Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-10-24
Court Busted with Criminal Trials
Continued from page ~

II
aud carried out his instructions, bein
met by the officer as above related whe
be was leaving after setting the fire. b
then went to Bergeron's house and wa
let in and stayed until later In the day
when he went home. In the mornin
Bergerou gave him five dollars, and q
night Hughes sent word to him by 10
Theriault that he wanted what was du
or be would blow the whole thing, an
Bergeron gave Theriault ten dollars TO
him. On Sunday be left town, going II
Portland, thence to Boston and Law
renee, and the last of July was arrestet
in Hyde Park, Mass
Hughes was sharply cross-examinet
by Mr.. O'Brien, and under questioning
admitted that he was married man
having a wife and a child; that hi
family trouble to which he hat
referred was due to bis wife charging
him with infidelity; that his former
business was tending pool tables aud
tending bar for Jack Watts; that be had
been once convicted of a single sale, an6
once of intoxication; and that he ha6
done pocket peddling. He admitted
that Theriault went with him when he
loft town, and that they were together
for about two weeks.
Deputy Sheriff Leon NJ. Small testi
fed that when he went to arrest Berger
on, the latter asked, when told what
they wanted him for, Have they got the
other fellow?"
For the defence there was an absolute
denial that Bergeron had anything to do
with the fire, or ever did anything
toward procuring it. 1t was alleged
that Hughes had applied to him for a
Job, and had been refused because of his
bad record, and that he had told Berger
on, "You can go to hell with your job,
III get square with you before long"
Bergeron had ordered him out Of the
pool room.
Bergeron, who is French Canadian,
and talks but little English, testified
through an interpreter. he entirely de-
MED Hughes charge of bis hiring him to
burn the building, and his testimony
that Of Hughes not only 10
its main features, but in numerous de-
tails. he was corroborated in many
particulars by the testimony of Mrs.
Bergeron.
1t was shown by the defence that
some weeks before the fire Peter Perry
had made him an offer of $3.50 for his
pool room, and that he did after the fire
purchase it for that price, which was
exactly the amount of the insurance
policy held by Bergeron, as introduced
by the state.
A number of witnesses were put on by
the defence who testified that Berge-
ron's reputation in Rumford, where he
has lived for three or four years, is ex-
celent, and some of the witnesses for
the state gave the same testimony when
questioned by the attorneys for the de-
fence. Bergeron's father was also put
on the witness stand to testify as to his
but was not allowed to con-
tinue long, though be had time to break
down.
Very able arguments were made by
Mr.. O'Brien for the defence and County
Attorney Parker for the state, and the
charge of Judge Hanson, though brief,
showed, as in all other cases, that he
bad closely followed the evidence and
had an entire familiarity with it. The
jury retired a little after 8. At $40
they came in and returned verdict of
not guilty.
There was another indictment against
Bergeron, for melting the burning of a
building. On this indictment Bergeron
was allowed to 60 on his personal
recognizance.
SCOTT TRUMAN CONVICTED.
For the good name of the county it
would be better if no mention could be
made of this case, not only on account of
the nature of the charge in the indictment
but because of all circumstances and sur
of the affair, which was about
as unsavory mess as has been dished
up in this court in years.
Walter S. Truman, also known as
Scott Truman, of Norway, was indicted
for felonious assault upon Bessie B.
Flint of Norway. a girl of fifteen years,
on the 10th of last June. Within a few
weeks she has been married, and Is now
Bessie B. Adams. Truman was defend
ed by NJ. l.. Kimball.
Truman, who was out on bail, has
been in the hospital, and an effort was
made to have the case continued on the
ground that he was not in physical con-
dition to stand the trial, but physicians
appointed by the court had been observ-
ing him for some days, and reported
that he was all right for it.
Truman is mulatto, twenty-odd
years of age. When the case was open
ed, he took chair in the dock, and for a
- laN1al 10 tho xunnl6 ho do
layed somewhat. He doubled up, groa n
ed, contorted himself into variety OF
pastures, and seemed to pay little at
tention to anything that was going on.
When he was arraigned on the indict-
meut, he did not give heed to it, and bis
attorney entered a plea Of not guilty.
As the case proceeded, however, Truman
recovered somewhat, and gave quite close
attention to the testimony most of the
time.
Mr.. Kimball moved for view of the
premises by the jury, explaining that he
did this because the house in question is
occupied by several families, and he
wanted them to observe how difficult
the commission of the alleged crime
would be without its becoming known.
Judge Hanson declined to grant the
motion at that stage of the trial, but
said it might be granted later If it
seemed advisable. The view was not
made, however.
Her story was told by Bessie B. Flint
Adams, who said she was 10 years old on
the It'll of June. With her father and
other members of the family she lived at
the corner of Maple and Whitman Streets
in Norway. On the 10th Of June Truman
came in about 10 o'clock in the forenoon,
while she was washing some clothes in
the kitchen. He gave the younger girls
who were there five cents to 60 and get
some lemons, and after they were gone
called Bessie into the front room to tell
him something about picture, and there
grabbed her and throw her on the bed,
choking her with one hand to prevent
her making an outcry.
A younger sister, who went after the
lemons, told what she saw when she re.
turned.
Willis Flint, the girls father, and his
brotber-in-law and sister-in-law testified
that Truman at night of that day ad.
mitted that he did the deed; that he
wanted to fix 1t up without going to
prison; that he said he was willing to
give ali he had. and offered to get his
gun and let Flint shoot him, or shoot
himself.