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

sheriff not being satisfied with these
questioned Mr.. Ellis still further and
said that Ellis replied, IF l was mean
enough to burn those buildings, as
they say I did, l would be mean
enough to hide them so no man
could find them" Mr. Mooers stat
ed that Ellis had told him that he
had no stock turned out at his for
mer farm, that he hadn't been over
there for two days and that he went
in to the swamp that morning to milk
a COW. While there, according to
the witness, Mr.. Ellis had seen a man
coming in his direction and asked him
to assist in catching the COW but that
the stranger whom he couldn't de-
scribe, other than that he had a gun
did not reply to his call for help. Mr..
Ellis was brought to Skowhegan jail
that night and the next day the Sher-
if and Deputy Croker returned to
the Ellis home to continue the search
for the cupped heel shoes. Wit
ness said that they saw tracks there
near the entrance to the outer cellar
door and then went to the unfinished
gan a systematic search, with the re-
suit that Mr.. Croker finally found
wet boots with green grass on them
under the flooring. The officers took
the boots and went to the place where
the cupped heel tracks had been found
and in fitting them determined that
the tracks and the wet rubber boots
with the cupped heels fitted, accord
ing to the witness. The sherif also
said that the tracks correspondent
with the tracks near the cellar door
at the Ellis house Under cross ex-
animation Mr.. Mooers told of differ
ent things in the shape of furniture
etc, which he found in the Ellis
house, being questioned by Attorney
Merrill with regard to determining
the amount of furniture which Mr.
Ellis had at that time moved from
his former home This portion oil
the testimony was to determine what
motive Mr.. Ellis had for burning the
Holt buildings. Deputy Sheriffs
Cook and Croker both told of theii
visits to the Ellis place with Sheriff
Mooers, the latter testifying as tt
having found the wed boots and tht
comparison of the tracks.
w. B. Gould of Dexter who had in
sured the Holt buildings and person
al property during the ownership o
the same by Mr.. Ellis testified tina
he had insured the property for $500
s400 of this was on the buildings, $12I
on farm produce. $4,000 on farming
tools and $500 on wagons and car
riages. He said the policy was il
Ellis hands at the time of the fir
and that Ellis came June Sth to Sc
him concerning removal, stating &C
cording to the witness, that he hal
moved $3.50 worth Of furniture AM
agreed to bring in the policy for can
collation.. After the fire in about tw,
weeks, Mr.. Ellis had brought bacl
/ the policy and had made no claim Of
it. Witness said that Ellis had lef
the amount of the insurance to hi
discretion. Mr.. Gould said that MI
Ellis never had filed any proof o
loss.
/ Before beginning the defense Attor
ney Merrill presented motion for
directed verdict for the respondent
objcting to the wording of the indict
ment. The defense contended tina
Mr.. Ellis had ceased to lodge on tn
premises at night time and hence tn
building burned was no longer
dwelling house. County Attorne,
Thorne. for the State. contended how
ever that occupancy had not ceases
and the motion was denied.
The defense which was opened b,
Attorney Merrill represented that MI
Ellis was eighty years old and tina
his home ceased to be on the plac
where the buildings were burned Of
the Sth day Of June, which was abou
one week prior to the fire. The de
tense further alleged that Ellis lef
the amount of insurance to be place
on the property to the insuranc
agent, advocating a light insurance