Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-22


and DO not think he was. In answer TO
Questions BY one of the jurors, Mr.. Pesse
stated all the barn doors which he noticed
were fastened. He saw all of the doors on
the east and north sides of the barn. He
fasten door with an outside prop from the
inside of the barn.
Ethan Little stated that he was one of the
selectmen of Monmouth. The town owns
q gravel bank that joins Mr.. Sawyer's pas
ture. Went there to fix the line fence,
and after repsiring it went to tell Sawyer
that it would be all right for him to turn his
sheep into the posture. Knocked twice n:
the door, the second time quite loudly. I
heard the horse whinny in the barn, which
made me think that something was wrong.
went to the barn to see what might be the
matter. Saw no tracks scross the road
from the house to the barn since the rsin,
which must have been since Saturday night.
The stock in the barn had the appearance
of not being attended to for some time.
There were no tracks of any animals in the
yard since the rain. | noticed that the barn
door was fastened from the outside. l re-
fer to the door into the tie-up where he
usually entered the barn. i looked at the
barn and then went back to the house. I
looked into the window and called "Augus-
tus." saw nor heard no sign of him in the
house and went over to Mr.. Rideout's to
get him to enter the house with me to see
what mig be the matter. We came back
together and went into the house. 1t was
not locked. We went into every
room from cellar TO garret !;
but found nothing of Mr.. Sawyer. Went
to the barn, " here MIR. Pease had slready
gone, and found things Ms he hrs stated in
his testimony. We all three came back TO
the house and looked the lower psrt over
again. Found everything as Mr.. Pease
has stated. We then ~,nt home. Aft,r
dinner got some of the neigbbors ana i,-
turn, to make thorough search.
In answer to question Mr.. Little stated
tered by different door from the one Mr..
Pease went in at.
Coroner-WAs it propped?
Auswer-It was buttoned and hasped on
the outside.
After dinner l first to the BAN aud
searched short time wht n A. A. Sawyer
and A. A. Judkins found the body. 1t was
covered by good sized fork full of hay.
This was behini horse stall on the west
side of the barn.
A juror-An unused horse stall?
Answer-Yes. We left tie body just
as we found it,
A juror-Could the door have been
hasped and buttoned from the inside?
Answer-No.
Coroner-Was this man ever troubled by
anyone breaking into his buildings.
Answer - Yes, his house was broken
into three years ago. l do not know that
Mr.. Sawyer ever had revolver. l have
seen or heard of no suspicious characters
round here. Don't think Sawyer had an
enemy in the world.
l first telephoned Coroner Libby at Au-
gusta, but was unable to reach him. I then
heard that there was a coroner in Halo
well and telephoned Coroner Kilbreth. 1
also notified Detective True and
a ked him to coma here.
endeavored to reach County Attorney
Carleton; but heard that he had taken the
train for Boston. | had been at Sswyei's
house before, but had never found 1t in
such confusion.
F. S. Rideout testified. Mr.. Little came
to my house at about 1890, should thiuk
saying that he thought there must be some
thing wrong at Mr.. Sawyer's, and he would
like to have me go there with him. am
his nearest neighbor. He is an uncle of my
wife. do not think he lad any enemies.
The remainder of MIR. Rid, ont's testimony
was simply corroborative of Mr. Little's.
A. A. Judkins testified: Today, about
l o'clock, Mr.. Little come to my house and
asked me when had seen Mr.. Sawyer. I
said l could not remember exactly but it
was one day last week. was passing his
house and stopped and spoke with him.
Mr.. Little said he had been there in the
forenoon and could rot find him. He said,
II guess we'd better 20 up. He said he
had also notified others who were coming
up. When we got most to the house
team with three persons, / think, came
along in company with us. l asked Mr..
Little if he had been all over the barns
and he said, "Y,s, except on the scsf-
rolds.' He and and several
others went into the barn
Went up ladder onto the sc ffvld, but saw
nothing there. Came down and went into
The horse stalls on the west side of the barn.
As turned round to go behind the horse
stalls, stubbed my toe against something,
and saw something buri d in hay. Stepped
out and said, 81 think I've fonnd him.
Went along and took the fork. A. A.
Sawyer went with me. Was going TO take
some of the hay off With the fork when Mr.
Sawyer said Hold on He reached down
with his hands aud took the hay off, and
found Mr. Sawyer's body. Mr.. Little came
in, snd several others. The body was
lying nearly on its face, partislly on the
side. We Gil not move the body.
Was well acquainted with Mr.. Sawyer.
Went to his house occasionally, but not
often. Only saw bis living room. The
condition of bis house was as good as would
be expected for q man of his age living
alone. | never knew that he h I'd Ievol-
yer. Knew Of his house being broken into
three years ago. He came to me quite ex-
cited and complained that some one bad
broken his glass.
i had q man, William Small, working
for me, who said tod y that he heard the re-
port of q gun or revolver, Saturday,
about dark, and that it sounded in the
direction Of Mr.. Sawyer's house.
DIR. II. NJ. Blake testified that he was
present when Detective True and Coroner