The independent-reporter., 1910-10-06

Edward McClusky in Jail until De-
cember He was found guilty by
Judge F. F. Lawrence in the Munich
pal court Wednesday of the serious
charge of assault on Mr. Jewett, an
elderly man, at which time the old
man was knocked dustn, choked,
bound hands and feet with rope and
wires and his life threatened If he
did not tell where he kept his money
and finally left tied with coat
thrown over his face.
The story of Mr.. Jewett at the hear
ing was in substance as has been
told. He reiterated the point that
the main intent of the men was to get
his money. He said he was choked,
the men letting up from time to time
until he could hardly breathe.
Lucius Tuscan gave a most inter
esting history of the rope that was
brought into court as the chief evil
dence in the hearing. He said he
first owned the rope about two years
ago and in trading horses with a
man in Bingham the rope went with
the horse. When the man traded
horses again he let the rope go with
the horse. The rope then came into
the possession of Charles Lancaster
who had married the wife of the last
owner of the rope. Tuscan said he
recognized the rope because of the
peculiar splces which he was in the
habit of making and had spliced this
rope which had loops in either end.
Mrs. Lancaster in her testimony
said that on June Edward McClusky
came to her place to get horse. This
rope was put on to the horse and Nc
Clusky led the horse to his home.
Charles Lancaster testified that the
rope in evidence was one taken from
his wheelbarrow by Mr.. Fisher now
dead and given to McClusky to use
for halter to lead horse home that
Lancaster had sold him.
w. H. Hawes. attorney for the re-
spondent, spent about three-fourths OF
an hour in cross examining Mr.. Lam
caster, trying to connect him with
the assault as brought out afterwards
by County Attorney l.. r. Folsom. Mr.
Lancaster in his testimony said that
on the afternoon of the assault he had
gone a few miles away to get wagon
and was gone seven hours. In re-
buttal, Mr.. Lancaster told where he
had been all the afternoon, trading
wagon with a Mr.. Fisher and talk
ing with neighbors.
Sheriff Mooers in his testimony said
that McClusky after the arrest said
he did lead horse down from Ian
casters with a rope. At another
time he denied leading the horse with
rope but used a rein. His last
statement was that he never had be-
fore seen the rope in evidence
McClusky took the stand in his OWL
defense His story in regard to go
ing to Lancaster's was practically
the same as told by the States wit
nesses and that he had lead the horse
home with a rope.
McClusky is about 6 feet tall, with
small light mustache, light hair
prominent cheek bones and SHARP
eyes. He has wife and two small
children.
Since the thirtieth day of June
Sheriff John Mooers has been persis-
tent in trying to find out who assault
ed George Jewett on the evening OF
the above date, tying him with a rope
and wires, leaving the old man eX-
hausted in a barn. Sheriff Mooers
has travelled over thousand miles
getting evidence. his only clue being
a small piece of rope and results
show that he is entitled to place in
the front ranks of Maine detectives
The crime for which McClusky is
under arrest was one OF the most
atrocious in the recent history of the
county. The wonder is that the vic
tim lived after the frightful treat
ment which he received. Two masked
robbers attacked him that afternoon
in his barn on the South Solon road,
choking and beating him, in the effort
to make him tell where his money
was concealed, and eventually leav-
ing him stunned, bleeding and truss
ed up on the barn floor, to die of eX-
haustion, for there was little prospect
of any visitor coming that way and
finding him.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
On the afternoon of June 80, George
Jewett, an elderly resident of the
town of Solon, living in that section
of the town called South Solon was
engaged in getting supply OF green
grass to feed to a yoke of pet oxen
when he was attacked and maltreated
as told in the foregoing.
Mr.. Jewett is an elderly man He
lives alone, owns two farms on which
there are sets of farm buildings in
rather poor repair and is reputed to
lave considerable money He Is not
a large man and has the reputation
OF being kind hearted. His pets are
two oxen of which he has always ta
ken the best of care.
1t has been his custom to take the
are monsters measur
ing seven feet-out upon the grass to
feed and for water and he would
watch them for hours at time. On
the afternoon Of the assault, he had
been moving green grass and was
about to wheel it into the barn for