Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-17
The Insurance Department
Feels Much Satisfaction
Ar the Capture Of Alleged ST.
George |ncendiary.
Regulations Recently Adopted by
Fish and Game Commission.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, July 20, at $50 A. M.

matter of much satisfaction to
Insurance Commissioner Putnam was
the arrest at ST. George last Tuesday
of John Ambrose Elwell of that town
for the burning of the Odd Fellows
building at Tenants Harbor on Nav %
and which entailed loss of $4,000.
While the department is not directly
connected with the case at present.
having placed it in the hands of Coun-
ty Attorney Phillip Howard of Knox
county. much satisfaction is felt be-
cause of the belief that the firebug
from which tine town of st. George has
suffered considerably for the past few
years is at last captured.
Within few days of the occurrence
of the fire above mentioned Deputy In
snrance Commissioner Lang went to
st. George for the purpose of investi-
eating the matter, and or his arrival
found that Detective Richard F. Lead
er of Lewiston was already working
on the case, having been engaged by
the Odd Fellows and it was through
Mr.. Leaders valuable assistance and
ability that sufficient evidence was Sc
cured to warrant placing the matter in
the hands of the county attorney.
- PREVIOUS to Mr.. Lang's arrival Mr..
Leader had seen about everybody in
town except Elwell, the suspected par
ty, and during the afternoon the two
gentlemen spent about three hours
pumping him and his Indian grand
mother. Elwell Mr.. Lang states is a
boy about IS years of age, weak
minded, lazy and revengeful. He ac-
70 ba
eral deeds with which he had been
charged by the people of st. George,
but denied some other acts, including
the burning of the Odd Fellows build
ing. 1t was alleged that he had pre-
viously made three attempts to burn
the building by starting a fire on the
back side of it. On one occasion, Mr.
Lang was told, the boy rolled a bar
rell, supposed to contain kerosene, be-
hind the building and attached a fuse
to 1t, but his mistake lay in the fact
that the barrel was full of water For
this it is understood that he was ar
rested and an attempt was made to
hold him, but which failed
The arrest which was made Thurs
day was the result, it is said, of a bit
of clever detective work by a local
stOnccutter named William ]. Long,
who sent a boy to Elwell representing
that he wished to set building on
fire and asked for points as to how Ell
we'll burned the Odd Fellows building
Elwell was apparently flattered by the
quest and described at considerable
length how the deed was committed,
and the conversation was overheard by
another young man who was concealed
in the bushes about six feet away.
Elwell was arraigned before Trial
Justice W. F.. Sheerer of st. George
and pleaded not guilty but on being
held on the charge he stated in open
court that he had made several at
tempts to burn the Odd Fellows build
ing. He was committed to Knox coun-
ty Jail at Rockland to await the Sep
TENDER court.
Following is summary of the reg
ulations recently adopted by the Com
missioners of Inland Fisheries and
Game:
Section l. For a period of four years
from August 1, 1909, it shall be unlaw-
full to fish for take, catch or kill any
kind of fish at any time in any stream
in the towns of Phillips, Madrid or
Avon, in Franklin county. which is a
tributary to the Sandy river, except on
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday of
each week, on which days it shall be
lawful to fish in said waters, in ac-
cordance with the general law of the
State. Provided, however, that these
regulations shall not apply to Per-