The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-12
Somerset County Agricultural News
L. NJ. Starbird Tells His Side OF the
Story

Dear Mr.. Editor
| believe the Independent-Repor
is an honest newspaper. 90 not
think 1t would knowingly pubhsh
falsehood. and | believe it is ron-par-
tisan, however, of course, its eport-
ers will sometimes make ere !, ana
sometimes irresponsible Poop VIII
make statements which are accepted
in good faith and are published.
A statement in regard to my treat
ment of a young bull appeared In your
columns week before last, the most
of which was greatly at variance with
the true facts. About the only truth
In the article was that / was before
Trial Justice Lord, and appealed and
gave bonds. On the date mentioned
in the warrant I purchased Of Lynn
Wellington a Holsteip bull, two years
old We loaded the bull into a wood
wagon. | got within mile OF my
home when the wheel came off throw
ing me down behind my horses ana
the bull onto wheel, scraplng MS
knee so that it bled quite freely. l
next, after repairing my wagon
temporarily, tried leading the animal
behind: he braced himself, hung back
and would not go. | dragged him
few feet, thinking he would get tired
of being obstinate and proceed peace
ably. but | soon saw he would not,
so I unhitched him, as it was rather
late and my cart was in no condition
to haul him, even if | had had a crew
to help reload; and as l feared ne
might do damage to berry-pickers or
Others before / could get him the
next day, | hobbled him, but in such
a humane manner that | can prove by
reliable Witnesses We went over
half mile to nearby pond for
drink of water. | did not turn him
into an open lot, but heavily wood
ed one, cool and shady, with plenty
of forage. The only harm done the
bull was, he was simply prevented
from wandering beyond reach or mo-
Testing people.
Your reporter, says he was
dragged behind a car. | do not own
a car nor did Use one on that day.
Your reporter also says that according
to evidence the bulls sides were bad
ly lacerated, the evidence might have
been that way. Street corner gossip
might have been that way, but the
facts are entirely different. I can
prove, and I will prove, II necessary,
by several good reliable witnesses
that there were no marks on the bull
with the exception of the injured knee
on Sunday or on Monday following
the accident Saturday night.
Men have said they saw where
pulled the bull, dragged him for over
100 feet and that they saw this on
the Monday following. will prove
by reliable witnesses that on Sunday
forenoon people, whose word Is above
question, were over the road and that
they noticed in particular, and COM
mented on the blood spot in the road.
but could see no evidence of an ami
NAL having been dragged. l will
further prove that the traffic over the
road was so heavy on Sunday that it
would have been nearly, II not quite
impossible to discern where anything
had been twitched as stated.
My arrest and the trouble made,
was, firmly believe, brought about
for personal reasons, to inconvenience
me. However, man does not like
to see such gross falsehoods publish
ed in newspaper Of the Reporters
standing, without demonstrating. Will
you have reporter on hand at my
trial? propose to kill the bull, tan
his hide and show everybody those
poor lacerated sides, Chat according
to "the evidence" are SO badly SCARED.
If brought the bull in | would have
to bring him hobbled and probably
get re-arrested. The people annoy
ing me in this manner shall at least
say that | fought good fight and
kept the truth on my side.
Respectfully yours,
LORENZO NJ. STARBIRD,
Hartland, Maine