The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-10-11

and that he had tried twice to get the
policies cancelled but had taiieo 10
find the insurance agent in; also tnat
Mr. Ellis had moved approximately
$3.50 worth of household goods 10 MS
new home. 1t was claimed by the de-
Tense that the respondent planned to
get his remaining goods from the Holt
Mace Saturday and that he therefore
started out in the night of June 18th
TO get horses from the Lane pasture,
because he could manage them bet
fer at night. Being unable to get the
second one he decided to go to the
Holt place which was nearer than to
go back home and arrived there at
midnight. Believing he still had po-
session he climbed in through win
dow and lay on the couch. He was
awakened during the night and found
the barn on fire. He rushed to the
shed chamber where he had planned
to leave part of his furniture until
fall but was driven out by smoke. II
then occurred to him that he was in
a suspicious place and claiming that
he had many enemies looking for his
downfall he became alarmed for his
own safety. Mr. Ellis claimed that
these unfriendly relations with va
rious people were due to his having
been convicted eleven years ago for
the assault of a Harmony man. All
that time he served one year and a
half in States Prison. On this charge
Mr. Ellis maintained he was unjustly
convicted. After discovering the fire
Mr.. Ellis claimed that he shouted an
alarm and then fed through the path
described by the State to his home in
Dexter. Ellis admitted that he lied
TO the sheriff about being at the Holt
in the attic where they were found by
the officers. He was on the stand
nearly three hours and was question
ed at great length in regard to the
possession which he had at the Holi
place, when it burned, and which ap
peared to be quite extensive. TIES
timony was given in regard to the in
surance which had been ordered by
Ellis cancelled on June 8th. At
torney w. B. Pierce of Dexter wht
has an Office near Mr.. Gould's insur
|
to his office not finding Mr.. Gould il
and left word with him for the insur
ance agent. Phillips Provost, a mea
dealer of Dexter, testified about th'
fine meat refrigerator Ellis had a
the Holt place.
In charging the jury, Judge Phil
brook laid much emphasis on the def
milton of the word "Curtilage," which
had been objected to in the wording
Of the indictment returned by tn
grand jury against Ellis TIL
jurors were instructed to determin
whether the burned house was
dwelling house and whether it wa
in the curtilage of the barn. TIL
jury was out about forty minutes an
returned a verdict of guilty. A mo
ton to arrest judgment was filed b.
the lawyers for the defense. Thi
motion was overruled and exception
were allowed. Ellis was sentences
to not less than five. nor more thai
ten years in State Prison, seven year
being recommended. When inferno
gated prior to committing sentenc
Mr.. Ellis stated that he was not sur
whether he was born in 1872 or 1874,
that he had been twice married an
had served a previous sentence of
months in Thomaston.
CRIMINALS SENTENCED
William Long, convicted Of break
ing, entering and larceny, on the On
day of last July, at the Williams stor
in North Arson before sentence stat
ed that he came to Maine about tire
days before the break, but first cam
to this state about fifteen years age
He gave his age as forty-four, Is col
ored and said he was single. II
stated that he was still under sen
tence at the State Reformatory TO
Men, where he was sent two year
ago and admitted that he had serve
time in military prison in England
He was sentenced to not less tina