Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-16
BOTH MEN HELD
At Skowhegan for Burglary at
Norridgewock.
Morrison and Smith Will Await the
December Courts Action.
Smith in Court on Streteher-Other
Men at Large.

state Us. Charles Smith, and State VS..
before Judge Bachelor Owing to the
condition Of Smith. who received full
charge of fine shot in the leg and was
unable to be moved the trial took place
in the Jail. Smith was brought into the
room on stretcher. Geo. W. Cover
| represented the state The respondents
! had failed to secure legal counsel and
stated that they did not wish to pro-
coed without counsel. After talking the
| matter over, however. they decided TO
| go on and stand trial. Both We're held
! in $1,000 bail for the December court.
There We're two charges against each
| man. one for feloniously breaking and
entering Brockett IL Russcll's store, and
| the other for breaking and entering and
larceny at HarloW's store.
AS the cases against each man We're
exactly alike they were taken together
Both pleaded not guilty.
The first witness for the State was
Emma F. Totman. who said she resides
nearethe store Of Bracket & Russell in
NorridgeWock. About O'clock.
"Wednesday morng, she heard very
loud explosion. A little later she saw
ltWo men come from the store and start
up the street toward Hariow's store.
She shouted to them and asked what
mad happened, but got TO reply. Soon
after she saw two other men going up
| the street and asked them the same
question With the same result. Then
| she heard one man say: They are
after US
The second witness was cony Russell,
one Of the pr"prictors of the store.
| When he entered his store after the
| burglary ne found Il roll top desk which
| had stood in front of the safe complete
Ily demolished Against the ruins lay
TIE outside door of the safe. A closer
examination revealed the fact that the
| bolt on one of the inside doors had been
broken as though with an iron bar
| About $50 had been left in the safe
the night before. but the robber had not
gotten into it. The money drawer at
| the counter was broken into and the
contents probably about 81, had been
taken. \ trunk containing papers and
RECEIPTS had been opened and the con-
tents ovorhauled He found soma
canned goods and provisions put up
ready to carry away. Two sandbags
made from stockings filled with sand
| We're also found IN the store. There
were = panes OF glass broken in the
lfront window. He had found that the
! putty had been taken from around one
zane and the glass removed To ALLOW
their entrance.
| Tho vi cf1tpI that bn 1iJnC
posite HArlow's store and that later he
| heard Il second noise as of the crashing
OF glass. He saw some men at Harlows
store and heard somebody say: Come
out. boys" Soon after he saw four
men come from the store and go past
his house headed toward Mercer. They
were running. This was ut l o'clock.
| lie dressed ana went down to Har-
! lows. Somebody told him his store
| had been broken into. He then went
down and found the conditions as given
| above.
Prisoner Morrison wished to ask a
question on cross examination. He
said: Did you know the man that told
you your store had been broken into?"
| Witness answered that he did.
| And would you take your oath to
that" Witness said he would and
could prove it.
l.. r. Folsom was the next witness
| for the State. He was awakened by
| The explosion but did not get up. Later
he heard voices and then the crashing
of glass He soon saw somebody run
past his house and heard one man say:
| Look out for that dog
George T.. Harlow was then put on
the stand. He had found some canned
beef and corn missing. The money
drawer was found outdoors. 1t con-
tanned no money except several rare
coins. Several pieces Of money which
Sheriff Lang had taken from Morrison's
pocket were shown to him and he iden-
titled some of them.
Several cans of beef and one of corn
were also shown the witness and he
said he kept the same brand in stock.
Charles r Varney. deputy sheriff at
Mercer. was then called. He stated
that he was notified of the robbery and
that the men were coming his way. He
started out with 4 posse of men and
struck into the woods with three men.
soon after he met the party which had
been organized in Norfidgewock.
), They heard a dog bark and surmised
that the robbers were near at hand. He
started out alone and soon secuted
them. They were going toward the
road and he called to his men to be
on the lockout. The robbers then
turned and came back quarterlnS.
Mr.. Tracy of Mercer, shot smith in
the leg and brought him down. WIT
i fxx-ipn hit found there
was no shot in his gun. Later Morri-
: son was captured. Witness took him
to Norridgewock and on the way Nor
rison told him they saw him first and
: had intended to wait until ne got neal
and then jump on him and put nm Out
of the business.
On cross-examination Morrison asket
7 when we were riding down the roat
! did say 1 would jump on you.
; Answer, you said We sherlH Ian;