Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-05
A ROME CASE.
Continued from Page Nine.)


nation asked the witness if he would
testify on oath that there were no beds
in the house,
Mr.. Tilson-'rThere were none down
STAIRS
The Rome non-Support case was re-
srmed at the opening of the afternoon
session OF the superior court. Leonard
Blaisdell, selectman of Rome. testified
that when he visited the Meader house
March 81 he found the Oldest girl try
ing TO stir up flour and water to make
some kind of cake. The girl COM
planned that she was hungry and said
they hadn't anything to eat in the
house. Witness left some soda biscuit
at the house.
Witness stated on cross-eXamination
that Meader owned his place subject
to a mortgage to the town of Rome.
Witness also stated that the two elder
iy people who were in the house were
paupers who were boarded at Mr..
MeaGer's by the town of Rome.
Attorney Williamson-"HoW much
was the town of Rome owing Mr..
Meader when you visited the house?"
Witness-"About 81 for the board of
Mr.. and Mrs. Trask"
Fl. M Hooper of Rome testified that
he visited the house twice and found
the children in a destitute condition as
far as food and wood were concerned
Witness had krown Mr.. Meader 10 OF
IL years.
County Attorney-"What's his bust
ness? What does he do?"
Witness with emphasis)-"Nothing ,"
Eldridge r. Foster, for five years
Selectman IF Rome, testified that he
had known Meader for 25 years. Wit
ness testified that the Meader house,
ought not really to be called a house.
for it was a shack in it's last stages
Witness testified to bringing supplies
to the house and said the children were
very hungry. The oldest girl sliced off
piece of raw pork and gave it to 2
girl three years old, who ate it with
eagerness. The chimney smoked and
witness had difficulty in starting fire
for the oldest Meader girl to cook the
food. Later sent more provisions tc
the family.
Attorney Williamson-"Was Asa
Trask, the pauper that the town board
Ct az Mcduct dUlc W cut COIu WOO
Mr.. Foster-"If he had been we
should not have been boarding him in
as poor condition as the town is finan-
cially."
Benjamin F. Charles, selectman Of
Rome, when asked what Mr.. Meaders
business for the past few years was
replied "idleness." Witness, as chair
man Of the Board of Selectmen of the
town of Rome turned the children over
to Mrs. Hunt, agent of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Mrs. Ada F. Hunt of Augusta agent
OF the Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty to Children, testified that she
had received complaint in regard to
the Meader children and was on hel
way to Rome when she heard from Mr.
Charles about the children. Witness.
found them at a house where they had
been taken by the seectmen. They
were in pitiable and filthy condition
Three of them had no shoes and stock
ings and none of them had any under
clothing worthy of the name Mrs.
Hunt testified that she had found good
homes for the children with the ex-
ception of the oldest boy and they were
now all well cared for and not likely to
be any charge to the town of Rome in
the future. Witness testified that Mr..
and Mrs. Meader We're very much
averse to have the children taken away
from them.
Llewellyn G.. Martin. former select
man of Rome. testified to caring for
the Meader children. but could not say
what year. Did not think Meader had
any help from the town since 1906. The
house in which the Meaders lived was
unfit to be called house.
Attorney NilliamSon-"Was the
house proper place to board a town
padper in your opinion?"
Mr.. Martin-"That would depend up
on circumstances"
Attorney Williamson-"What circum-
stances do you mean?''
Mr.. Martin-"1 think if man want
ed to go there to board, knowing all
about the place, it would be all right
to let him CO.
Edwin Kelley of Rome testified that
two of the Meader children came to
his house a few days before the fire
and said they were hungry, and he
gave them bread and butter and apples
Witness testified that at the time of
the fire Mr. and Mrs. Meader had been
gone about two weeks.
d Deputy Sheriff Wesley D. Damren
of Rome testified that the principal
business of the respondent was "swap-
ping horses and drinking rum Wit
ness testified that he was called to
the house where the children were as
an officer and found them in the worst
condition that he ever saw any chill
dren.
Edwin Kelley recalled, testified that
he was called to the house the night
before the shack finally burned. Wit
ness found the children wet and cold.
They had been engaged in fighting &
fire around the chimney, which they
succeeded in putting out
Mrs. Mary Meader. wife of William
MeaGer, was the first witness called
by the defence. Witness testified that
she had eight children. the oldest be-
ing boy II years of age, living with
her in Rome. before she and her hus-
band went to Orland. Witness testified
that when she left there were beds and
bed clothing and stoves in the house.
The children had sufficient clothing to
keen them warm The oldest bOy WAS