Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-12

tanning just what experience came into
the life of Charles Hisler, local
blacksmith between the hours of
about 6 o'clock Friday afternoon and
$50 Saturday morning. Hisler thinks,
or would like to have the court think.
That some time during Friday night,
while riding alone in the darkness and
the storm, out on the North Belfast
road, he was held up by two highway
men, who stopped his team, and aft
er knocking him out proceeded to rob
him OF s1O4 and then decamped, leav-
ing him to his fate; that when he re-
gained his wits after an unknown pc
Rod of Inconsistencies he was lying
on top OF grain chest in the barn of
Daniel Young on the North Belfast
road.
IN regard TO the above statement it
must be admitted that a large portion
OF II is an expression of theory, but
much more regarding the case was
learned Saturday morning, and from
people who had a much better knowl-
edge of events which occurred subse-
quent to the knocking out" of Hisler
than he possibly could have. 1t is evil
dent that there is a good deal Of I'M
written history in Hisler's midnight
ride, history that may always remain
unwritten, but there is also a portion
of that history that is known, and that
is to the effect that between 5 and 6
O'Clock Hisler hired a team of j. J.
Longfellow, who keeps a stable at the
rear of City hall, ostensibly for the
purpose of going to Somerville to at
tend the funeral of relative Mr.
Longfellow was not much impressed
by the appearance of the man but fl
nally let Hisler have a team and the
latter started on his journey.
But Hisler did not go to Somerville,
or anywhere near that town. Just
where he did go is not known, but he
landed as stated above in Daniel
Young's barn. Mr.. Young arose at
about $40 Saturday morning and go
ing out into the barn saw a man lying
asleep on top of the grain chest and
with a horse blanket pulled up over
him for comforter. Mr. Young awak-
ened the sleeper, and on ascertaining
who he was, asked about the team, but
Hisler did not know. Mr.. Young took
him into the house and gave him
something warm to drink and the two
then started out to go after the team,
which Mr. Young had noticed down
the road, with the horse down and the
buggy on its side. Before they reached
the road however, they met Frank
Phelan, who lives nearby. leading the
horse, having got the animal upon its
feet.
The horse was in pitiable condi-
ton, having apparently laid in the
wet and muddy road for a number of
hours, how many cannot be said, and
the legs on its right side were worn
raw through its efforts to rise but
1t could not on account of being held
down by one of the shafts of the bug
gy. The horse was cared for and la
ter in the morning Mr.. Longfellow
who owns the horse, went out and
got the animal. DR.. c. l.. Wakefield
veterinary, went to see the horse after
its arrival at the Longfellow stable
and found it to be in bad condition,
but it's injuries have been treated and
a recovery is hoped for
Hisler was arrested on complaint Of
Mr.. Longfellow, the charge being that
of unnecessarily failing to provide
horse with proper food, drink and
shelter and protection from the wealth
er, and was arraigned before Judge
Lancaster at o'clock Saturday aft
ernoon. In answer to the charge His
Ter pleaded not guilty. He was I'M
able in his story to the court to place
himself or the team he was driving
on the road to Somerville and at one
time was apparently heading for
Weeks Mills. He denied that he was
drunk, but admitted taking one drink
of brandy, earlier in the day, at Lew
iston.
He chung tenaciously to the hold
up" feature Of his recital, having APP
parently convinced himself that that
would enlist the sympathy of the
court, or at least the audience, and
told how, after the two men had grab
bed the horse by each side of the
bride. he had got cut of the buggy
to drive them away, one of them, the
one on the left side of the horse, had
struck him on the left side of the
chest with such terrific force that he
knew no more; that it was after he
had fallen that they took his $1O4
and left him where he lay.
Several witnesses for the prosecu-
ton testified regarding to the finding
Of the team. and of the finding of
Hisler, also the condition of the horse,
after which the court disposed Of the
case by imposing on the respondent
a sentence of $50 fine and 80 days in
Jail.
Previous to his arraignment on the
above charge Hisler had been arraign-
ed on the charge of intoxioation, to
" hich he pleaded not guilty, and was
1t the same time at which sentence
was pronounced in the horse case
Following the Hisler case ]. Edwin
Jenness was, on complaint of Spe-
,ial Officer John Souchereau of To-
gus, arraigned on the charge of driv-
ng an automobile without a rear |
olate which violation Of the law was |
alleged to have been committed Sat- |
Irday morning. The respondent was