The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-20
YORK COUNTY s. J. COURT.
The Cases Involving the Alleged In,
cendIarlsm at sprInevaIe.

ALFRED, May 10.
The cases involving the alleged incendiar-
ism IN Springyale last September. were op-
Virgin today. There are two suits brou ght
By Charles Pray and his son George W.,
against the estate OF Sylvester Cummings,
through Asa Low OF Springvale, executor.
They are civil suits for damages, the claim of
George w. Pray amounting to 1882, and of
Charles Pray, $1,815.5O. The two suits be-
ing Identical in their nature are tried to-
gether.
After the calling of the docket and the
arrangement of the trial list, the jurors en-
pannelled for the term were called up and
the customary remarks were made to them
by the judge. The jury In the case was then
drawn. consisting OF the following: John
N. DeeriDg, Saco. foreman; Ira s. Alley.
Parsonsdeld Il, VIM. J; Weymouth. North
Frank l., Davis, Saco; Geo. W.. Prince.
Hollis; lothian Perkins, Biddeford; Alvin
Stuart, Kennebunk; Daniel FL. Tooththaker,
Berwick; Patrick Needs, Berwick: Noah
Robinson, Alfred Charles F. Libby, LINER
Mr.. Samuel NJ. Came of Alfred, counsel
for the plaintiffs, then made the opening ar
gument for the plaintiff. The opening recit-
ed plaintiffs side of the case, as follows
That on, the nigh tot the 18th day
Prays, situated in the town of Shapleigb,
was burned with all Of its contents, consist
ing of live stock, crops, farming tools, etc,
to the value OF the amount Of the claim.
Both father and son were firmly convince
that the fire was the work of an incendiar y
and in the morning set to work to discover If
possible some clue to the person who set the
fire. 1t had rained during the night before
the fire, and the ground was soft in places.
Near the ruins of the barn. tracks were
twists in and out of woods, and tracts of
grass land clear down to Springvale where
Cummings lived. The tracks were all of the
same size und uniformity Of shape, and all
exhibited esd a curious ds,formity in
consisted in "toeing in" to an extent rarely
seen, but which was a deformity well known
CT Sylvester Cummings. The tracks, besides
exhibiting his well known defects, were of
the size of his feet and a pair of rubber
boots belonging to him, when placed in the
tracks, fitted them exactly. 1t thus became
clear that Cummings made the tracks from
Springvale to the barn which was burned,
and that he made them on the night on
which the fire occurred, when the ground
was soft and plastic. Why was thisP What
property of the Prays? 1t appears that he
had reason; that there was grudge be-
tween them, and moreover that Cummings
had publicly threatened within the week be-
fore the fire to do the Prays some terrible in
jury. Why had he thus threatened? What
was the grudge?
Sylvester Cummings had housekeeper. a
young woman named Della Gerry, who had
been with him several years, and whom 1t
was currently reported he was anxious to
marry. Young George Pray was also anx-
ious to marry Miss Gerry, and she
was more disposed to look upon him
with favor than she did upon Cummings.
This angered Cummings, who demonstrated
with George Pray, and requested him to
cease his attentions to Miss Gerry. Then he
threatened him, then he threatened the faith
er with ''some terrible injury" unless he
kept his son away from his, Cummings
house. Then the fire occurred and the
tracks were made.
The facts of the case were brought to the
attention of the grand jury at the October
term of court and Cummings was indicted
for arson. He was arrested, arraigned be.
fore the court, secured bail and went home
to Springvale.
Preparations were continued for the Wig
orous prosecution Of the case and considera-
BILE evidence was secured by detectives.
when Sylvester Cummings took poison al
his home In Springvale and died, ending all
criminal proceedings and leaving this process
the only one that could be undertaken to SO.
cure satisfaction.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Games argument
tine jury were taken to Springvale and Shap-
leigh to view the premises. James A. Edger.
ly, Esq. of Great Falls, N. H., who was one
of Sawtelps counsel in his trial for murder,
has been associated with Messrs. Low and
Haley, the counsel Tor the defense.