Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-11
CIaimsDr. Luce, When Ar
rested for Larceny, Belfast,
Makes No Defence and ISFIned
S. and Costs for Stealing.
Story Of Controversy Over Posses
sion Of Famous Cottage.


80 prominently in the struggle for the
possession of the little cottage at
Northport Campground owned by
Mrs. Evelyn midget of this city was
before municipal court, Friday after
noon, this time on the charge of lar
cenY of a stove, pipe and piazza moor,
He made no defence, Judge I<nowiton
fined him 81 and costs and the doctor
furnished bonds
In an interview after his latest ar
rest and trial, DR.. Luce talked freely
of his side of the story He said that
in the first place he had occupied the
cottage in controversy for the past 10
or II years. 1t was formerly owned
|by Mrs. Eliza Hunnewen OF Belfast.
coming into Mrs. Mudgett's hands,
last year.
DR.. Luce rented it of her, last sea-
|son, and she agreed to repair it whera
necessary and to furnish the front
room. Time went on, and the repair
were not made. and finally DR.. Luc
claims that he told Mrs. Mudgett tina.
if he could have the cottage for this
season that he would make the re
pairs at his own expense, and thai
she agreed to that, and he states that
he has an itemized account for owe
$50 for repairs made, including tn
new porch floor, and that h made
the repairs with the distinct under
standing that he was to have the cot
tage, this year. Last year, he oecu-
pied it merely as an office. living at
one OF the large cottages on Park
Row.
When the season closed. last sum
mer. the doctor placed his furniturr
in the little one, understanding that
he was to have ii this year. and put
la paddock on when he went away. He
passed the winter in Boston, coming
back, about the middle of April, saw
Mrs. Mudgett. and told her he would
occupy the little cottage. this sum
mer. She said, according to DR..
Luce: ED, l am poorer than l was
last spring, and if there are any moro
repairs you will have to make them
yourself" but said nothing about his
not occupying it. He wen; there AMI
STAYED three or four days, then went
away, putting notice on the door.
Gone to Boston, return, May IS" He
Itpidttd tic Bduipthf etiib went away
and had been in Boston about week
when he received a card from Mrs
Mudgett's son, saying: I'VE have
rented the little cottage for a good
figure for the, season, and want you
to get your things out"
He then wrote Mrs. Mudgett Il let
ter recounting the trade made the
previous year. and giving her the
itemied account, and claiming that
cottage belonged To him. this summer
He received no answer to the letter.
Then. according to DR.. Luce, Mrs.
Mudgett went down and took an axe
and broke open the back door. put out
the, furniture belonging to Mrs. Luce.
and rented it to two laborers who
were working on the Cobe property.
DIR. and Mrs. Luce did not arrive.
until June ~, but when they went to
the cottage they noticed that different
paddock was ON the door and found
a man by the name of Herrin. in
possession. He was rather taken back
lat first, but after the doctors story
left and hired another cottage for
himself, and the doctor has been in
possession ever since. The night that
he moved out, Mrs. Mudgett came
down and gave DIR. Luce 24-hours
notice to leave, and when he refused
the next thing that happened was his
larrest fer breaking and entering. He
made no defence and gave bonds.
Then Mrs. Mudeett took some work
men down there and ordered them to
tear down a part of the cottage, and
took a chisel herself and bega to take
When I.npa in -
erfered. she had him arrested for as
sault and battery, and later three
different times for trepass. and still
Iagain for carrying a dangerous
weapon and assaulting an officer
| DR.. Luce claims that in that case,
The merely had the revolver to scare
Iaway the men, and that 1t was not
loaded, and said he had showed it to
Henry Parker prominent business
Imam of Bangor and ted him that he
Twas merely going to show it to
brighten young Mudgett and the other
linen away who were trying TO put
him out.
After this, everything was quiet for
/ a couple of weeks. Then the dining
room was torn down, and something
/ like 5000 worth of property destroyed.
acc ording to Dr. Luce. Then they
moved the building, and the doctor
lane his wife stayed in it, cheered on
by hundreds of joyful summer WISH
tiers. Then the doctor took the piazza
floor, which he said he had bought and
paid for himself, and moved it back
BIZ the side of the building, and erect
ed a tent on it over his stove, ana
they went to housekeeping as If moth
ing had happened. Then he was ar
rested for stealing his own stove pipe
land piazza floor.
| Now, the doctor says he is waiting
fo~ their next move. and that he will
enter civil suits against Mrs. Mud
gett for false arrest. malicious prose-
cution and breach of contract, etc. He
says. however, that they are much
more comfortable at the back of the
lot and wished they had moved him
before.
| DR. Luce has been coming to North
port. for 30 years. during the summer
seasons. He established the first hos
pital in Belfast, which is now stand
ing on Northport avenue. He took his
| first coursa in the Portland PreDa ra