The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-12-14
lncendiarlsm In nontviIIe.

For several months past the town of Mont-
Viiie mas oeeh 'he scone OF a series of depre-
datlons, beginning with petty thefts and
eliminating in incendiarism The trouble
has been confined principally to the north
easterly part of the town. At first harnesses
robes, etc, were stolen, carriages damaged
and other outrages perpetrated The object
of the marauders did not appear to he
plunder, as nearly everything lost was forn1
hidden somewhere in the neighborhood, but
mutilated beyond use, Harnesses were cpt
into small pieces, valuable robe was sunk
in the river, and other articles were dis
posed of IN similar senseless ways. In a
number of Instances valuable carriapes ware
nearly ruined The paint was pounded and
scratched, dents made in the wood, the
cushions and upholstery cut open, and the
tops cut and slashed beyond repair. There
| seemed to be no method in the selection of
victims of these outrages and no clue could
be found to connect any person with them.
One Young man was suspected by some but
a close Investigation, carried on by the
| officers quietly, showed that in two instances
at least he could not have been the perpetra
tor, as he was known to have been in other
parts.
Wednesday morning, Dec 9th, at about 4
O'Clock it was discovered that two barns own
ed by Hollis M Howard were on fire The
structures were entirely DESTROYED. with
nearly all their contents, including 40 tons of
hay, 20 sheep, d flock of hens, farming i'm
plements, 2 hogs and carriage The How.
ard place is located on what is known as
"Hogback Mountain" in the north part of
the town. Mr.. Howard and his son Mark
were the only ones present when the fire
was discovered. They succeeded in getting
out head of cattle, 2 horses and wagon.
Mr.. Howard had an insurance of S4OO on his
barns and estimates his loss at 81 800 Not
far from Mr.. Howard's home is a house
owned by his son Ralph and occupied bv
Lauren Blake. At about the time OF the
conhagratlon that destroyed the barns of
the elder Howard fire was discovered on the
Blake premises. The mother of Lauren
Blake heard a noise without and saw brisk
blaze tapping up against the side of the
house. A sack of straw and box Of shaw.
ings and paper had been placed against the
back side of the building and fired Mrs
Blake pulled away the com bustibes and put
out the fire before it had burned through
the clapboards. Blake was burned out of
the G. B. Hustus house in this neighbor
hood six weeks ago 1t was shown at the
time that that fire was incendiary.
Sheriff $. G. Norton, who has been at
work on the case some time, summoned a
jury for inquest, and they began an investi-
cation last Friday forenoon. The jury CON
sisted of Hon, Geo. E Johnson and VIM. z.
Thompson, Esq Of Belfast and E. A.
Sprowl Of Montville. Orrin j. Dickey of
Belfast was clerk, ana deputy sheriff Nj. G.
Norton of Belfast was Ill attendance to sum
mon witnesses, etc. BY request of some Of
the citizens the hearing was public, though
the officers and jurors advised against such
a course, as not the best way to bring
out the whole tn 4 large number OF
witnesses We're examined, and but little
new was learned. The jury continued its
sessions through Friday and Saturday, and
adjourned subject TO the call Of the sheriff