The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1922-01-12
State VS. Leslie A. Knight for desertion


Called for Thursday and continued
State VS. Will Towers for selling mort
gagged property. He was arraigned Thurs.
day and plead guilty.
State VS. Bert E. Dodge making, draw
ing and uttering worthless cheeks Two
cases) tie was arraigned Thursday and
plead guilty in each.
State VS. Daniel Meservey for arson
and attempt to commit arson. Three
cases.) Arraiened Thursday and plead
/ not guilty. The case was tried Saturday
and Monday by County Attorney Ralph
|. Morse for State and Arthur Richie
for defendant. The drawn Jury was JUS
tin V. Jackson, foreman, &. A. Knowl-
ton, Edgar b. Colcord, Owen Marden,
Justus d. Turner, Ralph A. Light, A. P.
Giikey, Frank B. Holt, Merle r. Whit
comb, William u. Clegg, N. f. Perry,
John Fl. Chase.
Daniel Meservey of Morrill,, a man of
79 years, was on trial nearly all day Sat-
urday, indicted for arson and charged
with the burning OF the buildings on the
Meservey homestead on Oct. 9Th The
evidence showed that the father and son,
the latter Frank c., had both been drink
ing beer ard home brew and had some
trouble on Sunday morning, the day of
the fire, and before the son, his wife and
friends from Troy left for an auto ride to
Troy tor the day. County Attorney Ralph
|. Morse prosecuted the case with Mr.. and
Mrs. +. Z. Meservey, Dwight Thomas, a
hired man on the place, Frank Paul and
Lester Merrithew, neighbors, and Nj. g.
ternald of Troy, guest of the son as
witnesses. While all the testimony was
cIrcumstantial it Indicated that Daniel
Meservey in an angered and partially in
toxicated condition had set fire to the
buildings and had threatened to kill his
son. The defendant took the stand in
his own defence AMI told the story of
deciding the homestead to his son for the
consideration of life support. he admit
ted that all had been drinking, but de-
ciared he did not attempt to injure his
son and did not say he would kill him.
he testified that all had been smoking
pipes, cigars and cigarettes, and that the
lire caught from that source. In response
to the question why he had his personal
eifet Is packed and out of the house he
said he did not intend to live with his
son after what had happened that morn
ing. The advanced age and feeble con-
dltIon of the defendant naturally attract
/ ed the sympathy of all, but the evidence
was against him. Court opened Monday
with the pleas OF Arthur Richie, counsel
for the defendant, followed by County
Attorney Morse for the State and Judge
Deasey's charge. The jury took the case
and returned verdict OF guilty at 5
p. M. The defendant collapsed under
the strain at noon Monday and Sheriff
Littleiield was Obliged to call physician.
W hen Mr.. Littiefield went to the jail at 6
a. m. Tuesday, he found that Meservey
| had attempted suicide by cutting his
throat with his pocket knife, that he
had bled profusely and was uncon-
scious. DR.. Eugene D. Tapley was called
and dressed the wounds The cut was
mangled and the wound on the side near
the iugular vein deep. lie has been taken
to the poor debtors room and is receiving
all needed care. w nile able 10 walk about
the room 1t was necessary to watch him
all last night as heevidenIly intends to
end his life. He does not sleep and COM
plains OF very severe pains in his head.
The last case to be cons: :lered by the
jury was the criminal case of Charles
Dyer of burnham, indicted for an assault
on Percy Giles of Clinton. 1t was an
| other case when family affairs were freely
aired without regard to after effects
| Giles claimed thai Dysr had been alien
/ dtlHS WIG SStl0IlS 10 SuCu du CA
| tent that he had left his home, but was
supporting his wife and their children.
| He also testified that he followed his
wife to the Dyer camp in Burnham and
when he demanded that he wanted his
wife aud child" Dyer assaulted him with
an axe. Deputy Sheriff Robinson of Clin-
ton, who went with Giles TO Burnham,
corroborated Giles Testimony In charg-
ing the jury Justice Dasey eliminated
Mrs. Giles part, which bbught out much
testimony, and told them to consider
merely the evidence of the assault The
jury returned verdict of guilty after
being out about Is minuta
The Waldo County Bar Association
have recently hung in the court room in
the rear of the presiding Justices desk
large pictures of the late Judges Andrew
P. Wiswell, John A. Petersand Jonathan
G. Dickinson. They are hung near the
oil painting of the late Jude William II.
Fogler. The last two were Belfast men.
Both iurles were discharged Tuesday
morning and Court will prtbably adjourn
late Wedne sday afternoon Fifteen di-
vorce cases were heard, bat none of the
DEGREES were signed whA The Journal
went to press Prisoners we're sentenced
Wedne sday afternoon.