The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-08
paper vas shown her which purported to

whereby she was to give her property to her
son to take care of her for the rest Of her life.
She was asked if it was her signature and said
she didn't think it was. The witness refused
to write her name for comparison: said her
writing was bad and homely and she didn't see
what they wanted it for, anyhow. Said that
she expected to live with her son when she
went there. until she died. but was 10 abused
that she had to leave.
| Mrs. Mary A. Twombly of Monroe testified
that she had called to see the defendants wife
on the day in question and heard the slaps
Fogg gave his mother just as she was at the
and saying: "Get up there, damn you." On
cross examination Mrs. Twombly said she was
always friendly with the family and lived
about quarter of mile away. She did n 1t
see Fogg slap his mother. but heard him. She
said the ,neighbor, could not help taking the
old lady's part, and that since leaving the
home Mrs Fogg had been with neighbors.
most of the time at Wilder Parker's home
She had no animosity against the respondent.
Admitted that her only son was recently ar
rested as one of the party which tarred res
pondent Didn't make any complaint to
officials about Fogg's assault upon his mother.
The State rested at this point.
In opening for the defence Attorney Buzzell
said that this was a case where rural COM
munity had become excited to high pitch, the
effect of the rambling talk of an old lady. He
would show that contract had been drawn up
between the respondent and his mother where
by she was to make her home with him as
long as she lived But it would be shown that
she went to the neighbors with stories of
abuse and this was the basis of an attempt to
tar and feather the respondent. One of the
principal witnesses against the respondent had
been the mother of man who had been ar
rested upon complaint of the respondent.
The respondent, Charles L. Fogg was called
and testified. Had no trouble with my mother
on the day mentioned, June 2.st. Never
knocked her down or swore at her. Mother
left my house about the middle OF July and
went to the home of Wilder Parker. neigh
bor. Went after her several times but she
would not return. Was later attacked by
mob in my dooryard and had Mrs. Twombly's
son arrested as being implicated. When asked
by the county attorney, "Why did your mother
leave YOUR house and why did she not return
home with you?" the defendants answers were
rambling and confused. Fogg said he would
be GA this October and that his mother was
about SO years old. He said his mother IN
terfered with his wife when she was doing the
housework and made it very disagreeable for
them, When his wife was Clearing OFT the
table his mother would get in her way and
nush her, and at one time caught her thumb
in her mouth and chewed it until he had to
separate them by main force. Then again she
would call them papa and mama. (At this the
old lady was heard to humble, Il never heard
such lies in my life.") He said he would like
to have his mother come home If the neigh
bors wouldn't make any trouble.
Mary Eliza Fogg, wife of respondent, was
called and denied the allegations made by Mrs.
Sarah ]. Fogg and Mrs. Mary A. Twombly.
corroborating her husband in every particular.
Denied that there any trouble on June
2lst. The old lady left the house while she
and her husband were in the field and they
didn't know where she had gone. This was in
the middle of July, and she had not been back
since although they had been after her sew
eral times.
H.. C. Buzzell, defendants counsel, introduc-
ed the agreement drawn by VIM. ?. Thomp-
son Dec. 6, 1905, and alleged to have been
signed by the mother and son. when for the
consideration of $500 he had agreed to care for
his mother the rest of her life, bury her and
erect a stone unless arranged otherwise by
both parties. Madam Fogg emphatically re-
fused to acknowledge the signature her
hand writing and could not be persuaded to
write her name the paper presented her by
Mr. Buzzell. She said she had given her son
money to put in the bank and that ne had
used it without telling her. In his plea Mr..
Buzzell said that the respondent was entirely
innocent of the charge against him. That the
neighbors had over -pited the old lady, who in
many respects was wonderful woman ana
referred to her refusal to write her name. He
ridiculed the testimony of Mrs. Twombly and
said she was over willing to her hands,
feet and mouth for the old lady now that her
only son had been arrested for completely in
the tarring affair, He also declared that the
news papers had made mountain out of a mole
hill. The defence rested at p. m.
County Attorney Littlefeld in his plea for
the State severely criticized defendants coun-
sci for the disrespect shown the old lady and
Mrs Twombly, saying that ne knew from
personal knowledge that Mrs. Twombly came
from one of the best of families and was
woman who stood upon her honor. 1t had
never been his purpose to bring case before
the court that had nothing in it. Why didn't
the mother go to the sons home if she was
well treated there? 1t was very earnest plea
and its influence upon Judge. jury and attend
ants was evident.
Judge Bird in his charge said that this was
rather peculiar case and the defence ap
peared to be a general denial of the allega-
tions. 1t was for the jury to decide as to the
credibility of the witnesses. The jury was out
for half an hour and brought in verdict of
guilty. Friday Fogg was sentenced TO 80 days
ir Jail and $50 fine and was committed.
This case was followed by the State Vs.
Mary Eliza Fogg, indicted on the same charge
as her husband, but alleging more severe mis-
treatment. In order to complete the drawn
jury in the case Judge Bird instructed Sheriff
Cushman to bring into court four men as
talesmen and take no excuses from them.
| C. J. Pattee, c. E. Owen, Fred D. Jonee and F..
| tod av,1