Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-01-29
C. W. DAVIS
MURDERED
Remains Located Under Pres
colt Pratt's Barn at
So. Paris, Me.

About noon Tuesday, the body of
an unidentified person was found
under Prescott Pratt's barn in the
lower part Of South Paris, Me-, vii
lage. The body was wrapped in a
blanket and had been dead evidently
a number of days.
Wednesday morning, Prescott
Pratt was brought before the Nor
way Municipal Court .arraigned for
murder of white, adult male per-
son, name unknown. Pratt pleaded
not guilty and by the request of the
State the case was continued to Feb.
4. Pratt was committed to Jail with
out bail.
1t is said that there was a stranger
in South Paris in September, 1914,
who drove a Packard automobile and
attracted attention because of being
a good fellow, plentifully supplied
with money and liberal in spending
it. He was said to have come from
Island Pond.
A few days later Prescott Pratt
came into possession of a second
hand Packard automobile valued at
$500 or $500. Nobody questioned
his owning it though there was
considerable comment about his
buying such a car when he already
had three or four second hand auto
mobiles.
After the body had thawed suf-
fciently to investigate the clothing;
it was found that papers and letters
were in the pockets, also a driving
license. This license was issued d
early last summer to George w.
Davis of Portland, Me
1t is found that Davis worked for
the Taxicab Service concern in Port
land af a chauffeur until May, when
| he left and bought a small auto
mobile. The'man was last seen by
Portland people the last of Septem-
ber.
Mrs. Addie M. Meehan of Portland,
E a sister of George W. Davis, said
that she had not heard anything
from nor seen her brother since
September, and had been wondering
for some time where he had gone
or if he had left the city. She could
not think Of anyone who would have
had trouble with her brother as he
, was Of a very pleasant disposition
and always made a great many
friends in his business.
Mr.. Davis had been in Portland
for about three years and it is be-
> lieved that he roomed at the Ayrgle,
a boarding house on Free street, up
to the time he left the city.
: That George w. Davis was muir
2 1ered for his money is the opinion of
his Portland friends and acquaint-
ances, for they claim that when he
, sud enly disappeared from the city
S the latter part Of September he had
his entire seasons earnings
with him and this AMOUNT is estim-
: ated as high as thousand dollars,
although there are those who say
that this amount is excessive. They
are all of the opinion, however, that
n the amount was sufficient to be a
e motive for robbery.
That Davis was held in the highest
regard by his friends is being made
- evident on all sides. Edward L. Foss,
the Congress street druggist, was
well acquainted with Davis and, in
fact, loaned him a sum of money
when he purchased a taxicab and
opened the business on his own ac-
! count. Mr.. Foss said that he had
an especially friendly feeling toward
Davis and that he loaned him the
money as a matter of friendship
G and did not charge interest on the
loan. Davis bore an excellent repu-
- tation and was credited with paying
his bills promptly and of being a
good man with whom to do business.
r Davis departure from Portland
has always been shrouded in mystery
and his friends there have caused in
4 quiries to be made without result.
q 1t is claimed that he left for Poland
in company with a stranger and the
two were seen near Shaker Village
o on the last Sunday in September by
: a Portland chauffeur. Davis and his
companion, Of whom only meagre
description was given, were ap-
. parently making some repairs on
II Davis car when seen by the Portland
I. driver and so far as is known, Davis
il has never been seen since.
A coroner's inquest was held
Wednesday afternoon and DR.. H. l..
y Bartlett Of Norway, medical exam.
v iner of Oxford county was called.
He testified that he made the ex-
animation of the body and found ii
fn na IN "a had ctofn 0f damn tNoci FL on