The Portland daily press., 1896-09-17
TRIED FOR ARSON.
Luke Mcknight of scarboro Held by
Judge Robinson.

Luke Mcknight of Soarboro. pleaded
not guilty in the Police lcourt yesterday
to having feloniously, maliciously and
wilfully set fire to the dwelling house Of
Seth S. Willard at South Portland.
Assistant County Attorney Webb ap-
peared for the state, P. j. Larrabee for
McNaught and George e. Bird for Mo
Nair, owner of the buildings.
] Assistant County Attorney Webb had
these witnesses sworn: Joseph Sharp,
Seth s. willard. John 7. Young, Sheriff
Plummer, Deputy Sheriff FIRTH and
Deputy Marshal Sterling.
Mr.. Sharp testified that he saw Mo
Naught Monday, and was asked by him to
take ride. That night he met McNaught
at No. High street, this city, and drove
to Pond Cove. We had driven about half
mile and drove back, passing the house
of Mr.. Willard. MoNaught said that he
had just left sweater there and wanted
to get it. He went to the house and
remained in the team for three or four
minutes. Before he left he asked me if l
had revolver, andEwhen I said no, he
replied that it was lucky didn't. In
few minutes he came running back
greatly excited and said that somebody
had stolen the sweater. We rode away
for about mile, McNaught keeping
looking back all the time. Coming
back to Portland, MoNaught when we
got to the bridge, asked me if I could
keep secret said yes. Then he said
that his business was to burn the house,
that he had been hired to do it by the
loss. told him that that meant at
least twenty-five years in state prison.
Mcknight said that he could not be
caught. His boss was McNair. He
drove up to the foot of High street and
left me. Then came to the police sta
tion and later went TO the sheriff's office
and told Deputy Firth the story az re-
lated here. Then Deputy Firth and my
self rode over to the house and found
that it had been set fire to. On being
cross examined by Mr.. Larrabee, he
stated he had known MoNaught about a
year. He has been farming during that
time. Have not met him great deal.
We have shared at times glass of beer.
When we went to ride Monday, he got
some whiskey which we drank on the
way out. When we went back to the
house with Deputy Sheriff Firth the
Willard family was there. Ths fire had
bruned through the floor between the
kitchen and chamber above. BY getting
upon shed we could get into the room
by opening window.
Cross examined by Mr.. Bird: had
not drank one drop that day. Although
it was dark night could see when he
got out of the carriage that McNaught
walked straight.
Seth S. Willard. the owner of the
house. stated that he had wife. three
sons and daughter. McNair is sup
posed to own the house and I make pay
ments to either him or Mr.. Larrabee.
We went to bed at about half past eight
O'Clock Monday night. Heard the noise
of the flames cracking. and we got up
worked long time, and at last put the
fire out. The witness then in minute
detail described the premises.
There had been no fire in the building
since O'Clock that afternoon.
The cross-examination of this witness
disclosed the fact that there was no hard
feeling between him and McNaght. The
latter had come out to the house to chop
Wooo Lass friday afternoon. The fire
had been burning good half hour.
John L. Young. who keeps grocery
store at Knightvlile. was the next wit.
ness. M cNauaht went to his store Mon
day night and bought some kerosene oil
and tobacco. Had never seen Mcknight
before. I was suspicious of sinlge man
buying kerosene and putting ii In a
bottle.
Sheriff Plummer stated that he had
first heard of the affair Monday evening.
Went out to the Cape about one O'Clock
Tuesday morning and arrested Nc
Naught. He first told me he was out to
Deering on the evening of Monday; de-
MED that he had been at Pond Cove and
then said he had been out there.
Here the state offered in evidnoe part
of bottle in which Is alleged to have
been the kerosene)
1t was at the house MoNair that we
arrested both McNair and McNauaht.
This morning asked him if he re-.
mem bered that he told me Tuesday
morning he had been at Pond Cove
Monday night. He said that he did.
When first saw him think he had been
drinking little.
Deputy Shriff Firth told about going
to the house of Willard and finding
signs that there had been fire. Mr..
Sharp was recalled and said that they
had no lantern with them. He did not
know that McNaught had gone into the
store of Mr.. Young to get kerosene. No
Naught told witness nothing of it.
Deputy Marshal Sterling testified to
Sharp coming to the police station and
telling the story.
This closed the testimony for the state.
Nr. Bird then arose and moved for
the discharge of Mcknight and Mr.. Lar
rabee moved that his client be also liber-
ated.
Mr. Larrabee laid great stress on the
IafG chat the naraop rh cet fra tn tbooo