Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-20
FALSE FIRE ALARM.
Hearing In Municipal Court l'ester-
day Morning Largely Attended.
Thoroughly Siiled and Suspicion Attached "a
Two Men Called Sailors.

arrest and conviction of the guilty ones,
$50 is offered.
The hearing in the police court, Fiilay
morning, revealed several new facts about
the matter, but led to no definite action.
At 10 o'clock the court room was crowded
with persons interested to learn what steps
might be taken by the court and to hear
Whist the witnesses had to say. The ex-
animation continued from 10 till ~ O'Clock,
and all the means of ascertaining new
knowledge was probed to the utmost.
The witnesses summons were Will Dow
ling, Horace Cony, Will Judkins, Albert
Pedder. Martin Clancy, Del jackson, John
Mcdonald, Edward Nash, J.A. Buckley
and Harry Breene. Attorney Little, as
city solicitor, appeared for the city or fire
department., and Martin Nolan, against
whom the warrant was sworn out, had no
counsel.
Marshal Bean was the first witne IS to be
questioned by Mr.. Little and twas in refer
ence to the ringing in of the alarm, time etc.,
and what Mr.. Bean had done to find the
guilty parties. Albert Pedder, 1st assistant
of the fire department, was the next witness
called. He stated that the false alarm was
rung in at IL 80 P. M. He Immediately went
TO box 63 discovered that there was no fire in
that vicinity, was informed that the alarm
was false one. He then rang in the all
out. Near the pole on which the alarm box
was attached, horse tracks we're seen and
the wheel ,rks of light buggy. After
the hose team had run away j. A. Buckley
took his team and with Mr.. Pedder and c.
W. Kicker, chief engineer of the fire de-
partment, tracked team to Hallowell and
back to this city and to Cony's stable. He
said horse had peculiarly shaped shoe on
one foot, by which they easily followed the
track. When they arrived at the stable it
was after O'Clock and when Mr.. Nolan
was asked who had just driven in with
team be refused to tell.
Chief Engineer Kicker was the next to
be called upon and he told the story nearly
the same as Mr.. Pedder. Horace Cony then
took the stand. He said that he had a team
out that night and had returned to his home
about 10 o'clock. He had been driving
about the city. In answer to question he
said he did not remember how many teams
were out and that they very often let teams
to strangers. There, had been some ques-
tons asked about bay mare. and portion
of the evidence was somewhat conflicting.
Ed Nash, the next witness, stated that he
had team from O'Clock till IL, and had
been to Gardiner. He thought the animal
was of dark color and said that the car
rage was covered. Del jackson was called
and stated that he and Henry Hill were in
the Cony House when the alarm was rung
in at 1890. They went from there to the
City Hotel, then down street to Conys
stable, procured team, little past one
o'clock, and drove out to Togus, re-
turning about 8 o'clock or after.
John Mcdonald, policeman, was then
asked what he had seen while stationed at
the bridge, after the alarm had been rung IN.
He saw five teams, but not the one &C.
cupied by jackson and Hill. j. A. Buckley
testified to having procured his team and
aided Mr.. Kicker and Mr.. Pedder in trac-
ing the tracks to Hallowell and back. Harry
Breene said that he heard the alarm blown
in and Immediately got up. When the fourth
ring sounded he heard team and looked
out the window in time to see horse, COW
cred carriage, and two men in it, gong
hurridly toward Hallowell. He did not
know who they were. Martin Clancy tes-
tilted that jackson and Hill we're II the
Cony House when the alarm was rung IN
Now that the witnesses had been
questioned Martin Nolan was examined
by Attorney Little. Questions were
asked about the memoranda OF letting
teams and the pay received, etc.
Itseems that at about IL 80 team was let
to two men, whom Mr.. Nolan said were sail
ors. They returned from their drive ABOUT l
o'clock. These men had the same carriage
mI. Nasu uld auu tucy LOU Wy
When they returned one of the shafts was
broken and Mr.. Nolan made them pay for
it. They said that they had been over
east of the city and Policeman McD onald'
said that he saw them when they came
across the bridge. When jackson and
Hill went to the stable for team these
two men were there, and Mr.. jackson said
that he did not know them.
From the evidence brought out at the hear
ing this was the only team out at the time the
false alarm was rung in and Mr.. Nolan SAID
that he did not know the names OF these
men, but thought ones name was Stevens.
Jackson and Hill took the same horse these
men had as the horse was no. warm when
returned to the stable, showing that she had
been only driven short distance. Inc
case was continued till Wednesday next at
10A. NJ, when it is Hoped that additional
light NAV he thrown upon the matter.