The Somerset reporter., 1895-06-20
BRUTAL ASSAULT.
Mary Jane Cain, An Aged Lady
Nearly Killed by Some I'm
known Person.
ALBERT GOODRICH ARRAIGSED ON
SUSPICION, BUT EVIDESCE NOT
SUFFICIENT TO HOLD HIM.
The Case stm shrouded in Mystery.

and 1000 o'clock, Mary Jane Cain, an
aged spinster residing alone in a house
on the Eaton Ridge road, was murder
ously assaulted and horribly beaten 10y
an unknown man.
Miss Cain had retired to her room
and was in bed at the time of the as
sault. She was awakened from a sound
sleep by seeing light in an adjoining
ROOM and asked, "Who's there The
man replied with an oath. 'Shut your
mouth or I'll kill YOU Before the
woman had time even to think of es-
Gaping, the fellow had entered her
chamber and began striking at her with
a heavy club.
Miss Cain put up her arms to protect
her face, but was finally rendered in
sensible by blow on the head. The
brute then made his escape.
When she regained consciousness she
managed to crawl to the house of her
nearest neighbor, Elba Danforth, where
she was taken in. DR.. NJ. L. Mari was
summoned and upon examination found
that both of her arms and her jaw were
bl oxen. several teeth knocked out and
her head cut in three places. 1t is also
thought she is injured internally as Size
has vomited blood.
The motive of the assault is IA
mystery. There are several theories,
one being that the assalant was a
tramp. but it seems hardly probable.
The house in which the victim lived is
= = -=---s-- s, at -9Saop Of a
-a1son LOOKING 1or money. 1t is an old,
tumble down affair, setting back quite
a WAYS from the road. Another thing
against the tramp theory is that Who
ever committed the assault must have
been familiar with the premises as the
entrance was effected through the
cellar
Miss Cain is about e. years of age and
although she was terribly bruised she
seems to be gaining and unless some iu-
ternal trouble developes is in Il fair Way
to recover.
On Saturday afternoon sheriff Nile>
arrested Albert Goodrich Il young man
about Is years of age residing in the
neighborhood and at work for Horace
Eaten who resides about a half mile
from Miss Gains house. Goodrich was
familiar with the premises and on Thurs
day had been sent by Mr.. Eaton to saw
some wood for the lady. y chain of
circumstances pointed 10 him as the pos
sible perpetrator of the act and after
considerable deliberation and taking the
Young man before the victim. Sheriff
Viles arrested him and on Saturday
lodged him in Jail at Norridgewock.
On Tuesday at 10 A, NJ, Albert Good
rich was arraigned before Trial Justice
o. A. Priest upon warrant issued by
him, charged with the crime of assault
with intent 20 kill upon Mary Jaue Cain
on Thursday night the 18th instant.
County Attorney Ben ). Collins appear
ed for the State and Forrest Goodwin
Esq, appeared for the respondent.
Trial Justice n. W. Brainerd was by
agreement of the counsel, on request of
Mr.. Goodwin, associated with Trial JUS
tice Priest in the case. The respondent
waived the reading of the warrant and
pleaded Not Guilty" The county at
torney briefly stated the case and called
as witnesses on behalf of the state:
|
Elba Danforth and Mrs. Eiba Danforth.
Chester Burrill, Edward Rowe, O. W.
kimball, Moses G.. Cain. DR.. NJ. l.. Mari,
Sheriff Vles and Deputy sheriff John
Smith.
Mr.. Danforth the first witness. tcstif-
fled, that Thursday night sometime after
| 10 O'Clock he was Weakened by Miss Cain
who called to him from outside and said
some one had almost killed her. He re-
lated the sad condition he found her ia
and rehearsed what she said to him that
he took her in cared for her. sent for Dr.
MARI and she has been cared for at his
home since that time. He went to the
premises of Miss Cain afterWard with
others. Described the premises. Found
the shed door open leading to cellar aud
that from cellar to upper rooms. Stubs
of matches partly burned were found in
various places, all indicating that the
| fiend who did the act entered by the
shed door passed up through the cellar
and scratched matches along as he went
to find the way. Albert Goodrich was
at bis house in the presence of Miss Cain,
but made no statement to him in re-
gard to it.
On cross examination he described
condition of the room in which the deed
was done. Bed clothes had some blood
upon them but they did not indicate
violent struggle. There was blood on
rug by the bed. He with DR.. Mari aud
Oscar Williams visited the place early
Friday morning. They had two lanterns
Also visited place later with Sheriff
Nlles and others. Some neighbors visit
ed place before he went there with the
Sheriff.
Mrs. Elba Danforth testified that the
| time they were awakened by Miss Cain
was from l0l5 TO 1920 o'clock, Thursday
night. She looked at clock soon after
she came and it was 1890.
| DR.. NJ. l., Mari testified as to the time
he was called and the condition he found
the woman. Her injuries severe but
local injuries not necessarily fatal. Her
case seems to be progressing favorably
now. He examiced premises with Dan
forth and Williams to see if any robbery
had been committed. On cross examin-
alton he stated that the spots on the
cedar club picked up by the sheriff were
blood, in his opinion, but could not tell
definitely without microscoDical eXamin-