Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-24

body of Radcliffe lay about eighteen feet
south of the hole, lying head toward the
road, on its right side. did not recog-
nize the body. Radcliffe was still alive,
just breathing.
While we were there Mr.. Everett told
US what had happened. He said that
there was party round the hill, that he
followed him up the hill to the little
dynamite house. The man went in,
came out again, lighted match, and
went in again, when Everett went up and
fastened him in.
At II o'clock the body was still breath
ing-just breathing. At quarter past
eleven he had stopped breathing.
At what time was it identified as Ed
Radcliffe?
After the coroner and doctor got there,
about o'clock.
Coroner William j. Wheeler and DR..
Littlefield examined the body, and it was
then taken to my store on Paris Hill.
Mr.. Everett was left at the mine.
Mr.. Wheeler was the coroner in charge
of the inquest, which was held the next
day. The county attorney was not at
home, and was not notified of the in
quest.
Mr.. Hubbard identified jackknife as
one given to him Saturday morning,
June 18th, by Mr.. Bacheller. The knife
was open, and had reddish brown stains
on it. The knife was delivered to
Professor Robinson at Brunswick.
also took to him pail, said to contain
the stomach of Radcliffe.
Did you notice blood stains on the
ground the night of the explosion?
Witness replied that he saw two spots
of blood, nearer the hole in the ground
than the body lay.
Did Mr.. Everett tell you anything
about where he was when the man went
into the building?
He said he was about rod away when
the man went in.
Mr.. Hubbard related picking up a
bundle iu the fork of the road at tho
mine.
Cross-examned: How did you get
your information regarding the explo-
sion?
Mr.. Winslow notified me.
Witness could not recall the exact
conversation made by Mr.. Everett that
night. The details of Mr.. Everett's
story as told that night, were gone over
on cross-examination point by point.
Everett said he had got down about
| to the trestle when the explosion came.
Asked as to whether the appearance
of the ground indicated that the body
had rolled into the hole where it lay,
Mr. Hubbard said, 81 should say not. !"
There was quite lengthy examina-
ton by Mr.. Swasey relative to the de-
tails of the scene at the mine and the
surroundings of the hole in the ground,
covering details, without developing
anything of special interest.
William J. Wheeler of South Paris,
the coroner who was in charge OF the
Radcliffe inquest, testified to going to
the sc enc on the night of June 18th on
the summons of DR.. Littlefield. From
Paris Hill they were accompanied by
some others. He related finding the
body some eight or nine feet from the
hole in the ground. DR.. Littlefield was
the first one to touch the body. The
position of the body was described,
" ing on it's right side turned somewhat
toward the ground.
Mr.. Wheeler testified to observing two
blood pools nearer the hole than the
body.
sDid you notice any wounds on the
face?
Yes, some scratches on the face, and
in the right side of the neck deep cut.
Where was Mr.. Everett while you
were examining the body?
Near by, | couldn't tell exactly where.
Did Mr.. Everett make any statement
that night as to what had happened?
He said that he heard his horse make
a peculiar sound. He put on his rubber
boots and went out, followed man
around the mill. The man tried the
doors of the mill, then went up to the
little dynamite house. Everett follow.
ed him, saw the man pry the clasp of
the dynamite house and 60 in. He
came out, lit a match as if looking for
something on the ground, went in again,
came out the second time, lit match
and looked on the ground. When he
went in the third time Everett went up
and fastened the door with plank and
two boards braced against the door. l
asked him If the man made any dis
turbance. He said not then, but when
he got down a short distance the kicking
and swearing began. asked him If he
knew who it was that was shut in, aud
he said he did, it was Ed Radcliffe.
Asked about the things which Everett
brought to the inquest, Mr.. Wheeler
stated that Everett brought clasp
which he said was the clasp of the dyna-
mite house door, and an iron bX which
he thought was used in prying of the
clasp. These were left on the mantel at
the Hubbard House, atDer the inquest,
also a bundle of clothing picked up at
the mine property.
Did you hear Mr.. Everett say how re-
Gently Ed Radcliffe had been on the
mine property?
He said he had been there number
of times, and was there few days be-
fore the explosion.
On cross-examination Mr.. Wheeler
stated that the inquest was held on Fri
day, the day after the explosion, and the
death was called an accident, and the
Ibndy was turned over to the undertaken
and relatives.
Was Mr.. Everett at the inquest?
He was.
Told his story there?
He did.
Did he answer all questions fully and
frankly?
He had more difficulty answering
some of the questions than he did the
night before.
But you considered it an accident
without question?
We did.
Wilbur L. Farrar of South Paris
jailer, testified to arresting Everett In
company with Sheriff Hubbard ODMon
day following the explosion at the mine
Mr.. Everett delivered his keys to James
Gibbs. Mr.. Everot was here in charge
of the grounds.
On Tuesday l went mp to the scene O.
the explosion.