The Republican journal., 1918-05-16
e The North Searsmont Tragedy.

Rev pease Murders His Wife, Ellen Cooper
Pease, in the Presence OF MISS Marie
Jackson.
Ellen Cooper Pease, only daughter of
George and Maude George Cooper, was
killed tv her husband at about lis a. m.
Saturday, May 18th, in sleeping room
adjoining the central telephone office of
the Liberty & Belfast Tel Co. in what
was formerly the Sylvester Goodwin
house, now owned by the company and
lust opposite her parents residence. Mrs.
Pease and Miss Marie Jackson were oc-
cupving the house and acting as opera
tors for the company, under the manage
ment of James H. Cilley of Waldo. The
young ladies had retired at lo.lo p. m.
Friday occupying the same bed, with Mrs.
Pease's little son Lloyd, aged 7 months,
sleeping in his carriage at the foot OF the
bed. The story as told by Miss jackson
was in substance as follows: They were
! both sleeping, but had left light on the
swift b board that was shining directly
into their room. She was awakened by
some one speaking. She saw Roy Pease
standing in the door and heard him say
ELLEN" Miss Jackson aroused Mrs.
Pease who replied, "yes l am awake" :"
I Then Roy said: "Can stay here tonight2"
Ellen replied: "Certainly, there is bed
up stairs.'' He then asked his wife to 60
upstairs with him, but she refused saying
it was her night on duty and the baby
was with her. He then asked Miss Jack
son if she would attend to the office and
she replied that she would if Ellen want
ed her to. Mrs. Pease refused to let her
and upon this refusal Roy fired shot
from 80 calibre revolver. The shot
lodged lust above Ellen's head in the
plastering behind the bed. Mrs. Pease
sat up in bed and said: "Why, Roy what
do you mean" He then fired the second
shot and his wife fell to the floor. Pease
said to Miss jackson don't say anything
until get away"
Miss jackson called Mr. and Mrs. Wal
ter Poland, near neighboTs, and later
summoned DR.. c. B. Holt of Liberty, DIR.
0. S. Vickery, Waldo County Medical
examiner and Mrs. Pease's half brother.
Frank Cooper. DR.. Vickery responded
Immediately taking with him deputy
sheriff j. A. G. Beach and DR.. Carl H.
Stevens.
Search was Immediately begun for
Pease who was arrested about 6 a. m. at
The home of his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Fred Pease in Burkettville, by deputy
sheriff Charles S. Adams of Searsmont
assisted by O. w. Ripley and Mr.. Fuller.
He was brought at once to the county
iail. He made no statement to sheriff
Frank A. Cushman other than giving the
age of his wife as l8 years and his own
as 2o He is very guarded in his conver-
sation. He insists that he is innocent
and will tell his story later
Dr. Vickery examined the body of Mrs.
Pease which was lying On the floor be-
tween the bed and the bureau in pool of
blood. He found the shot entered the
head near the right eye and passed out OF
the back of the head near the center,
little to the right. He pronounced it
case of murder and notified County At
tornev Walter A. Cowan of Winterport-
At I2 m. Pease was taken before Judge
Maurice W. Lord on complaint of Sheriff
Cushman, charging him with premedi-
tated murder.
Mr.. Cowan conducted the case for the
State and Arthur Ritchie, ESQ.,, appeared
for the respondent. The prisoner was
arraigned and plead "Not guilty" The
State called Miss jackson and DR.. Eick-
erv as witnesses who testified as above
stated. During the questioning OF Mr.
Rjtchie, Miss Jackson said that Mr.. Cilley
and MI James Blood, a llneman, who
had been working on the plant Friday,
remained with them during the shower
a, they did not like being in the Office
alone with electricity playing on the
wires. The men left at 10 O'Clock and
boarded with Mrs. Pease's parents, Just
across the street.
Judge Lord sentenced Pease to the
county Jail without bonds to await the
action of the Grand Jury at the Septem-
ber term of the Supreme Judicial Court
Saturday afternoon Drs. Vickery, Stew
ems and Holt held an autopsy on the body
of Mrs. Pease at the suggestion OF County
Attorney Cowan, but nothing different
developed on account of it.
Sheriff Cushman investigated the ru-
NOR that Pease had been working on the
A. X. Paul ranch Friday and left that
evening for the Poland store under the
influence of hard cider. tie found that
he had been working on the hay press
that day at the ranch but was not under
the influence of liquor of any kind when
last seen by the men as he started for
North Searsmont. Miss jackson also
said that he had not been drinking as far
as she could see.
In speaking of the case resident OF
North Searsmont said:
ltTha poorr;ooa of Mr. and Mrs, PeaSe,