Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-03-27
The Trial Of Wesley Chick.
First Oxford County Murder Case for
Twelve Yearssin Court Last Week.

Court Last Week.
Clark E. varney. of North Parsons
field, civil engineer, not related to
David Varney, testified regarding the
plan In use in the case, which he made.
The Varney house he located as l.92
miles from the post Office at Kezar Falls.
The Hattie Douglass house is 3 miles
from the David Varney house. From
the Hattie Douglass house tn the house
of Stillman Chick, Wesley's father, is
2.83 miles.
Mr.. Varney was asked in detail regard
ing q large number of measurements on
his plan, and gave all his answers in feet.
During Mr.. Varney's testimony Tues
day afternoon court adjourned for the
night. Promptly on time Wednesday
morning it was re0pened. The crowd Of
spectators was nearly as large as that Of
the previous afternoon. Mr.. Varney
was recalled and concluded his testi-
mony.
Herman II. Gilman of Porter, Is years
of age, testified: live on the farm next
west of the Varney place. On the after
noon of Dec. 9th went to Porter village.
On the way back rode part of the way
with DR.. Devereaux. stopped few
minutes at Ansel Alleys. From there |
went across the pasture and between the
Varney house and barn. This was about
4 O'clock. Saw David in the living room
of the house, sitting in a chair. On the
road going west from Mr.. Varney's met
the mail carrier, Byron Lord. Between
there and my home near set OF bars, l
heard the sound of shot gun, which
seemed to be at the Varney place.
Cross-examined: Was frequently over
this road. 1t is not the nearest way
home. Have sometimes previously heard
gun shots on that road.
Byron Lord of Kezar Falls, rural mail
carrier, testified: The last three miles
of my route as travelled in December
were from the town house to the post
office, by the Varney place. l was due
at the post office about 4:30. On the 9th
of December it was wheeling. On that
day met Herman Gilman. Near the
end of the Ansel Alley road heard the
report of some kind of firearm. |
reached the post Office at 4:25.
Cross.examined: 1t was probably > or
9 minutes after 4 o'clock when / heard
the shot. frequently hear shots when
on the road.
The course of his route and the time it
took was carefully gone over by the
counsel.
Mrs. Sarah Day testified: My name is
Sally Day. | am 76 years of age this
month. I live in Porter. formerly
lived with David Varney. He never had
a shot gun. For the last year or two,
Ernest Varney has lived there about half
the time. Wesley Chick has been there
some. When he worked there, he board
ed with me, and stayed there nights.
Last year David raised some hay,
potatoes, beans, oats, and other crops.
Last spring David owned yoke of cat.
tie and hog, and had a cow and small
pig.
Wesley helped get up the wood for
David, and stayed at the place some
time.
David sold that pair of cattle for sl60.
saw one fifty dollar bill, the day he sold
the cattle. David carried his money
with him, don't know in what pocket.
put pockets in two of David's summer
shirts. The pockets were of blue drill
ing, and were put on the inside of the
shirt.
"a checked shirt was produced, with a
blue drilling pocket partly torn Off Mrs.
Day did not. positively identify 1t as
The cap was also produced,
but she also declined to identify it,
Wesley was at our house Sunday
morning before David was shot. He was
there all day Sunday and till Monday
forenoon. He came back Tuesday fore
noon, and gave him some cold victuals.
He stayed there short time, and left
saying he had got to 60 to Kezar Falls to
get shave and a hair cut. He came
back about sunset, and drank cup of
tea. Then he lit his pipe and went of,
him here to-day.
found David in the barn Wednesday
about o'clock.
There was in the barn at that time a
cow and fatting hog. | milked the
COW myself. Wesley took care of the
COW that Sunday that he was there. |
think David let her out and tied her up
Tuesday, and let her out Wednesday
morning.
fed the little pig Wednesday night,
and fixed the victuals for the old hog.
David took them out. This was about
4 o'clock. He hadn't been gone more'n
ten minutes before | went out to milk.
When got into the tie-up found David
lying on the floor. thought he had had
a shock. spoke to him, and he didn't
answer, and went out and hOllered for
Mr.. Fox. (The clothing he bad on was
described, including checked shirt,
which he said was like the one shown
her, il not the same one.)
MIR. Fox came right over. think DR..
Devereaux and Mr.. Fox lugged David
into the house, and put him into his
bed in the kitchen.
have two daughters living, Lizzie
Chick, mother of Wesley Chick, and the
wife of Perley Douglass. Ernest Var
ney's mothers name was Martha Young,
and she was living with David when
Ernest was born. David was my brother.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Wright: David
was II years old at the time of his death.
/ think David sold the oxen last
spring. He showed me two bills, and L
looked at one of them. Questioned re-
gardiug the bill, she said she didn't know
a fifty.dollar bill from tive-dollar bill.
The examination of Mrs. Day was con-
Quoted with considerable difficulty, owing
to her age, degree Of deafness, her lack
of understanding of court proceedings,
and some degree of unwillingness which
was apparent in her manner.
Bertrand G. Fox of Porter testified: l
live across the road from the Varney
place. helped get mp about seven cords
of wood for Mr.. Varney last fall. David
varpey's family was made up of himself
and Sally Day. Wesley Chick was there
about once week, and Wesley's mother.
saw David about o'clock in the
morning the day he was shot. About 4
o'clock l was splitting kindlings in the
shed. saw the mail carrier that after
noon, about the regular time, which was
about minutes past 4. l went into the
house, and then over to Varney's. Aunt
Sally was in the door Of the barn, and
David was lying on the floor, with his
head toward the bars to the pig pen. He
had on vest had given him, a canvas