Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-23
To get some liquor for myself.
During the day did you see DavIsP

XII
During the day did you see DavisP
Yes.
When?
After dinner, and after had BEEF
down to the bar room.
From this point in answer to quei
tions, Pratt related that Davis spoke t
him, referring to his heavy suit case
and finding that he was bound for Soutl
Paris, said be was going that way ant
offered to take Pratt, which offer wa
accepted. Davis went and got bis car
and Pratt got In and sat beside him or
the front seat, Davis driving. They cam
to South Paris with only one short stol
at Gorham whore Pratt bought pint o
whiskey, because he didn't want Il
open the bottles in his suit case. The!
arrived at South Paris after dark, ant
went to Pratt's house. On the wa!
Davis asked Pratt II be was alone, and
he said he was. After they stopped q
the Pratt house, Davis went away say
ing that be might be back again by.and
BY. In about half an hour he came bacl
and raped on the door. Said he had
friend with him that he would like tc
bring In.
Who was his friend?
Clara Cutting.
Davis took drink from a bottle OF
the table, and then said he would like te
speak with his friend alone. He ant
Mrs. Cutting went upstairs, where Pratt
heard them whispering. After while
Pratt went into the front room to make
up bis bed, and heard shot. He wen'
out of that room, and found Mrs. Cut
ting down stairs. She said, give killed
him" Then he went up stairs and
found Davis lying on the bed.
What did you do?
Shook him first, and found he wal
dead.
What next?
A little later we picked bis pockets.
How much money did you getP
A hundred and eighty dollars.
Who took it?
took $3.50, and Mrs. Cutting 800.
Mrs. Cutting then went home, and
later Pratt dragged the body down and
put it under the barn. The next time
be saw Mrs. Cutting, a week or two later,
she wanted to know what he had done
with the body. and be told her he had
put 1t under the barn.
From this point the testimony led rap
| idly to the time Mrs. Cutting came there
to keep house, and Hiram Cummings
was there.
Where did Hiram sleep?
Up stairs.
Where did you sleepp
Where did Mrs. Cutting sleep?
Up stairs.
Did she sleep with your
( Yes.
Now and then, or regularity
Most all the time.
When did you learn that Hiram had
found the body?
That night after he found 1t.
What did Hiram say to you about itP
He asked how it came there.
What did you tell him?
Told him l put 1t there.
Did Hiram ever threaten to tell the
officers?
Yes, when he got jealous.
Pratt admitted having money, and
trading the watch and automobile, as
bad been testified to by the states wit
posses. He said that when he went to
Lewiston to trade the auto with Wood
bury Thayer, they separated for while,
aud while Woodbury. was gone he went
into a pawnshop on Main Street and
bought the revolver that had been intro
duced in the case. A little later he gavr
it to Eva Dudley. he left the number
plates as his brother had testified.
How long ago did you learn that Clara
Cutting was the one who reported this
to the officers?
A few days ago.
For some more than an hour Pratt
was cross examined by Attorney General
Pattanpall. Mr.. Pattangall was very
quiet and easy in his manner, but cover
ed the ground very thoroughly. II
would be impossible to condense the
cross-examiuation, as the force OF II
| would not be fully apparent unless II
was all given. Some of the things stat
| ed by Pratt on cross-examination that
were not given on direct were, that be
found the dead man lying on the bed
fully clothed, except his cap and gloves
and that he and Mrs. Cutting put the
gloves on his hands; that the first time
he ever told anyone that Mrs. Cutting
killed Davis was within week; that the
revolver with which she shot Davis wa'
Pratt's, and that she carried 1t away il
her trunk: that Clara never told hin
how she came to kill this man. and ht
never asked her. He explained that hi
told different story to the officers be
cause be didn't want to bring anybody
else name into the matter. In genera
the effect of the cross-examination wal
very damaging to the prisoners cause.
In rebuttal the state recalled DR.
Bartlett, who stated that from suct
wounds as be found in the head of tb'
dead man he should expect to find
very small quantity Of blood.
Mrs. Cutting was recalled, and statet
that she did not know George W. Davis
had never met him. She was not a
Pratt's on the Goth of September, ant
was not concerned In the killing o
George W. Davis. UP to the time sh'
heard Pratt's story in the court room
she had no intimation that she wa
charged by any one with the murder.
| At this point, about noon OF Friday
the evidence was closed.
Friday afternoon able arguments wer'
made BY the counsel. Mr.. Wheele
spoke for the respondent, and occupied
the hour and half which was the time
assigned.
Attorney. General Pattangall occupied
only fifty-tive minutes In presenting tn
states case to the jury, and Judge Speal
took about the same length OF time il
giving the jury the law and reviewing
the essential matters of evidence.
The jury retired shortly before BIZ
O'Clock, and the court took recess. A
about 6:45 the jury announced that the!
we're ready to report, and when brough
in returned verdict that Prescott Pratt
was guilty of murder.
Pratt COnfesses He Only is Guilt!
At the opening of the session Saturda.
morning Pratt was sentenced to stat