Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-18
Story of Pitched Battle
At Churchill Home
Is Told Judge
Withee
Miss UltZ Goes Home with Her
Parents and the Lewiston
Horse Trainer Is Under S15O
BOnds-Ness with Back to
Girl in Court Cross Question
ed Her-She Told of Strange
Influence

Madison, Me, Dec. 17.-(Special)-
Starks village which is normally a
quiet and law-abiding rural commun-
ity has been stirred from center to cir
conference by the events of the past
few days which resulted in almost a
pitched battle at the residence of Will
liam Churchill, Tuesday afternoon, for
the possession of the person of Miss
Bessie Ultz, daughter of one of the
leading business men of the town, and
village school teacher. A greater part
OF both the men and women of the vii
lage turned out at the hearing which
was held before Judge Frank Withee,
Wednesday afternoon, in the office of
Deputy Sheriff r. S. McKenney in
Madison Action was brought by
John Ultz, father of Miss Ultz, against
Elmer w. Ness, on the charges of as
sault and battery, and assault with q
weapon with intent to injure. Ness
is the owner of a pony show which
exhibited in number of towns in this
vicinity few weeks ago, and is win
tering at Starks village. The details
of the story and trial are practically as
follows.
: Four weeks ago Ness and his outfit
together with his wife and boy and "a
ponies came to Starks village to pass
the winter. AS there is no hotel in
the village arrangements were made
with Mr. Ultz to board Mr.. Ness and
his family. All went we'll for a time
but after a little Mr.. and Mrs. Ultz
claimed to notice that their daughter
seemed to be strangely under the in
fluence of Ness at times. Mr.. AMI
Mrs. Ultz talked with their daughter
telling her of their observations and
urged her to be cautious. Miss Ultz
continued her friendly relations with
Mr.. and Mrs. Ness, went into training
and made an agreement to go with the
outfit in the spring, and being of age
this was done with the very reluctant
consent of her parents.
Observing an alleged increasing
friendship of his daughter and the
Ness outfit. last week Mr.. Ultz told
Ness he must leave his home, which
was done the first of the week. Ar
engagements were made by Ness with
William Churchill to board himself
and family. Monday the clothing of
Miss Ultz was taken away and she
went to the Churchill home to boari
saying she was dissatisfied with af-
fairs at home. Tuesday forenoon
Mrs. Ultz went to the schoolhouse for
another talk with her daughter On
arrival she found Mrs. Ness in the
room and a little later Mr.. Ness rode
up on horseback outside the building
Superintendent of Schools Mclaughlin
hearing of the affair went to the
schoolhouse to investigate. After
brief conversation both women were
requested to leave the room and school
was dismissed, Miss Ultz going to the
Churchill home in company with Mr.
and Mrs Ness. Mr.. Ultz tried to in
duce his daughter to return home be-
fore dinner but she refused. In the
afternoon Mr.. Ultz in company with
Angler Gray, a member of the town
school committee, and Mahlon Gray
went to the Churchill home, being adj
mitted by the owner. Miss Ultz who
was in the back yard came in followed
closely by Mrs. Ness who had hold or
her arm After a bit of talk Miss
Ultz said she wanted to go home with
her father and Mr.. Gray. At this
point Mr.. Gray is said to have taken
hold of the arm of Miss Ultz roughly
and Mrs. Ness attempted to push him
back and was knocked down. Ness
got busy with his fists and later is said
TO have used a small stick of wood |
with such good effect that both his op-
ponents came out of the fray with
badly SCARED faces and eyes. MI
Churchill finally stopped the fight
telling the girl to go or stay just as
she pleased, and the men went away
leaving Miss Ultz. A call was sent for
Deputy r. S. McKenney and after the
necessary papers were secured, he ar
rested Ness late Tuesday evening,
to Madison about A.
NJ. wednesday morning. "Wednesday
after long talk with her
mother and several other friends, Miss
Ultz returned to her home.
At the hearing "Wednesday AFTER
noon Ness plead guilty to the nrst
charge saying he realized that he was
10 against it and wanted to settle the
affair with as little trouble as posi-
Die, but said he did not use any CLUB
In the ARRAY Later as the more
serious side of the case was brought
10 light Ness took the stand In ms
OWN behalf, Judge c. o. Small appear
ng for the state. Ness stated that ne
was not a hypnotist and knew nothing
If the art except what he had seen IN
, show some years ago. He took Inc
part of Miss Ultz at her own request
,he claiming things were unpleasant.
AZ home. He said he had no desire
n intention of keeping her against her
Kill and what he had done was simply
mt of kindness. Mrs. Ness coffopor-
tied the story of her husband and ex-
claimed the schoolhouse incident, say
ng she had been repeatedly invited Ds
Miss JJltz to visit her school. MISS
[Jltz was called to the witness stano
and corroborated in many details th'
story of Mr.. and Mrs. Ness. Mr.. Ness
with his back turned to avoid any
suspicion of hypnotism, cross-ques-
toned the girl who said when she told