Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-24
|O'ER HILL AND DALE.
A Suspected Crook TraiIed
Through Two Counties.
| A Slick Old Gentleman Who Forgets
TO Pay Board Bill
C apiured at Woolwich Ferry and Sentenced
to Augusta IaiI.

Richmond Me. oct. 23.-tSpaciaD.-
The mystery surrounding a recent So
iourner in this town. known Doth as
Stebbins and as Allen, still remains
thick. but the owner of the assorted
names was taken to Augusta jail, this
afternoon. to serve so days sentence
in default Of paying a $40 fine for beat
ing board bill Of IS with e. 4. Ros-
ton.
Stebbins or Allen landed here. last
Wednesday. from up river. He engas-
ed board with Mr.. Boston ana made
numerous friends about town by his
courteous and genial ways. 1t was no.
ticed that he spent more time in the
house than on the streets. but every
thing went smoothly until Saturday
when the kennebec Journal announced
that a man answering his description
had left his Augusta boarding place
without the formality Of saying good
bye or the honesty to settle his bill.
Suspicion was at once fastened upon
Stebbins or Allen and word was sent to
Augusta that their bird was here. but
no one came after him. He had been
quite i'll during Friday night ana DR.
{. w. Price was called three times to
attend him and young drug clerk had
been turned out of his favorite and
cherished bed, but still he stayed. un-
m0lested and a free partaker of the
best the house afforded.
Monday came and on the afternoon
train arrived officers and the Augusta
lady who had been victmized, but too
late for Stebbins or Allen had disap-
peared after hearty dinner. ostensi-
bly, with the object of looking over a
farm which he expressed the intention
of purchasing. as he did others IN this
section.
He was thought to have been traced
toward Richmond Corner and with the
darkness to prevent much travel. the
search was abandoned till morning.
When the trail was taken up. this
morning, it was found to lead due east
instead Of west. and the search was
started toward Dresden. as he had
been reported as crossing the ferry.
Monday afternoon. inquiring the way
10 one or more farms whose purchase
he had in view 1t was found that he
inquired at several places for the Wa
terman Houdlette farm, and there il
was learned that he had sprung the
same old story Of wishing to buy 4
farm To devote TO the unlimited rails
ing of poI,,.ry, etc.
This song has been thoroughly sung
by him throughout this section. ana
While to one hearing it for the first
time il seems very plausible, TO the
bulk of the people it has become 50
worn out that to call it a chestnut"
would almost be an insult.
But inquiry at the HoUdlette hous.
proved that he had been there, anu So
on down the river road south in Drr5-
den. away beyond the Lower bridge was
the same story heard. till at last the
occupant Of a passing team mad tn,
Information that the reverand appear
ing Stebbins or Allen had spent the
night at John CIark's, near Cdrney's
Point.
Here was a definite cIcw. Mr.. Whit
was soon found and t. say tho least
he was not enthusiastic over the guest
he had entertained. He said the man
had appealed to him t. put him uD
over night. which he did at some in
u himself. This morning.
the visitor started to leave without 50
much as thank YOU He gently re-
minded the man of his forgetfulnes@
about the matter Of remuneration and
the smooth old gentleman assured him
that he would return. that he was
merely going To inspect the Carney
II 81, 80 INV
ing.
Well, that seemed reasonable. espec-
tally when Stebbins or Allen vert
down in that direction. leaving the
main road and trampins off halt mile
Of 50 to the river But he failed to re
turn. and when the searchers arrived
he was very much missing.
Search through the hills and dales
swamps and highlands. mircs and
muck holes was not source Of pure
dc light. neither did il reveal Stebbirs
or Allen. who evidently visited that
section for the express purpose Of
working southwark on his journey to-
ward Bath.
With that idea in view, Deputy Sher-
if Newell Of Richmond, started in hot
pursuit and finally landed his man al
most at the Woolwich ferry and start
ed back for Richmond. The return
was quiet and uneventful.
on arrival at this place. Stebbins Pr
Allen seemed to enjoy his dinner as
we'll as the rest of the party. After
dinner State Detective Ira Nj. True
had long interview with Stehbins o.
Allen, and he announced himself as
satisfied that the man was not thc
crook whom he was sus-
pected of being He was not pdrtlcu-
larry anxious to tell much about him
self. but his story seemed to clear him
from that suspicion.
At 2l5 p. NJ. ne was arraisned Pc
fore Trial Justice Hagar on the charg"
of willfully defrauding f. {. Boston out
of a board bill tn the amount OF 10. He
quietly pleaded guilty and announced
that he could not pay the SO me I'M
posad and would take the alternative
80 DAYS in Augusta Jail He was ac-
cordinglv taken to Augusta on the 80
p. NJ. train.
StebbinS or Allen first gave his name
at Mr.. Boston's as Louis Stebbns. lie
later corrected that by saying that Ms