Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-10

was taken by the men and boy. who
had been working on the wood, ami
one OF whom had called Knight the
nickname. They found me unccn-
scious in the little ravIne which leads
from the watering trough"
who were these menu"
civilian A. Lovejoy, Bert Storer.
and Frank Hail.
did you ever engage In fight. Mr..
Norton?''
Never; haven't looked for trouble
from anyone"
did you receive medical attend
lancer
Eyes. from DR.. Turner and Drs
Croker. One of them said he had
never before seen face 90 badly cut
and bruised. My eTF were in terrible
condition; and somf deep cuts on the
face: was severely hurt
Had Mr.. knight ever abused your"
I'm language mahy times, and in
passing by my house. had annoyed me
in that way"
Mr. Norton has In his possession the
butt end of whip. a piece about IS
inches in length. the, instrument with
which, he alleges. Mr.. Knight struck
Kim. He SAYS he found 1t near the
scene, and recognized 1t as having
been the same that Knight held when
the latter approached him on that
afternoon.
Mr.. Knight was seen at his hcme,
and when asked for his version Of the
affair. he was very reluctant to talk.
saying that he wished to keep out Of
print on the matter let other ones say
what they would He said he had not
sought any difficulty with Mr.. Norton
or any other man, and that he had
suffered much uncalled for abuse in
numberless ways in the way Mr.. Nor
ton had treated him, conspicuous
amongst which We're. uncomplimentary
names. but, if you want my story OF
this matter, l will give 1t to yol," he
concluded. 1T is a short one, but II
will cover the facts. and l assure you
1 will not misrepresent anything about
1T.
II started on the afternoon in question
1T was a Tuesday. remember-from
the hay-loft in my barn. with a load Of
hay, to deliver 1t to n customer on Bridge
street. And, as was my wont, / passed
down through the roadway. On reaching
the trough, i JufuVeu OuV u give my
horse a drink. uncherh6ng the check rein.
While he was drinking, l took out my
notebook. to make the charge against
my customer.
Morton sat on the wood pile-some 100
feet away. l believe they say It is. He
began to sing out ito me as soon as
passed his barn. continuing all the while
/ was making the charge on my book.
He called me bad name. repeatedly.
whats gnawing you, John LIZ l
replied.
shortly after. ! checked up my horse
and. being in such position as to be
back-to to Norton. r started to ascend
into the wagon. On half turning about
| saw him within five, feet of me. With
something in his right hand which looked
like knife. and with that hand up
raised. he approached me. l warded on
the blow he struck me with my left arm.
and again partly diverted n blow which
grazed my right cheek. / struck AT him
in self-defence with my left hand. Then
he clinched. / broke away from him.
Then l struck him two right-handers on
his face. He fell INTO the ravine. My
stiff hat. during thep,,scuffie. had fallm
into the hole also. and lay near mis- feet.
I got it. Then got aboard my team and
drove away. | saw two men and boy
from the woodward approach and take
Norton up. +.
But, l would have you understand.
have sought no trouble in this matter.
When he came for me. defended myself.
And l would do just the same thing right
over again. with him or any other man.
/ used no club-none, except the two l
have with me all the time. and at that
he held up TWO of the biggest fists the
reporter had ever seen.
what have you to say regarding the
Il have nothing to say. only that l act
ed in self defence and Fam perfectly salts