The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-02-17


ed searching Entreken's bedroom.
They also searched the ticket office but
found nothing. In the meantime Pur-
cell had joined the other two in the
search for money. They began to
search Entrekens body and found a
wallet on the same. Brown testifying
that he was the one who made this
find. Witness said they then took
their bicycles and went down the road
Purcell walking.
From this point the testimony of the
witness fitted in exactly with that
given by the witnesses for the State.
He told OF the automobile coming
along and OF running into a man on
the road who ran along with Purcell
He stated that they threw their bicy-
Giles into the Hilton wood and when
they got to North Arson saw Purcell
in an automobile. After this he and
Spurlock went ON to Madison, asking
their way to the railroad track. as
testified to by Master Robert Cushing
for the State, Of a young fellow and
tried to catch a train but could not.
They accordingly walked to Madison.
He and Spurlock divided the money
under light and then threw the pock-
et-book away. 1t will be recalled
that this pocket-book was found by
John Bickford of North Arson the day
after the murder. according to States
evidence. Brown and Spurlock then
went to a restaurant in Madison and
ordered supper. They saw some
one come In whom they believed to be
the sheriff. They were then approach
ed by this oflcer and then Sheriff
Mooers made the arrest, and he was
taken to Judge Sawyer's Office at No.
Arson. Brown said he was told that
they had got the other boy and that
he had told everything They made
their confessions witness said and
Judge Sawyer took them down. They
were then brought to Skowhegan Jail.
ENTREKEN ALIVE WHEN BOYS
LEFT
After he had told his story Brown
was asked several questions by his at
torney. He stated that Entreken was
alive when he left him and he first
knew he was dead when he reached
North Arson and the sheriff asked him
about the murder. He had the inten-
testified, find a place to sleep and get
out of Maine where work could be OBJ
tanned They didn't intend to harm
the old man, Brown said. No ques-
tions were asked by Attorney General
Shaw.
PURCELL TELLS HIS STORY
James Purcell was the second of the
trio to tell his story. He was born
April 8, 1902, in New Bedford, Mass
He always lived in New Bedford. He
went to the Holy Family school and
went to high school one and one-half
years. He left the high school to go
to work for a manufacturing concern
because Of the death of his father. He
was the second oldest in a family of
nine. all of whom are living. He
worked in various mills the last being
the Passaic mill. He then went to
work as section man on the Boston
and Albany railroad in birmingham.
Mass. where he became acquainted
with Spurlock. He then hired out
with the employment agency to come
to Kineo. After working there for
time he was discharged, no reason be-
ing given for the same he stated. He
did not receive any car fare on ac-
count of his discharge. He testified
as to seeking work in Bingham and
the remainder of his testimony as to
the doings of himself and his COM
panions up to the night of the murder
was related practically the same as the
story had been told by Brown. He said
that Brown first thought of the place
at Embden to rob and at first he re-
fused to go with them, but thought
they would go back to the wood and
went along with them. The truck
man with whom he rode out of North
Arson left him at Embden.
According to Purcells testimony
Entreken left the station building 3
times before he met his death; first
with lantern, secondly, with some
ashes, attic he did not himself see
him on that occasion and thirdly the
time when the assault occurred. Pur-
cell said that Spurlock got a club and
said he was going to use it. Later
Brown thought he, Purcell, was some
one else according to witness and
slung his knife at him. He told Of
their getting the wallet belonging to
the old man, of the boys throwing the
wheels away and of seeing the man
who ran with him. then Of being TAX
en- to North Arson lookup and Of the
questions asked by the officer. He
stated that he went to Judge Sawyer's
Office and that he signed something he
didn't read. He understood he said
that the plan was to get the old mans
money and that there was no talk Of
hitting anybody" Purcell said that
he was never arrested before, that
| he never received any of Entreken's
money and that he didn't ask for any
OF It. =.
Unlike the previous witness, Pur-
cell was somewhat briefly cross-ex-
amined by Attorney General Shaw.
The signed confession was read and
Purcell said he had agreed to sign
statement he had made.
MOTHER TAKES STAND IN SONS
BEHALF
Mrs. James Purcell, the sorrowful
mother of the accused boy took the
stand as the next and last witness
for the defense. Mrs. Purcell, who
had wept at intervales during the
trial smoke almost inaDdihlV AZ she