Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-26
FAILS TO SHAKE
PRIESTS STORY
Prosecutor Questions
Boy for More Than
Three Hours
Attacked by Herbert. He Claims
-Chum Struck Fatal Blow

4 Dover, Me. March 25.-Willis NJ. Priest
of Milo. charged with the murder Of
10. 1916. testified in his own behalf nearl'
all day Saturday in the Pscataqus coun-
~ supreme court.
After testifying in direct examination
practically all of the forenoon. Prizes;
was subjected to grlling cross-eXami
nation by Atty. Gen. Guy T. Sturgis in
the afternoon for three hours and 20 min
utes. The ross-examnat.on will be CON
tinued at the opening of court Monday
morning.
Priest refused to alter his story in any
tons asked by the States attorney care
fully and deliberately.
Boy Seemed Near Collapse
Frail and pallid, the respondent was
! allowed TO be seated in a chair through
part of the Cross-eXamnation. At one
time he appeared near collapse. ana
the proceedings were suspended while his
ernoon every seat In the courtroom was
taken. and deputy sherifs guarded the
doors and turned all other would-be
spectators.
This morning several prominent citi-
Zens of Milo had testified that Priest
had always been known as n boy OF
good character. peaceful and law abd-
in These character witnesses included
] - % hn
Methodist church. and J. T. Chapman.
a prominent lumberman and scout mas
ter of the Boy Scout patrol. of which
Priest was member.
Priest. in his direct examination, de-
scribed his trip with Ray Wood on the
morning of March 10. 1916. when they
left Milo and rode on the train to
Schoodic station, where they aliGhted
and walked across the ice on Schoodic
Lake to the camp of George Herbert
from whom Priest wanted to ask a loan
of money. They found Herbert shovel
ing snow. He invited them to enter hts
camp to get warm and also invited them
to have some whiskey from a pint bot
tile which he produced.
Priest said that all three drank from
the bottle until il was empty He asked
Herbert for loan and was refused the
hermit saying that he lad use for all
of his money.
According to Priest they were sit
ting by the stove warming themselves
when Herbert apparently went insane
and grabbing a revolver from II cot
bed, threatened to shoot them. Priest
said he grabbed the hermits arm. Will"
Wood snatched the revolver away from
him.
Attacked by Herbert
Herbert then, according to Priest,
turned upon him and grabbing him
by the throat. throw him to the floor.
crying. IN kill YOU. I'll kill You"
Priest said that he was almost unCon-
scious when Wood struck Herbert
over the head with the revolver and
he relaxed his hold
Herbert. according to the witness.
grabbed him again and they fell to
the bed and off the bed. dragging the
bedclothes with them. Wood in the
meantime. secured stick of wood and
struck Herbert over the head a second
time, whereupon he relaxed his hold
and Priest was able to get away from
him.
Herbert lay upon the floor when the
boys left the camp. according to
Priests testimony. He was alive when
they left him.
After washing the blood from Their
ha hds they walked TO the railroad trace
and it was at this point that Wood pro-
duced some money and gave Priest lit
tie over 500 in bills and little silver
They walked to West Schools. where they
took a train. Priest going TO Bangor an
Wood leaving his train at Milo.
Priest secured a position as prnter
in Millinocket and after working there
fer a short time went to Portland, where
he was arrested
He denied positively that he struck Her
bert or that either Of the boys had muir
der in their minds when they went to the
cabin He said he knew nothing about
the money until Wood gave him the roll
of bills He admitted sending $135 in
bills through the mail to his friend Byron
Farris, in Portland for safe keeping He
described his arrest by Inspector Basto1
In Portland and described the methods
used by the officers in getting the so
called confession
He declared the officers told him things
would be made easier for him II he told
them the truth.
His own story on the witness stanA
Saturday is practically the same a. the
statement he made to County Atty. Hud-,