Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-20
BALLARD HELD
FOR Grand Jury for Murder Of
Martin Stanton.
Four Witnesses Saw Them Together
When Leaving the Camp.
And Later Saw Ballard Try to Pass
Stanton's Time Check.


postponed preliminary hearing in the
case of Edward Ballard. held on the
charge of numbering Martin Stanton in
the Eagle Lake region took place
Wednesday forenoon, before Judge
Edgar c. Smith of the municipal court
The case was called at 1920 A. NJ. and
the hearing occupied one hour. Ballard
was brought into court by Sheriff Ed
win ,. Ireland and Deputy Sheriff
James NJ. Knowles. The prisoner had
Tor counsel George Howe, Esq, Milo.
ana LOUIS {. Stearns, ESQ., of Bangor
Ire following witnesses were called
ana sworn: RI. r. Norman clerk a one
OF Woodbury. Marsh's camps at Eagle
lake, and the one at which Martin
stanton and Ballard had been stopping
previous to the shooting. Ballard be-
ing known as Henry Burt; Frank l..
Crommett. a guide. home in Hersey.
but at time of probable murder in com
pany with party of Ohio hunters oc-
cupying the old Drawn camp on the
tote road to I'atten; Perley p. George
of South NOrridgewock, employed at
bury Marsh of Old Town, lumberman.
Norman's testimony related to his
giving Martin stanton a time check in
| settlement of his account, amounting
To s72.0j, and the settling with Burt for
l6 days labor, on Oct. ..
Perley Il. George saw Burt and Stan
! ton. Saturday. Oct. II, at Lynch's camp
| ut ..l5 in the morning and that the
men took breakfast there. After break
| fast George tried to buy a revolver that
| Burt had and he related much of the
| conversation that ensued. The revolt
Yer was Il A. calibre and quite a good
one. Burt would not part with the
| Weapon.
! Frank l.. CrOmmett stated that Burt
was at the Brann camp in company
| with Stanton at 3 O'Clock, Saturday,
Oct. Il, that the old man stopped just
| long enough to inquire the way and to
ask the time of day. Burt remained
two or three minutes than followed
along.
! Burt carried the revolver in his left
| hand, with some kind of a garment
over his arm and q small package in
! his right hand. Later Mr.. Crommett
saw body lying about three-fOurths of
| a .uiie from the camp where he was
stopping and about 41a rods from the
| road. He made sufficient examination
| to make sure that it was that of the old
| gentleman who passed his camping
place. He examined the body. Sunday,
| Oct. ~, and saw a bullet hole in the
| skull. The body lay on the north side
Of the road.
o. fns
| tilted to hiring Henry Burt also known
as Mills, and later found to be Edward
J Ballard, in Caribou and that he was to
pay him So per month. He next saw
the man at Mitchells place on the
Patten tote road to Eagle lake region
and next at the Patten house. where
he asked him il he had a time check
| Burt replied that he had and produced
| one made out in favor of Martin STAN
ton. Mr.. Marsh stated that the fell
low hesitated somewhat VIXEN he pro-
duced the slip. and that he did not feel
especially satisfied over his action. He
took the time check and informed Bal
lard, as We will now call him, that he
was on mis- way to Bangor. and that
| upon mis- return he would settle this
| claim. He also advised the man to re-
turn 10 work.
Sheriff Edwin :. Ireland was next
called and sworn. He was asked If he
could identify the time check which he
had procured of Woodbury. Marsh and
made out in favor of Martin Stanton,
said he could and did so. The time
check was No. 90, and it was also iden-
tilted by II. +. Norman as one that ne
made out. The check was also com
pared with the stub in a book produced
nv Mr. Norman and found to compare
The counsel for the prisoner did not
attempt any cross-examination and dlo
not make any argument against the
prisoner being held to await the action
of the grand jury the last Tuesday III
February.
Judge Smith ordered the three VIII
uesses, Norman. George and Cron1met'
to recognize in the sum of 800 each foi
their appearance ut the February tern
of court.
DR.. l.. c. Ford of Milo, who made az
examinati ton of the bullet marks upon