Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-24
Both Penobscot Indians and Latter a
Graduate Of Carlisle College.
Claims They Struggled for Possession Of Rifle
and It Was Accidentally Discharged.

Of Maine, testified that he had exam
ined the blood on the bullet and found
tn" measurements to be consistent
with human blood.
Deputy Sheriff Charles F. Rackliff of
Ole Town testified that the rifle taken
from ROnco's house was a 80 special
Winchester such as might have fired
the mushroomed bullet exhibited in
court.
Joseph Dennis, Ranco's brother-in-
law, said that Rance came to his
house on Monday night, Oct. 90. He
asked Rance: "Why did you do it,
john" Ranco's only answer was to
ask: is Pete dead?' Then the officers
came and Rance gave himself up
Cora Dennis, daughter of the previ-
Gus witness. corroborated her fathers
testimony regarding the conversation
with Rance. Mrs. Dennis testimony
was also along the same line as that
of her husband. She heard Rance come
to the door i'll the middle CT the night
Sunday night and inquire for his wife.
Mrs. Dennis also heard Rance say: 81
don't know whether / done it or not
The last | remember is when we left
the house. We had quarrel"
Grace Romeo, wife of the prisoner. tes-
titled that she would be unable to say
whether or not the rifle exhibited in court
belonged to her husband She said: Pc
ter LCring came to the house sometime
in the evening. a long time after John
came in. He had no cap and had his
rifle. | took the rifle away from him and
drove him out as he had been drinking
He said his wrist was broken but | did
not believe him. When / saw John the
next day / asked him what he had done
and he said ne didn't know. He kissed
me and the children and went away with
the officers
Several witnesses We're put on the
stand to testify that Rance wore home
after the alleged crime 4 coat which had
belonged to Peter Loring.
The various exhibits of the State were
then admitted as evidence without objec-
ton by the counsel for the defence.
At the afternoon session the State by
q number Of witnesses showed that Ran
| co must have been the man who was
last with Loring and that his rife must
have fired the fatal shot. Interest in this
testimony was greatly lessencd when F.
| NJ. Enowlton IN opening for the defence
admitted lDractlcaliV everything lhat nau
been testified to. alleged further that
Loring was killed by accident.
| He declared that Rancos own tcsti-
mony would show that the mon while
drinking had gotten into q row at The
I.orirG house, had struggled In the kitch-
| en- and again out doors, until finally LOr-
| ing mace 4 dash for the rifle with Rance
| the younger and fieeter in pursuit. Both
seized the rifle and. according to the
claim of the defence, RancO's only pur-
pose in taking hold Of it was to prevent
Loring using it. In the struggle the gun
was discharged ard Loring fell. Rance
| in blind terror ran from the scene and
| staid until his own good sense and his
| friends p"rsuadsu him to give himself up.
| 1t is expected that EGnco will tell his
story on the stand tomorrow AMI that the
| case will then SO to the jury.
| The testimony Of Dr. Rowe for the
| State Int this afternoon was 10 the eff
| feet that there were marks on Loring' 2
nody indicating some KIND Of fight but
that death was caused by n bullet
! wound.