Oxford Democrat., 1915-02-09
Prsscost Pratt Held for March Court
HIS STATEMENT IS GIVEN AT THE HEAR
ING BY THE OFFICERS.

HIS STATEMENT IS GIVEN AT THE HEAR
ING BY THE OFFICERS.
Continued by consent from Thursda!
until Friday, the hearing in the case o
Prescott Pratt of South Paris was helt
at Norway on the latter day, and prob
able cause was found.
Pratt is charged with the murder q
South Paris on Sept. 20 of an adult mall
white person, who has been identified
as George W. Davis of Portland sine,
the complaint was made out.
As many were in the Norway Munich
pal Court room as it would hold at tht
hour of the hearing Friday, and the over
flow of those who could not get in filleC
the corridor outside.
1t was nearly 1890 when the hearing
opened before Judge William F. Jones
County Attorney Albert Beiiveau ap
peared for the state, and Alton C.
| Wheeler of South Paris and Judge
Harrie L. Webber OF Auburn for Pratt
Judge Webber was engaged as counsel
by Prescott Pratt's mother, Mrs. Lucy
Pratt, who is now at work as a domestic
in Auburn.
John A Titus, deputy sheriff and jail
er, was the first witness called for the
state. In answer to questions he related
being called to the Pratt place in the
forenoon of the Goth, and finding tie
body under the barn at that place, GOV
cred with cloths and quilt, and frozen
into the ground. Prescott Pratt was
soop after arrested. Asked as to the
identity of the man, Mr.. Titus stated
that he understood it to be George w
Davis, and though objection was made
by Pratt's attorneys that this was hear.
say testimony, it did not seem to be an
important point.
Did Pratt make any statement after
his arrest?
he did.
Where?
In the sheriff's office at the county
buildings.
Was bis statement voluntary?
Collection by Pratt's attorneys.)
Was Pratt told before making the
statement that what he said might be
used against him?
He was. You [Mr. Beliveau] told him
so.
What did he say?
Pratt said that the man who was dead
came to his house with Ford car, and
they went into the house. Pratt took
two swallows of liquor out of small
bottle which was given him, and soon
began to feel sleepy, and went to sleep
and didn't know anything more till
morning. In the morning he woke up
very sick, and went out to vomit, and
found the body of the man lying on the
barn floor He was so sick that he went
back into the house and left the body ly-
ing there until the next morning, when
he tumbled it down through the trap in
the floor, rolled it over and covered 1t
up.
Was there anything said about third
man being picked up?
Yes, he said they picked up third
man.
What did he say became OF him?
He said in the morning he had disap-
peared.
Cross examined by Mr.. Wheeler:
When did Pratt have counsel?
think you were there the next day.
He didn't have counsel before he made
this statement?
No.
Did he ask for counsel?
No, he said he wanted to wait till his
mother came up.
Did be give any description of this
third partyp
Said he was man about twenty four
years old, but didn't give any descrip'
ton of him; said he was stranger.
The stranger came to the Pratt place
with them?
So he said.
And the next morning he was gomez
Yes.
Have the officers made any attempt to
learn the identity of this other man?
As far as am concerned, 1 didn't
think it was necessary.
What did Pratt say about the liquor?
He said they had two quarts OF liquor,
but that what they gave him was in q
small bottle, and he began to be sleepy
very soon after he drank it.
Mr.. Wheeler then asked Mr.. Titus
about what else he had found at the
Pratt place that might have connection
with this case, and Mr.. Titus described
a bloody paper found in the barn, a
bloody cloth under an automobile
seat, and stained raipcoat found hang
ing in the entry way of the house, and
stains apparently Of blood on the floor
of the barn.
The stains on the coat were on the
left sleeve and left side.
Asked as to the amount of blood re-
quired to make these stains, Mr.. Titus
said that few spoonfuls would make
all the stain fc cund in any one place.
The raiucoat he assumed to be Prescott
Pratt's, it would fit man of his size.
Asked with regard to further search
of the premises, Mr.. Titus said that af'
ter thorough search they found no
gun. They found one loaded 32.caliber,
rim fire revolver cartridge, two bullets
of the same caliber which had been ex-
tracted from shells, showing the marks
of the pliers, and a few empty shells.
Do you know anything about the Ford
car?
Only that be said he traded 1t to
Dwight Edwards of Auburn.
Asked if he searched the pockets Of