The independent-reporter., 1909-12-23
INTERVIEW WITH
THE PRISONER
Reporter Talks With
Accused
Ivory BaxrelI Says, II Guess | Talk
Too Much.s

A representative of The lndepen-
dent Reporter called at the county
Jail Wednesday. Dec. Is. and in com
pany with Sheriff Mooers made a
social call upon Ivory Buzzell. the
man who is waiting the action of the
Supreme court which meets here in
December, the court which will de-
eide how long a term of years he
must spend at Thomaston for muir
dering his father.
Buzzell was reclining on his couch
when the Sheriff stepped within the
cell. He was not over-cordial in his
greeting, in fact he neither came to
a polite sitting posture nor gave any
sign of greeting whatever. He looked
up lazily from the couch. scanned his
visitors calmly and then looked in
another direction.
We'll, Ivory, how do you feel this
morning?" asked the Sheriff.
At a word from the Sheriff, Buzz
zell raised himself and made the fol-
lowing reply: II don't feel well this
morning"
did you eat your breakfast" ask
ed the Sheriff.
Not much of it. Say, that tea isn't
good. 1t Is the bitterest tea | ever
tasted"
BuzZell appeared to be studying
the faces of those around him. THAT
pail, there, ought to be cleaned. II
Is bound to rust out. | would clean
1t, but l can't seem to find anything
in here to clean it with"
The Sheriff assured him that the
pail would be taken care of at the
proper time, and then, sitting down
on the edge of the couch, said:
"By the way, Ivory, you said you
struck your father with stick
Where did you leave that sick?"
The prisoner made no reply fol-
some time, and needed another sug-
gestive question from the Sheriff
Then he said. stick? You would
have found plenty of pieces of wood
in the chamber"
At the mention of the murder and
the scene enacted, Buzzell was in nc
wise disturbed outside an apparently
hesitancy in mentioning anything In
connection with the affair
II wish you would get me paper.
said Buzzell. when | woke up this
morning, couldn't seem to tell where
! was, when l come here, or what had
happened. | wish l could have q
paper to read the news"
You read quite a little?" queried
The dependent-Reporter man.
Father took the Lewiston Journal
and | took the Youths Companion
and one or two other papers"
THE Companion has changed good
deal in recent years." was suggested
But there are some good stories
in it," said Buzzell apparently lit
tie nettled by a suggested opposi'
ton.
Later on the prisoner complained
about not feeling well and that he
was bothered by canker about the
mouth The Sheriff promised to send
him something for his troubles.
AS the visitors were about to leave
and we're then without the cell, one
of the party asked. You were irri-
tated SO by your father that you com
mftted the deed, was that the reason?'
Quick as a flash came the reply
Il guess | talk too much" But when
he was assured that no harm would
result from 1t, he was not satisfied
and was ready to discuss anything
else but the murder.
Contrary to the general opinion
Buzze1l, who is about 35 years old, lie
an intelligent, fairly well-read man
He uses good English when speak
ing and talks In very connected and
straightforward manner. While he
dresses in a rough fashion, and wears
his beard and hair long, giving him
the appearance of a quack doctor
his features are excellent, his eyes
kindly In their expression, skin soft
and In fact with nothing about the
man, In expression or action, that
would mark him as a dangerous Grim
inal He is a mild hammered man
and from some physical ailment, in
dolent.
Why he should kill his father is q
mystery. He may have been provok-
ed beyond his own control by the ac-
ton of his father in attempting tc
trounce him; he may have the very
spirit o the Evil One within him, and
he may have done. in cold blood. al
that is claimed that he did do; or
lastly. he may be unbalanced in mind
and, to a degree, irresponsible. II
the blows shown upon his fathers
head were inflicted by the slungshot
before the father fell dead In the
kitchen of the house, perhaps in sell
defense or in an act of frenzy, that
is one thing; If, however, after his
father fell from exhaustion in the
kitchen, he then and there ended his
fathers life by pounding him upon
the head, then ethat Is another thing
The bullet which did the deed i'm.
bedded in board, the shirt through
which the bullet passed, the shell
gun, slungshot, cap of the father, and
all the other gruesome trophies are
In possession of the Sheriff.