The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-07
Strong Man and Alleged Burglar
Given Hearing.
ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE'S LITTLE
DAUGHTERS TESTIMONY.
Seys Respondent Called Frequently on Her
Mother When Father Was Absent
Package He Left at House Unidentified
As Among Missing Articles.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J

ESPECIAL TO THE PREsSJ
Alfred, October Civilian Merchant,
actor, strong man and alleged burglar,
who was confined at Alfred for several
months awaiting trial, but who was dis
charged on account of defect in the in
dictmont, and Immediately re-arrested,
was given a hearing in Trial Justice
Drew's court at Alfred today. Since the
last week, Merchant has been out OF jail,
and has been stopping with his bride in
kennebunk, she having become his surety
for appearance before the trial justice.
Joseph II. Lord of Wells, testified that
his cottage had been broken into and
identified as his, clock and part of a
toilet set placed on exhibition in the court
room. f
B. +. Lunt Of Kennebunk testified that
on February ls, 1896, he was called to the
house of Jacob Wissell as an officer. Mr..
Wissell met him at the door and took him
to Mrs. Wisse1l's chamber where he found
a number of articles, including silver
ware, part OF toilet set, some table
linen, some ladies' underwear, and fish
ing rod. Mr.. Wissell denied to him all
knowledge of the presence of those arti-
cles.
Johanna, young daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Wissell, aged eight, was next
put on the witness stand. She testified
that Merchant often came to her house to
see her mother, but always when her
father was not at home. She said that on
a certain afternoon, Merchant went to
ths house carrying large bundle and her
mother met him in the hallway. The wit
ness was unable to hear their conversa-
tion as they remained in the hallway
about fifteen minutes, when Merchant
went away, her mother entered with
bundle1which she took up stairs to her
room. Witness testified that from its
shape and for other reasons she judged
that 1t contained the pieces of toilet set.
The child roomed with her mother. Jacob
Wissell testified that he accompanied
Officer Lunt in his search and, had never
before seen the goods seized in his wife's
room. They had not occupied the same
sleeping room for some years He identi,
fed articles on exhibition assbeing among
those seized by Mr.. Lunt Merchant had
formerly worked for him and, at one
time, boarded at his house. They had
some trouble and Merchant left his en-
ploy. On oross-examination by Cleaves,
he qualified his statement regarding the
siezed goods. He had seen the clock once
before. He found it in his attic concealed
beneath board. He had showed it to
Mrs. Wissell, who denied previous knowl-5
edge of 1T. During his testimony Mr.
Wissell seemed to be laboring under great
excitement.
The state rested here and Mr.. Cleaves
asked the court to strike from the war;
rant the charge of larceny of the clock
and -four. He claimed the state had not
connected Merchant with the larceny of
these articles. Justice Drew refused to
grant his request and Mr.. Cleaves an
nounced that, under the circumstances,
he had no evidence to present.
Justice Drew found probable cause to
hold the respondent and ordered him to
recognize in the sum of $1,000 for his ap-
pearance at the May term. Arthur S.