Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-27
PLACED IN JAIL.
Young Bickford Brought to
Augusta and Locked Up.
Does Not Appear to Feel Remorse
Over His Crime.
Bound Over to September Session of
Grand Jury.

| Yesterday afternoon, Deputy Sheriff
Hersom of Oakland, arrived in Au-
gusta, coming down on the Yankee,
having young Everett Bickford, who
shot his mother. Monday evening, in
custody. At the depot, although few
people were present, the boy was the
| cynosure of all eyes, the people on the
| train who had not seen him and those
on the platform being attracted to him,
as he stood alongside Mr.. Hersom
waiting for the train to pull out of the
station.
Questions We're propounded to him by
some of the bystanders and his replies
were quick and prompt, thus Indicating
that he was not suffering with any
great amount of remorse over the das-
tardly crime he had committed. He
| had the appearance of a boy with no
care in the world, and was apparently
as happy and contented as if he had
not attempted the life of his mother
| He stood with his hands in the side
pockets of his little short pants and
gazed around at the sights of the city
with an intense interest. He seemed to
be taking in the entire view of the
buildings, the streets and the river all
of which could be seen from the place
he was standing at the Winthrop street
end of the station. And when the train
pulled out and the street was clear so
that a passage was open up Winthrop
street the little chap walked along
with the sheriff, his hands still in his
pockets. in d free and careless stride
that was not at all indicative of a dis
turbed and troubled mind.
OF course the boy is young, being
only 10 years of age, but he is bright
and smart far beyond his years. AL
though he confessed to the act when
Sheriff Hersom talked with him, Mon
dav evening, he now tells a different
story. He said, yesterday, that he was
foOling With the revolver and it went
off, He says that he didn't intend to
shoot his mother; it was all an accident.
This story does not coincide with the
evidence that he took an ak and broke
open a bureau drawer in the house of a
neighbor and took therefrom the revol-
yer with which he did the shooting.
But for a boy of 10 years the story he
now tells is a shrewd scheme to escape
the full punishment of the crime.
Much discussion has arisen regarding
the punishment that will be meted out
to young Bickford, whether the court
will send him to State prison or Re
form school. The law provides that
when a boy between the ages of and
16 years is convicted before any court
or trial Justice of an offence punishable
in the State prison, not for life, or in
the county Jail, he may be sentenced to
the state Reform school or to the other
punishment provided by law for the
same offence. If to the Reform .chool,
the sentence shall be conditioned that
if he is not received or kept there for
| tho full term of his sentence, unless
sooner discharged as being incorrigiblc,
| he shall suffer such alternative punish
ment as the court or justice orders. No
| boy however, who is deaf or dumb,
foolish or insane shall be committed to
| the Reform school.
If boy between the ages of and
16 years, is convicted of larceny of prop
erty not exceeding 81 in value, assault
or battery. malicious mischief, malic-
| ious trespass. desecration of the Lord s
day, riotious conduct, disturbance of
the peace. embezzlement, cheating by
false pretences, vagrancy or truancy:
Ol DclllE common ldWdy, VI "a
or pilferer; or of violation of any mu-
nicipal or police regulations of a city
or town. punishable in the Jail or house
of correction; the court or justice may
sentence him to the Reform school OF
to the other punishment provided for
the same offence.
Everett Bickford will have to be
tried for the shooting of his mother
just the same as if he was a doze1
years older and his punishment is dis
cretionary with the court.
He was arraigned before Trial Jus
tice Bryant at Oakland. yesterday, anc
bound over for his appearance at the
September session of the grand jury
He will remain in the Jail in Augusta
until his trial. When he reached tina
institution. yesterday afternoon, III
! was assigned to room in the frs
corridor near the poor debtors cell.
= Fred Blacks dog was rim over ant