The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-28

while and the detective and Waite dis
cussed fires and fire department. Wit
ness finally asked Waite how it was that
theTe was no protective patrol system in
Portland. Witness said he thought it was
q rood thing and that there might be q
chance for one here. Waite said there had
been an attempt made in Portland to
start q protective patrol and told witness
all about how he had tried to start one
and how itsshad failed because some of the
watchmen about the city bad got down
on him because he was taking away their
work from them and they had succeeded
in stopping the carrying out of the
scheme. Waite enlarged upon his plans
and what he had tried to do. He told
witness that previous to the time he had
started the protective patrol system there
had been a good many mysterious fires in
Portland.
finally said:
"You had a good head on you to start
those fires before you started the pro-
teotiye patrol system"
Waite did not say much but he laughed
and did not deny that he had started the
fires. When they were coming into Port
land on the cars Waite said to witness
after they had sat in silence for long
time and had not been talking about the
mysterious fires for long time.
81 think you were pretty near right
when you said that had a good head to
start those fires before I started my fire
patrol scheme.'
"Why don't you try it again - witness
asked Waite.
Because, said Waite, ''they are all
sore on me now and half suspect me of
having set the fires. tell you that there
is money in that fire patrol scheme
"Perhaps l could help you in it," said
the witness.
81 tell you what you could do" said
Waite, You could start the thing and l
would help you. After you had got 1t
started / could run it for you"
Witness told Waite that he would think
it over and they talked about the fire
patrol scheme until they got into Port
land
Witness said that things began to look
SO warm now that he decided he must
have some help in order to find out all
about Waite, SO he went to Boston and
got Mr.. Priohard, another detective to
help him. He brought Prichard here and
sent for Waite to come and see him at
his room He introduced Prichard to
Waite as the head of the big company
which intended to do the smuggling bust
ness between the United States and
Canada Clark and Waite had long
talk and finally Clark told Waite that he
thought he would do to join the company,
the plans Oh WHICH were explained III
detail to Waite. The latter seemed to be
very anxious to become a member of this
smuggling company and SO Clark got
him to sign an application for member
ship.
At this point County Attorney Libby
introduced this document written on q
plain sheet of note paper IN the hand
writing Of Clark and signed at the bottom
"Wilber Nj. Waite'' in another color of
iy1lr In hi ffQrnpt hoTdxUVitinn r
torney Heokbert objected to the introduce
ton of this paper as evidence. He said it
was obtained from the witness involun-
tarily and should not be admitted as
testimony. The court said that the paper
was not obtained from Waite involun-
tarily and it would be admitted as evil
dence This was the paper as it appeared
and was read to the jury:
APPLICATION OF MEMBERSHIP.
Name-WiIber M. Waite.
Age-Thirty-t
Observation-Disclosures
Former ccupation-Street Railway
conductor.
Residence-57 Walnut street, Portland.
Place of Birth-Lynn.
neutrality-suspicious..
Married or Single-Married.
Children-Two (sons), age 2-5.
Have you ever trayelled?-Yes.
For what purpose; where?-In Vir-
ginia; photographing.
Do you speak more than one language?
No.
II so what other than English?-
Do you belong to any secret society,"
knights of Pythias and Essenic Order.
Any real estate?-No.
Do you drink or gamble--?No. Have
always led Sunday school life.
Do you smoke or use tobacco In any
f1,.Y .ny,i11r,-Nn No M .
Extravagant in dress-No, never was.
Economical in habits-Yes.
(Signed) WILBUR M. WAITE.
Bond or security.
'After Waite had presented this appli-
cation for mem bership which was looked
over by Clark with great care, Clark said
that as president of the company and as
they were about to become associated
with Waite in a very questionable under
taking, one which would be at the risk Of
long term of years in the states prison
if they were detected he must require
some pledge from Waite that he was all
right and would not play them false.
Waite said he knew the transaction they
were going to participate in would be
dangerous and said that he was willing to
do anything in reason. He told Clsrk
and the witness that he had bsen en-
gagged in some crooked transactions him
self and had already done enough to put
him in the jug dozen times if they were
all found out.
Clark told Waite that that was all very
we'll as far as it went but that there must
be moro security 80 the members of this
band of sInugglers than this. CLARK said
that the men concerned in this affair
were risking their lives and in order to
have hold on Waite who was to become
the new member of the company it was
necessary that Waite should tell them
something about himself, something
which would give them hold on him
if ever they thought he was playing
them false; something about his past life
which would give the members Of this
band of smugglers q firm hold on him
and SO they would all feel secure with
him as a member of their band. Witness
said that Waite hesitated a minute and
then said that he could tell them enough
to make the bond all right and SO leaning
over to Clark told him something in a
whisper. Clark said that would be all
right and asked witness to step out of the
room minute. Witness did so and left
Clark and Waite in the room together.
In a few minutes Waite came to the door
of the room and told witness to come
back into the room as it was all right. He
then witnessed Wilbur NJ. Waite sign a
document.