Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-15
Everett Bound Over.

MunlClpal SOuTt on 1u6SQ3y OF last
week in the case of Wallace G.. Everett
of Paris, charged with exploding dyna-
mite in the we'll from which water flows
to the farm houses of B. F. Cummings
and Charles Edwards. County Attorney
Barnes appeared for the state, and Hon.
A. S. Kimball for Everett. Several wit
nesses were examined, and some two
hours and a half was occupied in the
hearing.
The we'll in question is situated partly
within the limits of the highway, on the
front of Everett's farm, south of his
house, and north of the houses on the
two farms which it supplies with water.
Some of the land in each of these two
farms joins land of Everett.
Some time during the night of July
2lst, 1905, the water in the we'll was dis
,urbed. Mr.. Cummings, just before re-
firing that night, noticed that the water
was not running quite clear, but thought
nothing of it. The next morning the
water was muddy, and the door of the
we'll house was found open, the water
muddied, and when it was cleaned out
there was found length of fuse, con.
sisting of two pieces some two feet and
a half long, tied together with twine.
There was also damage done to the
walls, and the house was moved little
from its foundations, showing that
there had been an explosion within the
we'll. Tracks led to and from the well,
in the direction of Paris Hill.
1t appeared in evidence that Everett
had been employed during the early part
of the summer of 1905, with other men,
in digging a we'll for DR.. Charlotte F.
Hammond at The Beeches, for which
dynamite was used. When the we'll was
finished, at DR.. Hammond's charge not
to leave any dynamite around, he took
home with him, according to the testi-
mony of one of the wOrkmen, seven
sticks and a half of dynamite. Later,
some dynamite being wanted for work
of DR.. Hammond's on water pipe OF
her fathers, he was requested to bring it
back, and did bring back, according to
the testimony of the same man, eight
sticks. He also took some fuse and caps
which were not returned. There was
also testimony that Everett had had
trouble with Cummings over a line
fence, and that there was feeling be-
tween him and Edwards, and that be
had told Edwards he would "get even''
with him.
The important testimony to connect
Everett with the dynamiting was given
by Edgar l.. Ratcliff, who was at work
for Everett during the past summer.
He testified that on the evening when
the we'll was tempered with he went
down to Mr.. Howland's farm and spent
the evening at the stable there; that be-
fore going he was in Everett's barn and
Everett was putting caps and fuse in
some dynamite. Some time later, when
he was at home sick, he got a letter
from Everett in which Everett "said be
would give me twenty-five dollars if
would keep still about him If any trouble
came up" This letter has been lost,
and Ratcliff's brother, Thomas Ratcliff,
to whom he showed it, was put on the
stand and testified to its contents sub
stantially as the other witness had done
After Edgar Ratcliff had testified in
direct and cross-examination, County
Attorney Barnes questioned him some
what sharply as to whether he had moi
made certain statements more directly
connecting Everett with the affair to
other parties, including the county at
torney himself. The witness denied
having said anything different, but did
not make his answers entirely clear or
this part of the examination, and Coun
ty Attorney Barnes intimated to the
court that he didn't know whether the
witness was telling the full truth or not
When the evidence for the state wal
| in, Mr.. Kimball for the respondent stat.
ed that he had decided to put in no evi
dence, and moved that Mr.. Everett be
discharged, as it seemed to him that
there was no evidence to connect hin
with the affair. Judge Davis denied thu
motion, saying that the evidence nigh
not conclusively prove guilt, but thai
with the threats that had been made
and the opportunity which Everett had
together with the other circumstances
he thought it best to give chance for {
| jury to pass upon the matter. At th'
suggestion of the county attorney, bal
was fixed at 5000, and Mr.. Everett fur
nished bonds in that sum for his appear
ance at the October term of Supreme
Court.