Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-02-17
wiring Of the popcorn machine also

wiring OF the popcorn mAchine Also
came down near these stairs.
There were some witnesses introduced
BY the state to show that Mr.. Heslop
hindered the work of fremen and neigh
bors In extinguishing the flames and sal
vaging the stock. The inference being
that he might have set the shop on FIRE.
The fact that he had had the material In.
sured some three months previous for
$500 was introduced az Q motive.
Mr.. Heslop took the stand for himself
and made creditable witness. he ex.
planned bis movements on the morning
OF the fire and claimed they were prac-
tically the same az made every morning
during the time he was In business.
Several witnesses were called to estab-
lish his good character.
Mr.. Heslop is about 40 years of age
and has lived In Oxford most of his hfe
He served In the World War.
The greater part Of bis Oxford life has
been spent In the wooden mill at that
place, but about six years ago he bought
out the barber business. In 1918, wish
ing to 60 into the army, he sold the bust
ness to Linwood johnson, for $2l2.50.
After the war he bought 1t back for
$l75. His barber chair he claimed was
worth about $35, the pool table which
was originally a billiard table, he paid
500 for. In fixing It over for pool he
paid Ss5. The popcorn machine he paid
$753. These with the miscellaneous
things about the shop he valued at about
$1100. He considered the $500 insurance
only fair policy on the business 80 the
friction of the policy he said was not
great. He had fair business bringing
him in from S35 to $40 a week. He had
earned a, much as $50 in q week.
There was some gun powder which fig
ured in the trial. 1t was some left over
from Fourth of July celebration, and
was to be used in an armistice celebra
ton, but they could not make 1t work in
trench mortar brought to Oxford by
Colonel 81. r. Farris so it was placed In
the barber shop for safe keeping. 1t was
in moxie bottle and about one-fourth
full. If it exploded in the fire 1t made
no sound.
Hon. Alton C. Wheeler was attorney
for the respondent with County Attorney
Frederick Dyer for the state. These
lawyers made their pleas Friday night,
but the case was not given to the jury
until Saturday morning.
The jury was out one hour In the Ok
ford arson case and brought In a verdict
for the defendant.
Arthur Whitman. against whom there
are two indictments, came into court
Saturday and gave bonds in the sum of
Sllnn 70 o. ho nf
court In Rumford.
The case of State of Maine vs.. Mrsand |
Mrs. Charles Smith, assault and battery,
appealed from the Rumford Municipal
Court.
Mr.. Smith lives in Mexico next to the |
land of one Joseph L. Mercier. The
lands of these men are divided by q
brook and small pond. The Mercier |
farm is occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Galarneau. Both families obtained their
water from the brook between the lands.
The Smith family had cattle and they
iouled the water, whereupon the Galar.
oeau family complained to Mercier.
The latter went to the Smith house and
/ quarrel took place over the water,
whereupon Mrs. Smith caught Mercier
~ tuO holl VI ShO AOdo oh0 3A4is Shiteh
struck him with cant dog, at least 80
Mercer testified, and he was laid up
fourteen days by reason of the assault.
The Smiths are Polanders who have
Anglcised their names. Mrs. Smith took
he stand in her own behalf and that of
ler husband and gave some quaint Eng
ish and sign language which was some
lines amusing. She claimed that Mer-
Tier assaulted both her husband and her
Ielf before they assaulted him and that
The was sick some two weeks as result
If the encounter.
The case ended in disagreement of
he jury.
All jurors not on the Smith panel were
Saturday afternoon.
Court adjourned finally late Saturday
afternoon.