Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-07

Journal was Joseph Phelps. His story
does not wholly correspond with the
statement made by Granger, as above
outlined. 1t was told to the county at
torney at his room in the Court house,
yesterday forenoon, and is substantial
ly as follows:
Il went down to Changers house,
Saturday night. l was on my way
home and having been in the habit of
calling there once in a while thought
I'd go down and see them. Don't know
what time it was, some time in the
evening. 1t wasn't late. When l got
there found the old man, Jake, Mary,
Mrs. Day and Sinner. Mrs. Day didn't
stay but a short time. All had some
drinks. l had been drinking, but l
knew everything that was going on.
can remember everything that hap
pened. Had been there some little
time when Jake went to bed. He was
pretty full. After he had gone up
stairs Sinner began making advances
to Mrs. Granger. Jake's wife, and it
made the old man mad. The woman
and Heselton were in the front room
and Jim went and hollered up to Jake
tldl oIlISI was Will HIS Hllc LII tII
front room. Then Heselton came out
and clinched with the old man. He
struck and so did Jim, but which
struck first I don't know. Jim was
pretty ugly, made lots of swearing talk
and Sinner hit him in the face. Then
the old man threatened.
"'G-d d-n you, I'll cut your heart
OUT he said, as near as can remem-
Der. He took his knife out and opened
it. 1 went between the two men and
parted them. Held the old man in the
dinging room and left Sinner in the
kitchen. 1 told Sinner to get out. He
went into the shed and outdoors.
did not see him again.
Il staid there about 10 minutes after
Sinner went. Jim did not go up stairs
to bed while I was there. When Sinner
went Mary was in the front room pick
ing up things. Jim wanted some liquor.
He got it and we drank.
Jim had been drinking pretty hard
and was well set up. Jake's wife had
been drinking some but she looked and
acted all right.
Il did not see Jim Granger do any
cutting while I was there. I was not
so much under the influence of liquor
but ! remember everything that took
place. l went right home from Gran
gers. l don't know just what time it
was. but it was somewhere near Ii
o'clock, as far as 1 could judge.
I've been here five years this spring
and have never been in any trouble be
fore. Came from Waterville here. Was
born in the Provinces.
Think the party must have drank
a pint and a half of liquor while I was
there. 1t was alcohol-split. Jake was
pretty drunk when he went up stairs.
Don't know whether hewas dead drunk
or rot. But he answered when the old
man hOllered to him. I didn't think
Heselton was very full. Thought he
could handle himself all right. 1 never
saw him before last night. He had his
shoes, hat and coat off while in the
house.
1.-THE first I heard of his death was
about s o'clock this morning. 1 have
known Jake about two years and have
been down to the house two or three
different times
Jacob Granger and his wife Mary
were seen at their house about s o'clock
Sunday forenoon. Mrs. Granger was
lying down at the time the officers
called, but she subsequently came into
the room. In the meantime Jake told
his story about in the following lam
guage:
Il was late getting home from work
last night. 1t was about 630. Hesel-
ton came in about s o'clock. He was
pretty full if anything. Said he was
sick and asked if he could have some
thing to take. We had some split. All
of IFS had something. Had it in a pint
bottle. And that's about all 1 know"
Didn't you know of any trouble be-
tween your father and Heselton?''
asked Mr.. Leigh.
mo, sir, I didn't" he emphatically
replied.
Il went to bed and left them in the
Kitchen" he continued. MY wife re-
manned down stairs for a short time.
Then she came to bed. Didn't hear any
racket
Don't you know that Phelps was
here and that there was a commo-
TOM asked the county attorney.
phelps went out after some alco-
hol."
Did you hear the difficulty between
your father and HeseltOn?"
mo, l didn't. l never heard the
trouble between them. Didn't know
| anything about it till Marshal Breen
came after father, about 6 O'clock this
morning. I never heard any row. I'm
sure never did. They were all drunk
every one. and father was crazy drunk
He had been drinking through the day
He was crazy drunk
No additional information could be
obtained from Mrs. Granger, although
she was sharply questioned by County
Attorney Leigh. She insisted that she
went to bed early.
| c. j. Dunn. neighbor. who lives II
the next house west of the Changers
was seen. He said in part:
Il heard several rows during thu
evening. One was about dark, anothe