday forenoon journal reporter had an
interview with Davis in jail The prisoner
was in a second story cell and was reading a
coverless copy of the Bible. He was shown
copy of telegram to a morning paper, which
intimated that the Harlow's were implicated
in the robbery, and also that the trunk belong
ed to j. A. Bucknam & Co., who were robbed
of silks, etc., some time ago.
Tim sorry my aunt did such a thing; /
don't know Why" said Davis, with tears In
his eyes, laying the Bible between the CRATES of
the cell door.
"What about the trunk?" asked the re-
porter.
"The trunk never belonged to Buchanan. l
bought it in Fall River, Mass, several Years
ago, and think l can prove IT,"
fTnen you knew nothing about this Buck
nam robbery"
was committed three years ago, wasn'tit it?
have con iessed all ever did
For what reason did you Keep the trunk In
your aunt's house?"
II wished to keep residence in that town.
was away much OF the time, but kept the
Sunk at my aunl's and stayed there when In
M chanic Falls. She always kept the key.
''In what part of the house was the trunk?"
"In the attic. They had just mo ed 10 this
house, you know. They had been there only a
day or wo when broke into DSinal's store"
"At hat tune in the night did you enter
Dwnal's store?"
AT one o'clock in the morning"
odd YOU take the goods to your aunt's house
AZ oncr?"
"N,."
''Where did. you first conceal them?"
whats that 10 your?
swell, suppose I'm in for five years, any
how, and might as we'll tell it all. / carried
the goods 10 the Page farm, about mile from
the house where was arrested. The build
iDgs were not occupied, and | hid the goods
under the hog stye."
"W hen did you remove them from the Page
farm 10 your aunt's house?'
"The very evening before was arrested "
about what time?'
Eleven O'clock"
IBID any of the Harlows know what you
were doing?"
"No; they all were bed and asleep. I car
ried the goods to the attic There were two
rooms between me and the Harlows."
The next morning, before you got up, you
we're arrested?"
"Yes."
Now, according to your story, how do you
account for the fact. that the key to your
trunk was found in Mrs. Harlow's possess
ion?"
The prisoner hesitated, stammered and fin
ally said: there's place for everything you
know" After a few minutes conversation
Davis said: 81 suppose you'll publish it, but
don't care l dropped the key on the floor IN
the morning after was arrested"
tAt what time could you do that?"
81 did it while was putting on my boots. l
have told you the facts just as they are"
"Do you think Mrs. Harlow knew what you
were abont?"
"she knew nothing about it, SO far as
know"
'Was anybody but yourself concerned in the
II have nothing to say. take all the blame
myself"
Chow did you carry the goods?"
81 bound them with ropes and carried them
myself"
ibid anybody but yourself know anything
about it?''
"'Twould do me no good to bring in any,
body else. l wouldn'C get off any easier
W. uld ~
"of course you can do as you please about
stating the facts.''
Il have told you the facts. did the whole
thing myself. The officers were in to see me
yesterday. You know whom they suspect
suppose. They didn't find out anything from
me.'
Davis asked for some newspapers. He APP
pears intelligent and penitent. He has no
fanny.