Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-10
MUNICIPAL COURT.
Long Hearing on the Case State vs..
3. s. Emerson.


The preliminary hearing in the case Of
STATE W. Emerson was held before Jadss
Andrews Wednesday afternoon.
Berj. y. Emerson Of Vienna va charged
With arson, the burning Of the house occa'
pied by CALVIN c. Gri4Rn in Vienna on the
morning Of June lst, II about ! O'Clock
Calvin c. Griffin, the complainant, va
the first witness called. Testified that his
house WAS burned ON the morning Of June
l.,. Discovered the FIRE about 10 minutes
pas, one O'Clock. Dog s~oke his wife.
House, large one-story house. firs
caugh, in bu,tery. lie slept in opposite
eide of the house. Here the diagram OF
the house was shown. There was q roll
way into the milk cellar, and from the Gel
lar entrance could be had to the buttsry
through trap door, The hinges we're on
this door which vas opened, tipped toward
the ~es, and the wind vas blowing through
the roll~sy and into the butsery and fan
ming the flames, when he discovered the
fire. Was chimney near the partition Of
the buttery.
Saw the whole north side of the ba'tery
in tiamcs. Saw kerosene IN the buttcry on
shelves aud on the shelves that hadn
burned up and he smelled il very strong
The trap door was left shut that night, His
wife stood on il while she strained the
milk.
Examined al the rollway for tracks after
i,re had driven him from the house. II vas
yery hot and eoulint stay by rollway but
an instant. Saw plainly the track OF one
mans foot. Called upon others present to
look with him. House not insured; vas
willed to his wife by her father. Had
known Ben Emerson 10 years.
Here there was much discussion between
the counsel concerning the admission Of
evidence relating to Emerson's sentence to
iail which was imposed on account OF trou-
bile Emerson had with Mrs. Griffin. The
prosecution wished TO chow that II vas IN
revenge for this imprisonment that Emer.
sou burned the house. Griffin testified that
after Emerson got out Of jail last spring ne
came pretty full TO the Griffin house which
witness said is a mile and half from Emer-
sons.
II was brought out on Grii'in's testimony
that Emerson had boarded nj the triiiins
but lef, there June 9TH, 1892. that he hAd
made threats to Griffin. The distance from
Williams past Emerson's to Grif'ins, wit
ness thought little strong ! z miles.
Cross-examined-llis wife WAS sleeping
in the sitting room night Of fire just OF
from hi, bedroom. The stove pipe went
through pine petition to enter the chimney
by the buttery. Didn't know exactly when
Are caught, was sleepiog. Judged was
about o'clock when he woke. Wife called
to him that the house WAS all on hfe'
Didn't know whether she came in his bed
room. He ran Immediately TO the buttery
and found the north side all or fire. Fire
WAS on shelves on north side burning some
OF, the floor. Fire burning from floor to
ceiling on north side of buttery. Saw the
oil on the floor by the north side. Inc OH
can was in the kitchen under the SINK.
Looked liked oil on floor and smelled very
strongly. Looked AS if kerosene had been
thrown on the side of the Hour barrel
Looked as though oil was burning Oh the
shelves.
Floor nor shelves had burned through
hen he got there. Thought fire had pot
been burning more than five minutes when
he came in. Noticed the trap door up anl
said to my wife, THE trap door is up and
someone has been up there" II turned to
the west but in thi. instance was turned to
the sc nth The hinges were on. never
saw it turned that way before.
Burning brands prevented him from
looklng long for traces. At that tim. of
the season The rollwsy was not much used
A. NJ. French be thought saw the track.
Mrs. Griffin, wife Of Calvin Griffin, was
called. She testified that on the night OF
the fire she was awakened by the dog IN the
entry. When he first barked she looked
out of the window. Saw nothing and isi'l
down. The dog kept barking when she
looked in the buttery and saw the fire run
ming up the shelves. Didn't think Of oil
but smeiled it, The kerosene can was kept
about 20 feet from the buttery. None 10
III. but.ery, no lamps there. And no pgh'
there the night before. Knew Emerson
Witness testified that he called on her al
the Augusta house the night after he got
out of Ill.
He asked first if he couhi draw som.
lumber across the farm. She told hin
not to 90 onto the place. lie made con
siderable talk. Finally he told her that
uples. she you'll do certain things, III"
would lead me- He said be had suffered II
iail and didn't propose to overlook II with
out having bis revenge.
He had sail ''he would lead us and burn
the house" While che was at home one
day he came there with an axe and pounded
on the door. Would not admit him.
atts,,ha1 al
the Griffin real estate LAST October. That
.uit not vet settled. The amount was
$500 or 800. On the night of the fire wa'
no, particularly alarmed until she opened
the door OF the room next the buttery whef
she saw the light from the fife. Ran back
TO her husband's room. called to him anf
mt her hand on him and told him the house
was on fire. Didn't think he was awake
until she pu, her hand on him.
Noticed the smell Of oil after she called hel
husband. Dog bsYked and grosied as Il
.ome one were about. Was sure the trsI
door was down the evening before. Hsf
not been in the cellar for three or fou
day.. The FRS, threat Emerson made a
the Augusta house Was that "he voul'
make me sorry for il. Then he said IL
didn't DO what he ssked about the Iumbe
bu.ines. he would lead me. Didn't know
but y hat he would shoot me- He va
iu., "a liable to A. not. Liable to do 1t an.
moment.
Redirect-Emerson made threats the dal
he struck her. Said there would be fu
neral there, that he would lead the who'll
OF u. and would burn the house.
.Jairus DolloH-Heasd Emerson "a.
about the Grifiins that Mr.. Gsifin soui'
be sorry ne had sent him (Emersont Z
iaii. Grifla might repent in dust and ashes
rhi. was at DoIlofs house. Wines
copl.int tell the month this vas said.
Cros. - Didn't let Emerson hav
cider at that time Had mad
no conversation about the reward offered b
n @ town for the apprehension Of the ma
xho burned the buildings.
Cbs,. Witham. New Sharon, called, se,
tilted. Emerson had done some work 10
him this simmer. Was there the night be
| far. the FIRE and Ieft there about 70 minute
| 20 midnight. Witness askes. him 70 sta
all night.
| Here the counsel asked the witness IL b
had not toll counsel and deputy 'herIf thu
when he looked at the clock II was half pa
eleven, and witness admitted that he hs
told ,hs m so But his wife bAd told bi'
il vas / ! 40.
Emerson said he bad sick horse and I
voutsn't stay all night. About mill ar
a aszr,es from W Willsms hosse he though
Cross-Solf the place to Af. Emerst
where the latter lires. Moved from the
in MAY. Then on. Of Emerson's hor.'
six, That night Emerson = as some Ism
IContinued on 9Th pase.l