The Republican journal., 1896-03-19
A Hen Case in Monroe.
JUSTICE BUZZELL DEALS OUT JUSTICE TO ROB
BERS OF HEN-ROOSTS.


MONROE, March 16, 1896 We have chang
ed our mind in Monroe in regard to hens
We think it is cheaper to raise hens than to
steal them; that is, if you are tried before
Judge Buzzell. The second chapter of the
story of the Monroe hen thieves took place
in town hall last Friday afternoon. Nothing
we have had in our town for some time
caused the excitement or the people to turn
cut as did the trial of the hen thieves. Some
two weeks ago one George Snow was tried
in Brooks for stealing hens in Monroe and
was found guilty and fined one dollar and
costs that is, he must pay for the hens he
stole and costs of trial, viii ch amounted to
$40 in all. He was given two weeks in
which to raise the necessary amount.
1t appears that he had as a partner
in the business, one Ezra Hanson, and
last Friday afternoon Sheriff Leathers
OF Brooks, after long ride, succeeded in
landing his prisoner in Monroe At two P
NJ. more than two hundred citizens had as
sembled at the town hall to attend the trial.
Judge Buzzell presided. Alfred Jack, who
is deaf mute, lost Is hens on the night of
Feb. Sth and in some way he learned that
about that number had been sold to two
men-S We're sold to Mr.. Rufus Colson, who
runs the grist mill, and to Mr.. Chas. Mar
den of Swanville. Mr.. Jack proved that the
buyers to pocket their loss as best they
might. The witnesses we're called and
sworn, and Mr.. Jack took She stand. He
said, by the deaf and dumb signs, inter
preted by Mr.. Walter Bartlett, that on the
morning of Feb. 9th he called on his neigh
Dor, Sam Larrabee, and while there his W fe
(who is also deaf and dumb came and told
him that some one the night before had
stolen of their hens. He buried home to
find Is gone. A few days after ne was at
the grist mill and saw some hens that look
ed familiar He asked Rufus where he got
the hens and he said he bought them of
George Snow. He picked out his hens and
next day sent his wife, with Mr.. Amos Ken
dali as interpreter, to see the hens, and she
picked out the same hens that her husband
had. Mr.. Colson then told her to take the
hens as they were hers.
Question: How did you know them to be
your hens? Ans. If 1 held out my arm
one of them would jump on it and eat from
my hand. Mrs. Jack testified to the same
effect as her husband.
Mr.. Marden testified: l saw Mr.. Han
son and he asked me if I wanted to
buy some hens. l asked what he asked
for them and he said 50 cents. l Of
feIed him 80 cents each, which he took
paid him in part with two bushels of oats
and the rest in money. A few day. after
Mr.. Jack came to my place and asked me if
1 bought any hens from Mr.. Hanson.
Through his interpreter J told him yes. He
wanted to see them and we Went to the hen
house and he picked his out all Int one, and
he said he had one trained and he held out
his arm and the hen jumped on and appear
ed to know him. L told him if they We're
his hens to take them.
George Snow testified that Mr.. Hanson
and himself went TO Mr. Jacks in the night
and stole 10 hens and divided them. Ques-
ton: Did you and Mr.. Hanson ever steal
hens anywhere else ? y es, coming home from
Belfast stopped at Mr.. Hamitcns', the
did YOU do with them? Ans, ! carried
them to George Staples, who dressed them
and | took them to Bangor and sold them
Ques Did Mr.. Staples know where you
got them? Ans. He did not. Ques Have
you ever been out alone to steal hens? A 5.
No, Mr.. Hanson al ways went with me.
Amos Kendall was called and corroborated
~ ~
The defense was an alibi.
Mr.. Hanson taking the stand denied the
story, but could not, or cid not, tell where
he got the seven hens he sold to Mr. Mar
den He said he was in Bangor on the 7th
of February and stald at MIR. Perrys all
night, and the night of the sth he stad with
a Mrs. Murray, whose boy was sick.
Mr.. Perry corroborated Hanson.
Mrs. Murray was called. She said Mr..
Hanson in Bangor the 7rh of Feb. He
went with MIR. Perry and when they got
home she went to get Mr. Hanson to come
to her house and stay all night, but he got
home late and was wet thro ugh, it having
he did come to her house and stayed all
night, and the next night also. Question:
Could he not have gone out i'll the night and
you not know it? Ans. No, for | was awake
all night.
In summing up the evidence Judge Buz-
eel said he found the accused probably
guilty, and 1 shall require you. Mr.. Ezra
Hanson, to furnish sureties in the sum of
$500 for your appearance at the April term
of the Supreme Jud icial Court To be holden
at Bella st April next. and you stand COM
mitted until the bonds are furnished. The
two weeks allowed to George Snow in which
to get money to pay his fine having expired
the Sheriff said he would take them both TO
iail. Snow will have to serve IS days.
The decision of Judge Buzzell meets with
the approval of all who heard the trial, and
we hope this will put an end to hen steal
ing in this town.
A Young Crew.