Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-03
Jas. WEIGH Held IN $1,000
For the Grand Jury.
Charged with Placing 0bstruc-
lions on Railroad Track.


James WEIGH Of Madison, the man who
has been in the custody OF the officers
for q hours because ne was thought to
have placed push car upon the track of
the Maine Central about 100 yards ABOVE
the station at Hinckiey Friday aftern ,on,
was before Judge w. c. Simpson at S p.
NJ Saturday
special train conveying Assistant SUI
perinten1ent G. II. Priest Of the Maine
Central, headquarters at Watervile, the
Maine Certrars lawyer. G., f. johnson of
Wa.ervile, and Deputy Sheriff w. w.
Nye OF Fairfield, left Waterville Saturday
night for the scere at Good Will. AN in
terview was held With the boys of the
Farm WHO saw the car and respondent on
Fri,.aY. The boys were brought to Fair
field in charge Of Charles +. Nutter. as
sistant manager of the Farm. The charge
was read at the trial by Attorney John
son, charging the respondent with hav
ing placed an obstruction upon the track
with the intention of causing damage and
loss OF life, G.. Fl. Priest making the com
plant.
William Daley. Chester Coleman, Velle
SWEET. Lester Ball"u, Walter Harding
were sworn as witnesses.
Lester Lallou testified that he saw the
push car upon the SHE of the track at
about 13c Friday afternoon while he was
In the station at Good VIII. and that he
saw the respondent walking around tn"
car. lie did not see the man move the
car. hut saw him Try to do so. He was
100 yard, from tie scene.
Coleman, aged Is, Il boy at the Farm
H.
tract: when he went to the station at
Good VIII to avoid getting wet. He saw
the man Welch pass the station on the
way to Fairfield ana someone asked him
II he got wet. and lie replied that a man
never gets wet in such weather as this
He then pa ssed down the track. Soon an
engine calle up the line in the direction
OF SkowhcSan. TIL" boys took Il red ban
danaa handkerchief and tagged the en-
ginc. The car was removed from the
track md then. the engineer ran his en-
CINE down and overlook the man walk
ing toward Fairfield. The engineer asked
him If he put the car upon the track and
he replied in the negative. The engine
then proceeded up the line.
William Daley and Vcrle SWEET corrob
GRATED the testimony of the preceding wit
ness. The boys range from II to 10 years
of age aud are clean. manly and seemed
to testify in a straightforward manner.
Walter Harding, the engineer. testified
that he was tagged by the red handker-
chief and removed the car from the
track He ran his engine In the direction
taken by WEIGH and asked him if he put
the car upon the track WEIGH replied
that he saw the boys do so. In answer to
a question If he believed that one man
could place push car weighing between
$50 and 400 pounds upon the track he said
Yes" lie saw 4 railroad spike maui i'm
the risht-hand side pocket of Welcn at
the time. Mr. Harding said that he knew
Of IL push car causing the death Of AN en-
gineer, being placed upon the track.
Deputy Sheriff NNe was called and
sworn He testified that Il man could east
~ place push ear upon the track.
This closed the testimony of the prose
cution. The judge called upon the re-
Spondent If he cared to say any thing
Welch was sworn. lie said that he could
not lift the car. He saw the same on this
track and cndcavored to remove it but
could not do so. He left the car and
boys to go and remove it. He did not
remain to see that it was done. on cross
examinations he said that lie has worked
upon the Somerset road for two years and
that he was familiar with the conse-
qucnc"s if an engine ran into a car placed
upon the track. When asked why he did
not insist upon the boys aiding him H.
stead of leaving the ear there. he replied
that lie knew someone would remove it.
He said that he did not tell the engineer
that the car was on the track. lie did
not think of it," knowing all the time
that death might result il a collision took
place.
He said that he left WaterviIle at $50
In the MOI ming and went to Oakland by
the electric ears. then walked to Skowhe-
gan. calling upon Mr. Hill. the boss wcav.
err OF the Marston Mills for lob Not
securing any he went across the river
and started toward Fairfield. He crossed
the river at Ilinckley Ferry and the.
reachs d the scene of the car on the track
He has a wife and two children at Mad
ison.
the hoys We're called before the Judge
at his request and were asked if Welch
asked them to remove the car They were
sure that he did not. Attorney johnson
of the Maine Central then read the
Statutes, Chapter %. and asked that the
man he held for the grand jury. The
judge decided there was probable cause
and held Welch in $1,000.
County Sheriff CLYDE Smith of Skowhe-
gan and Deputy w, w. Nye of Fairfield
have recently returned from an extended
automobile trip through the Provinces,
New York and Vermont. SATURDAY fore
noon the sheriff came to Fairfield with
his machine and was joined by his deputy.
A rapid trip was made to Frenchtown on
Water street. The place OF Paul Baldic.
Henry Gilblair and Vede GiibaIr were
searched and a quantity of liquors found.
The men were brought before Trial JUS
tice W. c. Simpson Saturday afternoon.
After hearing the evidence the Judge inn
posed fine of 500 and costs and 60 days
in Jail uron Baldic and Vede Gilblair.
The case of Henry Giblair was dropped
as the hoy is cripple and confinement
might endapgcr his life. The others APP