Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-28
Ashford Sampson Convicted Of
This Serious offence.
More Charges Are Laid to the Door
Of the Sam, Man.
Search and Seizure At Revere House, With Ac.
comparing Sensation.


days, of well-behaved Augusta, very
record.
man stole a bicycle. Such a theft
Is enough in this age of riding, to make
the blood of every cyclist boil at the
very thought of such a thing. A man
who will steal a bicycle, will do any,
thing. He might just as well steal
mans legs out from under him. The
offense of stealing a bicycle should be
made the highest in the whole list of
offenses. And, when, yesterday, Judge
Andrews had listened to the testimony
against Ashford Sampson, he turned
to that worthy, and asked:
Have you anything to say?"
mo, don't know as I have" re-
piled Sampson. At that particular mo-
ment, Ashford looked as if he never
had had anything to say about any
thing in all his lifetime, or that he felt
any symptoms of speech or thought
within rod of him.
Then it was that the judge bound
Ashford over to the September court
in $500 bonds. Ashford's face did not
move muscle. He simply moved his
legs slowly towards the door and it is
a toss-up whether he was sorry at the
thought of spending the summer in Jail.
awaiting trial, or glad at the possibility
of being so securely free from being
dragged into any work.
The bicycle belonged to Warren B.
Sanborn, and was stolen from the in
sane hospital on the night of Wednes-
day, May 10. On that night, about the
time the bicycle was thought to have
been stolen, Ashford had been seen in
that neighborhood. 1t was too bad, to
be sure, to suspect Ashford of stealing
a bicycle, but they did suspect him.
none the less. Marshal Morse Went to
Togus where Ashford is known. Peo-
pie who were known to know Ashford
were Dlltu WIFI quCStiOiiS, CIV -
learned that he had been that way, but
without a bicycle. He was found to
have gone in the direction of South
Windsor, so the marshal continued his
search. Two men in a team, on being
asked. said that man named Henry
Cooper at South Windsor had pur-
chased a bicycle of somebody. So
Cooper was approached:
..Where is that bicycle?" the marshal
asked, without waiting for prelimi-
naries.
Cooper produced the bike, and 1T YVES
brought home by team-at least, tne
said he didn't ride the thing.
Cooper had given about 81 worth OF
stuff for it, watch and cham 'Value
$50: two revolvers; one pair of gloves
and 81 in cash. 1t was a 500 Wheei'
Mr. Sanborn testified, and wants 1t
understood that the price
Maid in barter on that occasion is no
foir valuation of his wheel, not by
long ways.
In the meanwhile, Ashford had Kept
ont of sight, until getting bold, ne ap-
neared on the street and was promptly
arrested by Patrolman Randall.
p,,t don't get tired yet. of this Asford
sa,nnson. for he was placed under sou
bonds to keep the peace, on conpiaihl "
Mr. John Norton, who, on belhg piaee"
on the stand, started in to tell qulle
t,,a to the effect that Asford one day
o,,,,o IN him with a horse, all dressed IN
harness Asford wanted Norton to let
hin, take one of Norton's top buggies'
for the avowed purpose of gong Out iii'o
the country some five miles, promising
a return in two hours 'or such a matter.
,srord.s two hours never expired, ana
the top-buggy was only recovered altei
- ,,..d been sold to other parties for the
sum of s25. This $25 was the means Oh
Asford's arrest and Incarceration IN Ken
nebec iail. for the simple reason that ne
was drunk.
That however, had no particular bear
ing the Cast. W iAeAN
claimed was that Sampson should De put
under bonds to keep the peace.
..Do YOU fear for yourself and properly
at the hands of this man?' asked the
iudee of Mr.. Norton, referring to ASH
ford.
81 do that" was the reply.
For his reason, the following letter was
,efarred to. which Mr.. Norton said he re-
ceived all in time, through the mails
1t read as follows, literatim, the dasnes
standing for words not fit to print:
Augusta. Me-. April A. 1897.
Mr. John Norton-l GU are - = ilai
and a thief You cheated me out OF more
than twenty dollars worth OF nay, no"
want Won to send me five dollars before
seven o clock tonight or will blow youl
- head Off before six days goes ovel
vour - head. You close five dollars II
| \ enyelop and address, it to this ana VII
cal it SQUARE if not will have revenge
! address it to this and admit trouble.
Mr.. B. A. HINES, Augusta.
| "Did you write this letter.? inquired
the judge of Ashford.
| "Nossir.'' with a broad ana pro
nounced accent on the same, replied Ash
ford as he shifted about in the smootf
seat and held his head up, looking at tn
crowd which had gathered with an I'M