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

which seemingly envelopes this some
what mysterious case. What his belief
may be as to the guilt or innocence of
James Granger no man knows. But
that he will do his utmost to fasten the
blame where it rightfully belongs ev-
cry one who knows him honestly be-
lieveS. Up to the present time only one
witness for the government, whose evil
dence is at all valuable, has been
found. This is Joseph Phelps; who
spent Saturday evening at the Granger
domicle. Phelps is an employee in the
card room of the Edwards mills. He
came to this city about five years ago
Sewall street, is married and has five
children. On account of the impor-
lance of his testimony Judge Andrews
decided that he must remain in the
custody of an officer until after the
hearing, today. Officer Fletcher was
detailed to guard Mr.. Phelps. Although
he was given permission to go to his
home or anywhere else he wished, he
was not to be allowed out of the Off
GERS company.
Whoever was really guilty of the
crime, the fact remains that a drunken
carousal was held at the home of the
Changers, Saturday night. Early in the
evening the three occupants of the
house. James, Jacob and Mary. were
there. About o'clock, Heselton,
Phelps and Mrs. Sarah Day, widow of
jeremiah, who lives on Valley street,
nearby. We're present. Liquor was
plenty and all imbibed more or less of
the fiery fluid. 1t wasn't real good
whiskey which the party had, but it
was just ordinary split" or alcohol,
reduced by the addition of water.
What happened there during the even
ing may best be related by the various
persons who were there. 1t may be
well to state that Mrs. Day only re-
manned a short time in the house and
left before any trouble began.
James Granger was seen at the lock-
up by the Journal, yesterday morning.
He was found lying upon the bench in
one OF the cells. In response to ques-
tions he spoke practically as follows:
II did not do this thing. / am an
old man, and l have never been in
trouble before. l am So years old, and
was born in FRENZY, Surrey county,
England. near Aldershot. My fathers
name was John Granger. He was a
tinsmith. When l was a young man I
was in the English army. While sta
toned with my regiment in Frederic
ton. N. H., / ran away on the last of
July, 1862, and came to Augusta. On
Aug. of that year / enlisted in the
9Th Maine Regiment and served
throughout the war. On June 20, 1865,
| was mustered out of the service and
ever since that time l have lived in
Augusta.
Il put Heselton out of my house,
last night. l own up that, but l did
nothing else to him. I've known him
for some time. He was going to worl;
with me, Saturday morning, at Judge
Whitehouse's. Before starting out he
came to me and said we'd better have
half pint to go to work on. I gave
him quarter and l didn't see him
again that day. I worked hard, set out
SO blackberry and raspberry bushes in
Judge Whitehouse's garden. When |
got home in the evening l was tired.
About o'clock Heselton came in and
said he was hungry. Phelps was there
and so was Mrs. Day. My son Jake
and his wife Mary were also there l
said to Mary:
Mary, Sinner is hungry. Warm up
that soup and give us some of it.
"She went to work and warmed UP
the soup, and set out three bowlsful on
the table. Phelps liked his and so did
I, but Sinner found fault with it. Said
it wasn't good. Mrs. Day ate some
and she said it was good. too. But
Sinner kept finding fault with the
soup and told him to shut up or leave
the house. He called me an ugly name
and 1 went to put him out of the
house. He struck me in the head and
Knocked me down. Afterwards. l
pushed him out through the shed and
out of doors. l never saw him after
wards, until I saw him in the basket,