Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-05
STATE-ELL|S CASE
BRINGS HUNDREDS
TO SOMERSET COURT

-
TO SOMERSET COURT
Great interest is being shown in
the case of State VS.. Ellis, and High
street and Court street. where the
Court House is located has been lined
during the past two days nearly
their length with automobiles. The
Ellis case was started Thursday af-
ternoon. 1t took something over an
hour to draw the jury, as many were
excused on challenge. Fred Temple
OF Moscow, who has been quite i'll,
was excused by Judge Philbrook, who
said he did not think it prudent for
Mr.. Temple to try because if he were
Ill the case would have to be repeat
ed. 1t was necessary, to complete
the panel, to take the twelfth men,
Der from the audience as the twelve
who had been sitting on the Robson
case were still out. Sheriff Mooers
selected Sumner Norton of Skowhe-
gan but during the examination Mr..
Norton admitted that he was a little
biased against circumstantial evil
dence and so was excused. Charles
Taylor, formerly of Athens, now re-
siding in Skowhegan. stated that he
MIC" lIIe respondent SllSulIy WllGH
living in Athens and he was excused
also. Deputy Sheriff Ernest Cook of
Athens. was sent out onto the street
to bring in someone and after quite
time returned with Walter p. Ord
way. who upon examination was ac-
cepted as the twelfth member of the
panel, which was made up as fol-
lows: Harold Spiller OF Madison;
Lester Richardson of Fairfield: Ly-
man Scribner of Cornville; Royal L.
Caldwell Of Starks Clyde +. H"rsoIn
of Madison; George Nichols Of Jack
man: Walter ROwcll of Madison;
Robert p. Tobcv of Fairfield: Ralph
Hilton of NOrridgewock: John I.
Wright of Madison: F. NJ. Thomp-
son of Norridgewock and Walter P.
Ordway of Skowhegan.
The case finally started at about
$50 and was opened by Countv At
torney James II. Thorne of North An
son who told in detnil the story of
the case. which is briefly as follows:
The State charges the respondent
with arson on the night of August
Is. 1923. of a set of farm buildings
in Cambridge near the Dexter line.
On the farm. which the respondent.
Joseph Ellis sold last spring TO Ner-
nal f. Holt and Marjorie L. Hot.
winch ElIls was 10 occupy unul
august 10. Ellis held an insurance
OF Sooo on personal property IN ti,e
pulId!h@. RACKS We're lounu liaue
by SHOES WIN ruhocr reefs WIN NIUE
cups in the heels leading from the
place where Ellis moved about
week before the fire to the scene Of
the scene of the fire ard back to FL
lis new homo. These tracks were
traced by quite crew of men. Early
that morning. after the hre. chester
Knowles. a son of n nearby nclghpor
went out to shoot crows and VIII
state that be saw Ellis going in the
direction OF ms new nome from me
place of the fire. On visit TO the
Ellis home. Sheriff Mo0erS ana ms
deputies found wet clothing hanging
about the stove to dry but n01cc1
that there were no boots.
Sheriff Mooers told Ellis that he
wanted to see al of his boots. Ellis,
room, out of which the stairs We're,
leading to the attic and brought In h
varied assortment of mems, women's
and childrens boots. but none Of
them were wet and Ellis had claimed
to the officials that on the morning
of the fire he lad been tramping
around in his pasture trying to catch
a COW and that he got very wet.
Sheriff Mooers said tha he wanted
to see the boots that he Wore when
he went into the pasture after the
cow. Ellis said he wore rubber
boots and Sheriff Noocrs told him
to bring them in, Ellis went into the
shed and produced pair Of rubber
boots which We're laced W in front.
These boots we're dusty both inside
ond ont and there were cOhwehs on