The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-11-10


alleging assault on May 81. last. Wit
'nesses for the State beside Mr.. Rob-
insoD were his wife. Mrs. Ruth Rob
'ins0n and his father Willis j. Robin
son. Robinson and Lawrence live on
adjoining farms in Palmyra. Robin
son Is q years old and liz the father
of four children. He testified that the
respondent and his brother had an
'noyed him by taking his boat and
leaving IT to go adrift, that there had
been some trouble over a fence and
that last spring Elmer Lawrence and
his brother had thrown rocks at him
while hauling potatoes. The witness
said that the night before the assault
the Lawrence boys went by his house
and that one of them threw a rock
which struck the side of the Robinson
house about one and one-half feet
from the window where his parents
were sleeping. THE next morning
when the respondent accompanied by
his father and brother were riding by
T the Robinson farm. the complainant
went out into the street 10 talk the
matter over with them. Witness said
that Elmer. Lawrence admitted throw
ing the rock. called him a liar, swOre
at him and jumped on him. He was
pretty badly beaten up according to
|the testimony and Mrs. Robinson and
his father both interfered. The wit
ness claimed that the father OF Ell
mer Lawrence held his father so that
he could not assist him. He claimed
THAT Mr.. Lawrence had said he would
take Elmer on when he tRobinson)
had had enough. Mrs. Robinson and
the elder Mr.. Robinson both testified
in the States behalf and showed con-
siderable emotion while giving their
testimony. J. Howard Haley. Esq, of
Hartfand. attorney for Mr.. Lawrence
presented the defense mentioning the
evidence of unpleasant feelings be-
tween the Robinson and Lawrence
families. Witnesses for the defense
were the respondent his father War
tren Lawrence and his older brother
Terrence Lawrence. Warren Law
renee claimed that Robinson struck
Elmer first. Elmer Lawrence claimed
himt Robinson called him liar in the
street and then struck him. Under
cross examination respondent said he
threw the rock at the house to hear
Mr.. Robinson roar. A verdict was re-
turned that Elmer Lawrence was
guilty.
AN ASSAULT CASE
The case of Morrell Rowe of Bing-
ham who pleaded not guilty in the
lower court to assault on Nathaniel
Gerald of Concord lasted into the af-
4 olt
'Phiibrook did not assume the bench
until II o'clock following the week
end adjournment. County Attorney
Thorne appeared for the State and
former County Attorney Merrill APP
lpeared for the respondent. Mr.. Ger
laid testified that, he had lived in. Con-
ilcord for mine years and that he had
1.-TWO farms., one of which. he occupied
and that the other was vacant. Wit
ness said that Morrell Rowe, Elbrie
I.Chrtis,, and Mrs. Carl were, blackberry
|. ing on the vacant farm and that he
ordered them off. He and Rowe had
solle words. y appears and Rowe, wit
lshess-N said slapped. his face. Gerald
! claimed that he made no effort 10
strike Rowe Under cr9ss-examina-
I'tion Gerald claimed that Rowe, called
, him names but that he didn't strike
him nor didn't have any stick in his
hands. 80. ~ ~
Mrs. Mack Bigelow of Concord
heard loud talk and. heard Mr.. Gerald
say. I'll see you in Skowhegan.
Witnesses for the defense were the
participants in the biackberrying trip,
Mr.. Rowe. Mrs Carl and Elbie Curtis.
Evidence indicated that Mrs. Carl and
Mr.. Curtis were picking berries on the
abandoned farm of Gerald and Rowe
picking berries on the Higgins farm,
adjoining Mr.. Rowe testified to be-
ing constable in the town of Bling
ham TIe said Gerald demanded $500
of him In payment for the berries
picked, after ordering him to stop
picking. that Gerald struck him with
stick. the stick having been taken
home by Mrs. Carl. He claimed that
Gerald had called him vile names. The
matter of testimony in the lower court
was considered and Judge Sawyer
! testified that there had been nothing
| in the testimony before relative to
the stick proposition. adding that he
believed after the hearing Rowe had
| mentioned something about Gerald
striking him.
The arguments of Atty. Merrill and
Co Atty fhorne were listened to with
much interest, MIR. Thorne making va
rious satirieal comments. especially
relating to the stick which Mr. Rowe
clamed was used upon him by MIR
Gerald and which he referred to as
being retained by Mrs. Carl as SOU