The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-02-12
JOSEPH ELLIS IS
GUILTY
OF Assault with Intent
to Kill
According to the Verdict Returned BY
the Jury. Sentences by Judge Cor.
niSh.

the Jury. Sentences by Judge Cor.
niSh.
Considerable interest centered in
proceedings at the Court House Mon
day when Joseph Ellis of Harmony,
was arraigned before Judge Cornish
on an Indictment charging him with
assault with intent to kill and mur-
der Elmer Downs OF Athens. He
pleaded not guilty, but Tuesday the
jury returned verdict OF Guilty
with intent TO Kill"
The case was the result of a shoot
ing affair at the Downs home in Ath-
ems January II. 1t seems from the
testimony that Mrs. Abbie A. Weber
had been in the past employed by
Ellis as house keeper. She had fire.
quently left his employ, bnt had al
ways returned until this particular
time In this case she had been alb
sent some weeks and was staying with
the Downs family, which was made
up OF Mr.. Downs, his wife and their
son. Guy Downs. During the evening
of January Il about bedtime some one
was heard approaching the homestead
and Mr.. Downs accordingly went L
the door to determine who might be
seeking admittance. It was claim L
tAat upon reaching the door DOo3#
was confronted by Ellis who Was car
iying sun in his hands and Wbo
greeted him with words ID YOU
I'll Shoot You" From the testimony
of Mr. Downs it was learned that a
scuffle ensued and the rife was dis
charged three times, two shots enter
ing the floor. and one the stove. Fin
ally Mrs Downs and her son came
to his assistance and Ellis ran from
the house and was next day arrested
Mrs Downs and the son. Guy, bore
similar Testimony and Mrs. Webby1
told of her acquaintance with Ellis
and of being employed by him. She
testified that just previous to her final
departure Ellis had threatened her
life with a gun. She also spoke of
having conversed with him over the
phone the same day of the fraeas in
the evening.
Monday afternoon Ellis took the
stand in his own behalf and told et
having employed Mrs. Weber in the
past and of her having left al times
because of his drinking. He said that
he had gotten word that she was
nearly out of money and he had LEFT
some at the Office for her and had
telephoned her at the Downs home.
He testified that she had stated that
she could not talk more over the
phone consequently he went to her
boarding place to talk with her. He
was in the habit of taking his rifle he
said because he often had large sums
of money upon his person and had
been held up and feared that such
might be the case again on the unfre-
quented roads over which he Travelled.
For this reason he claimed to have
had his rife the evening of the un-
pleasantness when he called seeking
an interview with Mrs. Webber He
further claimed that Mr. Downs told
him he could not see Mrs. Weber
and grasped his rifle. Downs pulled
the rifle from under his arm, il was
discharged and scuffle ensued. lie
testified that Mrs. Downs struck him
over the head and that he heard Guy
say Mother, get an axe and chop him
up" He said that the services of a
physician were required TO treat his
wounds because of the severe beating
he had sustained from the hands of
Mrs Downs and her son. There were
three other witnesses introduced in
his behalf Monday afternoon. The
judge did not give his charge until the
following morning after which the
jury retired and were out for about
one hour. the result of their confer
ence being as before mentioned.
Ellis was given a maximum SEN
tence of . years, with a minimum SEN
tence of not less than one and one
half years or more than three.