Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-22
UNDER BONDS.
The Principals in the Chelsea Shoot
ing Affair Held.
Cook Claims He Shot in Sell Defense Report
Of the Hearing.

under bonds for their appearance at
the September term Of the Kennebec
superior court. All have secured bail
and are at liberty.
The names of the men under bonds
are Alphonso Fl. Cook under $500 bonds
on the charge of assault with intent to
kill upon Joel Augustus Austin; Joel
Augustus Austin under bonds of $500
on the charge of breaking and enter
saulting Mrs. Cook; John Corey under
5000 bonds, charged with being an ac-
cessOry to Austin, and Henry Stickney
under 5000, also charged with being an
accessory to Austin.
The Journal announced the news of
the shooting affray in "Wednesday
mornings paper, and it was then stat
ed that Augustus Austin was shot in
the leg, presumably b. Cook.
The scene of the affair was at the
home of A. II. Cook, about one-half a
mile east of the Togus Home, not far
west of the famous Carson house.
Cook is native of Oakland, but has
lived in Chelsea a year or more. Aus
tin is well known in Augusta, having
lived here. but he is at present a citi-
zen of New Sharon. Corey is the step
father of Austin and lives in New
Sharon, and Stickney is one of Chel-
seas citizens, who it would seem was
accidentally brought into the affair.
Early Wednesday morning City Mar
shall Morse communicated with Judge
Stevens. and had a warrant issued
against Cook, charging him with the
shooting. and this was served by Mar
shall Morse and Deputy Sheriff George
H. Ames. The hearing was set for II
o'clock at Judge Stevens residence
and all were there at the appointed
time. Austin who was in the hospital
of the Togus Home, was taken to the
place in a wagon, in which a couch
was arranged. DR.. Hunt of the Home
explained that the nature of the wound
in the right leg was the mangling. by
the shot from the shot gun, Of the
muscles of the lower part of the calf
He said it was a bad wound. but no.
necessarily dangerous. Then there
was wound on the head that re
qured a stitch to be taken.
Before the trial was opened, Cook
swore out the warrants against the
three men, charging them with break
ing and entering his house, and as
saulting Mrs. Cook and himself. The
two cases We're tried at the same time.
A II. Cook was the first witness, and
after pleading not guilty to the charge
of attempted murder, said that he was
awakened between 9 and 10 o'clock,
Tuesday night by a man knocking at
the door. 1t was Austin, who de-
manded admittance, and he replied he
would open the door as soon as he was
dressed. Thereupon Austin, who de-
manded to see his wife, who was stop
ping with her aunt, Mrs. Cook, said he
should break in and did SO. Seeing
Austin enter the house, observing two
other men behind him, he (Cook) Went
to j. H. Wellmans house and asked
E AIrg-
shouting Murder" and he took Well
mans double barreled breech-loading
shot gun and started back for the
house. When he reached there he or
dered the two men on the stoop away,
and lust then Austin came out and
jumping. struck with uplifted hand at
him. In the hand was something that
cleaned. Mr.. Wellman came to the
rescue. and they drove Austin away
from them, though he followed them
about the road threatening to have
Cooks life. All three men advanced
upon them and Wellman said to shoot
if they did not stop.
Here Mr.. Cook said he fired low, in
tending to scare them rather than 10
hit him, but the charge struck Austin
in the leg.
Mrs. Cook testified practically the
same, saying that Austin struck her
Mrs. Mabel Austin told story thai
corroborated those of the others.
F. r. Wellman testified practically
| as to the shooting, the same as Mr.
| Cook. He said he struck Austin Owe
| the head with a piece of a broom
handle when Austin struck at Cook.
Deputy Sheriff Ames said that Cool
came to him about IL o'clock. ant
| asked for protection, and he wen
down to Cooks house and remained
during the rest of the night. ii
showed some of the shot he had du'
out of the ground where the gun hat
been discharged.
Augustus Austin testified that h
drove up to the Cook house betweel
Q and 10 o'clock, Tuesday night, an
asked for admittance to see his wife
who. he said, had left him a shor