Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-24


/ self at the Bellows house were her
sisters, Elsie and Lila, her mother.
Mr.. Bellows and his son Chester. Is
/: years of age.
Il Cross examined by Attorney Pea
i cock. she told of their work there on
the farm. She said that Mr. Bellows
was farmer and worked some on
horses which he used on the road.
After the second assault she said she
never mentioned 1t until she went to
the Crosbys in August 1919. While
she was at Mr.. Croshy's, her father
went to see her and once after she
had talked with him she went into
house, crying. She had gone to Mr..
Hodges after Mrs. Crosby had sug-
&C -ted it, for she did not want to go
back to Bellows house. She said that
she had told Mrs. Brown that she
had told stories about Mr.. Bellows
because she didn't want to so back
there to live.
h She said she was scared at Law
she had said there that FIR. Bellows
had never made these assaults on
her, as reported. Mr.. Bridges clerk
was there and wrote something on
the typewriter and read it to her.
She said her sister Elsie was there
While the statement was being read
by Mr.. Bridges clerk. Mr.. Bridges
had handed her the pen and she had
signed the paper, afterwards taking
oath that what she had signed was
true. Witness identified her sigma
ture on the paper.
While she and Elsie were at Prem
tisse's she and Elsie had a quarrel
regarding their mother, but not about
what she was telling about Mr.. Bel
lows, the girl testified when ques-
toned by Attorney Peacock.
Il Questioned by County Attorney San
born, Edna Harrison stated that up
on two different occasions she had
heard her mother accuse Bellows of
these assaults. Edna's brother, EN-
cry, who is now in Canada, was pres
ent on one of the occasions. She
said that her mother had once said
she would give her $500 to get them
out Of the trouble. And she testified
that at the Office Of Attorney Bridg-
es. Mr.. BRIGGS clerk said she knew
what it was like at the reform school
because she had been there.
I Albert Spencer, farmer at North
Vassalboro was called as the next
witness for the State. He lived about
a mile and a half from the Bellows
/ place. He had gone down to the
brook with Mr.. Bellows and the Bel.
lows twins. He said that Mr.. Bel
lows removed some of his clothing
and went in bathing. The girls went
in wading in the brook. On coming
out of the water. Mr.. Bellows took
off his wet clothes and put on his
dry clothes.
l At the afternoon session, David w.
Spaulding of Albion was called to the
witness stand by County Attorney
Sanborn. He testified that he was
farmer and trader. He testified that
the respondent came to his house one
night and the witness purchased cat
tie and farming tools of the respon-
dent. The respondent seemed to be
very anxious to sell. and to sell that
night.
The cross examination b Attorney
Peacock brought out no material
facts.
. Miss Elizabeth Leslie of Dexter, an
assistant superintendent employed by
the State board of charities and cor
rections in the department caring fer
children needing protection, testified
to being called into this case. The de-
partment Of charities and corrections
, was given permanent custody of the
two Harrison girls. She had been in
formed of alleged certain abuses per-
petrated on the two girls and she had
talked with the two girls about them
James A. Hodges, a member of the
. board of selectmen of Winsiow tes-
titled that on Sunday, May 9, 1920, he
received complaint from Edna Har-
rison regarding her treatment at the
, Bellows house. He made a complaint
J to the state board of charities and
corrections, which made an inyestiga-
tio1 of the case.
On cross-examination by Attorney
Peacock, the witness testified that he
, and the respondent, Bellows, had not
spoken for several years.
Then you and Mr.. Bellows don't
INV SoSh OliiSiy w ybu > ASKED AT
torney Peacock.
, Il have nothing against Mr.. Bel
, lows" replied the witness.
. Maurice e. Prentiss of Winslow tes-
, titled that. he told Bellows to go Just
, as far as money could take him. This
. was after the respondent had told
the witness that they could prove
it ALL"
On cross-examination, the witness
testified that the respondent, Bellows,
! on the Friday before he went away,
, Sunday, asked the advice of the wit
ness about going away. He always
considered the respondent a hard
working man.
On redirect examination the wit
ness testified that at the time the
respondent spoke to the witness about
going away, the respondent was in
tears.
Judge Beane cautioned the Jury
about discussing the case and court
adjourned until 10 o'clock, Monday
morning.