Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-06-18
CHAMPION TALKS.
Converses Freely. but Officers Believe He VIII
Soon admit Crime.

Alfred, Me. June 11.-County Com
missioner Isaac Hanscom Of Lebanon.
visited the county Jail at an early
hour. Saturday morning. having been
called there by message from Jailer
Anderson with reference to engaging
a watchman. The man. apparently.
most desired for this position is George
Hanscom. who performed similar duty
during the imprisonment Of Frank
Parks, charged with the Kittary muir
DER. of which he was finally convicted.
George IlanTcOm is a man Of re-
markable physique, and by his previ-
Gus experience is particularly adapted
for the duty. He Is now employed on
the railway. but has expressed desire
tp accept the position Of night watch
at the Jail.
While at the jail. Saturday morning,
County 1mmissoncr Hanscom form
rd the acquaintance Of George Cham
pion, who freely talked with him
He approached the grated door of
cell -. in which the suspected man is
confined. in company with Jailcr +. ii.
Anderson.
Champion was lying on his cot. but
arose and received an intr lduction to
the commissioner. who told the prison
"r that his home was in the town Of
Lebanon. at Hanscom Corner.
That remark reminded Champion
that he had once been employed by
cattle driver named Names. now de
ceased. ana used to drive cattle in
herds through Lebanon. 1t also re
,,,in 4 v ,inn #
movements.
why said he, When | went from
my sisters'S home in Somesworth up
TO the Goodwin farm. in West New
field. | walked a greater part Of the
way. but did get a ride with a mail
carrier from a point on thr Somcrs-
worth al 70 the station at East Lee
banon. from which point | walked
through Iianscom Corner"
II have q grocery store there" re
marked the commissioner
Yes, | remember passing it on my way
tp Newfield," was Champions reply
The commissioner then spoke Of Mrs
Champion, saying: II see that the news
papers An speak very highly of your
wife.
THE II good little woman" said the
prisoner, with tears trickling down his
cheeks.
Mr.. Hanscom states that Champion was
very much affected by this allusion to his
wife.
Addressing himself to Jailer Anderson,
after hc had recovered himself some
what. the prisoner asked for some to-
haccO.
That is something for which You will
have to provide money" was Mr.. Ander
sons reply.
Thinking that he might learn what had
become Of then money supposed to have
been secured by Champion ut the Good
win homestead, the jailer continued:
You must have some money some
Where?'
Il will have my wife send me some.
said the prisoner.
Champion maintained that he is inno-
cent of the crimes with which ne is
charged, when the jailer and county com
missioner took their leave of him.
From his jaiIcr it was learned that Mrs.
Champion will visit her husband. this
week.
Trial Justice Moses Drew. before whom
Champion was arraiSned, Friday morn
ing, was seen by reporter. Saturday
noon. and asked what he thought of the !
What do I think? Why feel positive
that Champion will make a clean breast |
of everything before many days, was |
his answer.
Jaiier Anderson received two communi- |
cations. Saturday, one from County Atty. |
w s Matthews ard the other from |
County Sheriff Usher i. Thompson botn |
Of practically the same tenor. to the cf- |
feet that no one should be allowed, to con |
verse with Champion
The prisoner ate better. Saturday. and !
was. III fact. much brighter in appearance |
than Friday. Saturday afternoon he
spent an hour in the corridor, his cell
door being opened to allow him the exer-
else Of pacing W and down before the
second tier of cells. which are on a level
ana in plain view from the lookout in the
wall of the jailer's apartment.
The jailer informed reporter that 50
far as he had been able to observe. Cham
MON had made no talk during the day
with any Of the inmates except Corridor
Man Hight. who. though a prisoner like
the others. has strictly nbeyed the in
junction Of the officials that ne must keep
!, sharp eve on this extraordinary man
while. having the freedom Of the corridor
II il understood that all the conversation
between these two has been in connection /
will .ne regulations Of the institution.