Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-11

morning At the trial Of John A.
Burke of Jackman. accused Of the
murder Of Nelson w. BARLEY, Oct.
Is. 1919. Sheriff Mooers doubtless
has had and 10 still having the most
active administration of eny sheriff
cludes the border towns. means Of
liquor traffic from Canada.
Nothing had been touched at the
cave where the body Of Nelson Bart
ley was found in the Sugar Berth
woods. except for the removal OF the
body. when Sheriff Moosrs saw 1t.
Under examination OF County Attor-
ney Edwin r. Merrill. Mr.. Mooers
gave a graphic description Of the
blow down Of three trees.
I, The bottom Of the cave looked
like q cement floor, being hard and
packed down. Special stress was
placed upon the finding OF the blood
in the rear of the cave 'close up to
the side" t-.
Leaves<and sticks showing evil
dences Of blood were taken as speci-
mems from the outside OF the cave by
Sheriff Mooers. Blood was found at
various places outside.
Burke's Story
Mooers recalled going to see
Burke in company with County At
torney Merrill. He said it was about
the second time he had seen Burke.
Deputy Tuscan was there on guard.
! Burke was in his bedroom. Certain
clothing alleged to have been worn
/ by Burke on the night he was shot
| was turned over by him to Sheriff
Mcoers and County Attorney Merrill.
Sheriff Mooers told what had been
told him by ex-Deputy Sheriff Burke:
In the fall of 1918 Nelson approached
John regarding the purchase of a
large lot of liquor. Burke furnished
money he had collected in his ca
pacity as tax collector. Burke and
BARLEY went to Canada on Armistice
Day and their arrangements were
made for the purchasing Of 24O
cases of bottled Canadian liquor.
A Canadian farmer brought the
liquor across the border on the snow
and 1t was stored in a barn owned by
BARLEY. Between Jan. Is and Feb.
Is. 1910 the liquor disappeared and
Nelson claimed Eddie BARLEY had
stolen it.
Burke had no money when it
came time to settle the taxes. His
house and his automobile were mort
gagged. BARLEY gave Burke. in re-
turn for the liquor which was stolen,
/ two notes one for $1400 and one for
1890 He put on paying them.
The controversy. the night of Oct.
Is. was over the notes. Sherin
Mooers also told Burke's story OF
what went on that night.
| Burke said BARLEY was the whole
cause of his downfall. The notes were
| given in exchange for the liquor. $40
cases of bottled whisky. which had
been stolen.
Under the carefully placed hre of
examination OF Attorney Pattansall'
Mr.. Mooers further described the cave.
Stain on Cart
Mr.. Piper. upon suggestion Of Mr..
Mooers. investigated and found we'll
| Just back OF John 8. Gagnes harness
shop. Mr.. Mooers testified.
No searchlight. no cartridges. no
bloodstains Of which they felt sure
l we're found on the car found at Booth
man road A suspicious stain was
| found on the windshield on the right
hand corner, not bigger than a large
apple seed and about that size.
| II had no reason to kill Nelson
! BARLEY. But Nelson BARLEY had rea-
son to kill me. I'd rather not say
! anything until I've seen counsel" were
words Of Burke to Mooers on the occa-
sion Of their second talk.
| Mooers recalled having heard Burke
say he had had trouble with BARLEY
but that Burke did not have any hard
+, feelings.
Notes and q receipt were turned over
| to Mr.. Merrill and Mr.. Mooers upon
| the second visit At the Burke home.
These notes were recognized as those
! which the State claims are forgeries
/ May II. 1918. the notes and re-
ceipts were written by Burke on his
| typewriter in his once. he had told
Moocrs.
/ Lena Newton. who works In the tel
egraph once. must have heard what
| was said when Burke and BARLEY
were chewing the rag outside Of the
Burke house. was what Burke told
Sheriff Mooers on the time of his first
interview.
New Chart ehswn
A plan Of the location OF the build
ines on the farm Of Nelson Barley
Roderick farm and the camps across
the ROAD was shown and explained
by Henry Crowell. who had drawn II.
The place II exactly two miles from
Church corner on the maln road. No.
on the plan Indicated the road which
crosses the farm. No. 3 rsprsssnted
long building which was used at one
time - house. No. 3 log barn: No.
shed. open On both sides and partly
open on the End; No. represents
smaller log harm whore horses, hens
ana cows had been kept: No. IL a
brook; No. 70 . log building used for
. hen house. eonnectsd with the Gilbert
place: No. represents the house and
addition on the Gilbert place; No. .,
COOK room: No. TO- mems camp, also
ussd for NUMBERING purposes on Gil.
| berts placs. The scale Of the man "a
~ Test to an inch. It il IL feet be.
tween main building on BARLEY place
ana the open shed. The two barns on
the BARLEY farm are les feet far back
from the BARLEY farm. The distance
from the road to the Gilbert house IL
" feet. II b 70 feet from the main
Gilbert house and the cook room.
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