Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-10

this of any new developments by the
State authorities.
Efforts of the boys attorney, who
passed a greater part of the day in
West Gardiner, were directed towards
proving an alibi. Mr.. Harrington fiat
" refused to discuss the matter until
he had talked it over with the States
authorities.
Oryille Walker of Lewiston was
brought to Augusta in an attempt to
identify Eldridge. as the man, whom
he saw on the s A. NJ. car, Sunday,
from Spears corner. Walker was the
conductor on this car. AS to whether
or not he did identify Eldridge as the
man could not be learned.
1t is understood two women in the
car say there were only two other per-
sens were in the car that morning and
they were in the smoking department.
Harry Flewellyn, a conductor on the
L., A. & w. Street Railway, accord
ing to word received in Augusta from
Lewiston, asked the police of that city
for a description of Fernald Eldridge.
F'lewellyn states that on the morn
ing in question, he went to Gardiner,
on the o'clock car from Lewiston and
was riding in the smoking department
At Spears Corner, a young man, an
swering Eldridges description got on
the car, and the conductor particular
~ noticed he did not have on any
collar and necktie.
These stories and the fixing of the
murder at or little before 8 O'Clock,
are tending to establish an alibi for
young Eldridge. His movements in
Gardiner are fairly well traced, and
it is practically certain, that once in
Gardiner he did not return to his
home.
According to stories in that city his
movements are accounted for up to
1890 P. M, and no gaps amount to
any strict contradictory facts.
The prisoner tells a straight story,
and investigation continues to bear
out the facts as he told them. Only
as to his time of arriving in Gardiner
is there any doubt, and these recent
stories of Flewellyn and Walker seem
to prove his assertion that he left his
home, at o'clock Sunday morning. as
true. He reiterates his statement that
he has nothing to do with the affair
1t became known, today, that three
of the woman's ribs were broken
which was found to be so at the
autopsy.
The fact that the authorities refuse
to give out information as to the
status of their case seems to indicate
that they are not entirely satisfied
with what evidence they have, and
are somewhat mystified. The prison
er's seeming honesty in his statements
and straight story, being confirmed by
facts is somewhat disconcerting.
The fact that his reputation Is bad
seems to bear, but little weight on the
mystery, that it has practically beer
discarded with the exception Of his
love for strong drink.
Young Eldridge, say the authorities
seemed genuinely surprised, on Sunday
night when he was told his mother
and father were dead and that it was
for this he was under arrest. The
county attorney found it difficult te
convince the boy Of the truth OF the
statement and when he was convinced
his sorrow seemed genuine.
Plausible theories are advanced or
every side. At least three may be
taken with the lacking of facts. A
double murder committed by SONS
one, if not the son, with motive
vet to be ascertained. A possible sui
eide by the mother and death OF the
husband in an attempt to save hel
from death. Perhaps statement OF
Bert F. Moody of Windsor, her broth.
err, that she rarely, if ever. used kero-
sene to kindle fire. would intensity
the fact that she did commit suicide
Still another theory, and perhaps The
latest eliminates murder altogether
| and an accident is claimed.
While no authoritative statemen
backs up these theories, it is known
that the Investigators. for the defenc'