The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-02-24

heard Hanson and Bigelow plotting
this affair and so was on watch that
night He saw the sleigh drive away
and with Nathan Richards entered
the Office and found Mr. Emery in a
semiconseious condition. The next
morning detective Martin followed this
team to Jackman making the trip in
five or six hours with the high sher-
ifs horse and captured Hanson two
and one half feet from Canada line.
Bigelow escaped. On being cross
examined by attorney Mills, detective
Martin and Hanson seemed to have
found some liquid refreshments at
the famous up river house and were
three or four days in returning to st.
Adams. Nathan Richards testified
to Mr.. Emery's condition and of see
ing Bigelow escape through pane of
glass. High sheriff II. Foster, who
is also mail carrier, on entering the
office next morning at once noticed
the disorder and confusion, and in
looking about found the envelope
which had been made ready to send
to Augusta with the immense sum Of
$1.17 missing. Sheriff Foster was in
structed to watch all trains at Palmy-
ra, Hartland and Ripley for Bigelow,
and to arrest him at sight. On Feb
ruary 10 Bigelow came into Hartland
on the evening train and almost es-
capped our high sheriff who was busy
with the mail sacks. He was cap
tured near the Hartland postoffice
while crawling into a hog rack in
Charles Ellis pung and brought to
st. Adams where Hanson had been
brought in care of detective Martin.
Both were released on bail. The en-
velope, tools and nitroglycerine,
which Sheriff Foster found, were
introduced as evidence June
Ricard, dishwasher at Hanson's was
the next witness. suit case was
produced which she had found out
side Hanson's residence one morning
and among other things found in it
was a very important letter which
was read. The letter was written
in Bangor, spoke of plans for Thurs
day night and abduction of postmis-
tress to Canada. signed A. p. b., Mrs
Picard claimed to have witnessed the
abduction, but on cross eXaminatlon
became so nervous that her statement
were very inaccurate. She touched
uDon Fanson's domestic relations, but
this was ruled out as not pertaining
to the case.
DIR. c. A. Moulton testified as to
Mrs. Martins very pitiful condition on
that night. He had a very rare drug
administered which can be cultivated
on Plantation Harrison at Shakerag.
Isabel Martin, nurse was called to
the stand. She testified as to Mrs.
Martins very nervous condition and
marks of physical suffering. 81 Green
the last witness for the prosecution
who Is a merchant stated that all
three of the prisoners were slow in
paying bills, especially Bigelow, who
had owned him a large tobacco bill
If II cents for two and one-half years.
He had been repeatedly dunned. and
few days before this robbery pro-
missed to pay. A day or two after
the crime he paid this bill with a
one dollar bill, which from its pc
culiarty he recognized as the lost post
office bill. This bill had been torn
in two by the postmistress when re-
ceiving 1t from Albert Hurd. who was
loath to part with it. in payment for
a two cent stamp. 1t had been mend
ed in such a manner as to be identi
fed. The bill was on exhibition.