The independent-reporter., 1910-10-06
EDWARD MCCLOSKY AWAITS TRIAL FOR
ASSAULT ON GEO. JEWETT OF SOLON
Small Piece OF Rope Is Clue By Which Sheriff
Mooers Finds Old Mans Assailant

lpounced upon by two men, who threw
him to the floor, despite his vigorous
contest.
Both men wore black masks, which
prevented their victim getting a view
of their faces. The best description
he could give to the officers was that
they were of medium size, not very
tall
PUT YOUR LIGHT OUT.
When they had brought MIR Jewett
down, the men demanded that he tell
them where his money was concealed
Il haven't any said the old gen
tleman, all the money | have, is in
those oxen"
You lie" said the men, the mon
ey is in the old house across the road
there and you tell us where 1t is.
We're going to count ten and If you
haven't told US where 1t is then, We'll
put your lights out"
They counted the ten, but the
plucky old man would not tell 1t
was evident that they didn't want TO
kill him, for they then extended the
period while they counted an addi-
tional three.
The result was the same, Mr.. Jewett
refused TO tell them where his money
was.
| They then tried different methods,
offering to compromise with him.
Tell us where the money is and
we'll go and take just fifty dollars of
it and leave the rest. and come back
and release you" said they.
/ Mr.. Jewett was not fooled. He re-
fused to tell, being determined to lose
his life rather than give any informa-
ton to the robbers, for he had no
assurance that they would keep their
word in either case.
TRUSSED UP.
Finding that threats were of nc
avail and that persuasion resulted in
nothing, the men evidently determin-
ed to carry out their threat of put
ting his lights out"
Using piece of hemp rope, which
they had with them, together with a
lot of hay wire, they proceeded to tie
Mr.. Jewett up. after having choked
him half to death. In tying him up
they again so frightfully choked the
old man that when they left. he was
unconscious and without much doubt
they thought he was dead.
When the man had been tied Sc
curely they carefully closed the barn
door and took their departure.
After a time Mr. Jewett regained
consciousness. He began struggling
and soon felt the hay wire which
bound his wrists relax. This gave
him renewed courage and soon his
hands were free. The rest was easy
He quickly unknotted the rope and
was free.
At $50 that afternoon he appeared
at the home of a cousin who lived Oh
the same road about an eighth OF
mile distant. He was in a sort oil
daZed condition. but said nothing
concerning what had taken place.
1t is evident that he afterwards re-
turned to his home and secured his
money, for later he appeared with the
money at the home of another cousin
who lived a quarter of mile in the
other direction, and here he told the
story OF the crime.
THE PECULIAR KNOT AND SPLICE
This cousin notified the officers
Deputy Sheriff J. L. Foss at Solon ant
Sheriff Mooers here. The deputy was
the first to reach the scene, but tht
sheriff was there as quickly as al
auto could take him over the 10 miles
of intervening road.
Foss started hunt which cover
ed the entire section, but brought NJ
results.
The sheriff examined the grount
carefully when he arrived and re-
ceived from Mr. Jewett the rope anC
the hay wire. There was blood or
both.
The rope was the thing which
seemed to him the most promising
clue. 1t was about seven feet long
of hemp, but the things about il
which attracted the attention of the
sheriff was the fact that at one enc
was a loop, formed by very pecu-
liar sort of splice, while at the other
was a knot known among the sea-
faring men as a walnut. 1t is made
in the end of ropes to keep them from
unravelng. These knots are seldom
found in the country sections of the
state.
Sheriff Mooers listened to all the
theories and clues and went to work
| II was slow work and has covered a
good deal of territory, he having
Travelled nearly a thousand miles in
his Investigations. BY process OF
elimination he disposed of all the
other theories but one.
During the hunt, he has shown the
rope to over 200 persons, but 1t was
not until Saturday that he located, as
he believes, the place where the rope
came from With the information
which he secured at that time he ar
rested McClusky, as told.
Coming Events.
Oct. 6-7-S-Alaine Music Festival
Bangor.