Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-17
SUPERIOR COURT.
December Term. Hon. o. G. Hall Presid-
ing.
W. S. CHoArE, Clerk
GEO. w. HEsELToN, County Attorney.
A. l.. McFADpEN, Sheriff.
F. A. SMALL, Stenographer

W. S. CHoATE, Clerk.
GEO. w. HEsELToN, County Attorney.
A. l.. MCFADDEN, Sheriff.
F. A. SMALL, Stenographer.
Augusta, Dec. 16.
This morning at 10 o'clock, the case
of State VS.. Lila May Knox Of Oak
land, was taken up for trial. The in
dictment is for setting fire to the barn
of Alton Bickford in the night time
of Nov 18th. last, with intent to burn
the dwelling house which was connect
ed with the barn and occupied by
Bickford and family and 3. F. Stevens
and family. The penalty for such a
crime is Imprisonment for life and the
statutes provides that in such a case
the accused may have assistance from
the state to make a defence. 1t ap-
peared that the defendant here has no
means and H. l.. Hunton was assigned
by the court to conduct her defence.
County Attorney Hestelton called and
had sworn for the government 10 wit
nesSeS.
From the testimony introduced it
appeared that the buildings of Alton
Bickford bounded on one side by a
narrow way, and that the nearest
building to them was the house OF
Robert Bickford. on the other side OF
the way and but 20 feet from the barn
that was burned.
The defendant had been stopping at
Robert Bickford's for some days prev
ious to the fire. assisting Mrs. Bick-
ford in the homework. and Henry
Knox. a brother of Mrs. Bickford. had
also been stopping there, and with
whom, the government claims by its
testimony, the defendant had become
deeply infatuated, and so olls that
she made threats that she would burn
the house in which Ben Stevens lived
if Henry Knox went there, because sac
thought his visits We're to see Mabel,
the young daughter of Stevens.
On the evening of Nov. II, Henry
Knox went across the road to Stevens
and during the evening the defendant
went there and tried to get him to re-
turn home, but ne treated her un1ind-
ly. She returned about $50, locked the
door. and retired for the night to her
sleeping room which was on the first
floor and directly opposite the Bickford
barn. At 11.30, fire broke out in the
barn and consumed both thai / the
house in which Bickford and Stevens
lived. When first discovered it seem
ed to be on the outside of the building
but soon communicated to the hay in
side. From the testimony of Mrs.
Robert Bickford it appeared that she
woke the defendant from what seemed
to be sound sleep although there
was a good deal of noise outside. and
that when she got out of bed she had
on all her outer clothing except shoes
She came out and was about with
neighbors who had come to the fire
and expressed regret for the loss caus-
ed. After the building had been con-
sumed she went on an errand TO a
neighbours, returning within half an
| hour. and Mrs. Robert Bickford testi-
| fled that at this time she took her owr
| cloak from the kitchen and gave it I.
the defendant to wear. In the morn
| ing, upon an examination. the tracs
| of woman's boot was found in The
! light snow leading from the corner OF
| the Robert Bickford house around to a
| window of the room occupied by the
| defendant, the same track returning
! and some of the witnesses described