Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-05
HANKS ASSAILANT
ADMITS CU|LT--HELD
FOR GRAND JURY
Young Farmland Says
His Motive Was Rob-
bery-Lost His Nerve
and Ran After Knock
ing Victim Senseless.

| Lawrence Clayton Darby. aged II.
frankly confessed this morning in the
municipal court to having assaulted
Charles z. Hanks on the night Of Septem-
Der 6. by striking him on the head with
quart milk bottle. Until within week
Of the time of the assault Young Darby
had been employed in doing chores on the
Hanks farm, which is situated on River
ide Drive. He was arrested Wednesday
ir West Brooksville. where his mother
makes her home. Darby was bound over
to the grand jury, for trial at the Janu
airy tenn, and was ordered to give bonds
of $500. He was also found guilty Thurs
day morning of the larceny of a suit case
! from Mrs. Perley Hanks and for this Of
fence was given sentence of 80 days in
jail. He was committed to jail Thursday
! to begin his sentence. He expressed the
belief that he can obtain the required bail
so that after serving the sentence he need
not remain in Jail while awaiting trial on
| the assault charge.
| Il wanted to get some money" was the
young mans explanation when Judge
Lancaster asked him why he assaulted
Hanks.
"why didn't you get it," queried the
court.
| Because 7 was scared" said Darby.
| what scared you?" persisted Judge
Lancaster
1.-THE doing Of It," answered the re-
epondent.
! 1t was on August 80 that Darby collect
cd from Mr.. Hanks the sum Of $40
which was due him and left the farm.
! He reamined in Augusta and on Sept. 6
| he found himself without funds. That
night ne went to the Hanks farm. and
put out Of working order all but one Of
the electric lights in the harn-that one,
! he said, he unintentonally omitted to
| tamper with. From a hiding place he
watched for Mr.. Hanks and when the op-
portunity presented-wL his victim was
trying to turn on the lights-struck him
twice on the head with the milk bottle,
The second blow broke the bottle Darby
saws that he ran away without await
| ting to see what was the result of
his attack Mr.. Hanks was knocked
senseless by the blows.
| Darby told the court that he came into
the city Immediately after committing
the assault, and went to a house on State
street where he secured a nights lodE-
ing The next two days. he said ne
worked at the Eaton shoe factory. ON
! Sunday he walked to Waterville and
nasscd the night in A barn in the out
skirts of that city. From there he went
to Clinton and in the course OF his travels
visited Burnham Bucksport, Searsport
and Belfast He stated that he worked
at several farms. receiving nothing but
his board az remunerat ton and staying
not more than one day at any place. Not
| feeling we'll he went to the home Of his
mother in West Brooksvil!e, arriving
| there last Tuesday.
| The suit case, which he borrowed from
| Mrs Perey Hanks, who lives next door
| to Charles Hanks. and which he failed
to return, Darby sent to Bangor by ex-
press, he told the officers. He told them
that it could be obtained at the American
Express office in that city.
! Darby is the youngest of a family OF
seven children, he told Judge Lancaster.
His father was a sea captain and was
killed on shpboard in 1912, he said His
mother makes her home with his invalid
grandmother in West Brooksville.