Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-20
Gardiner People
Aroused Over Recent
Acts of Vandalism

The two recent acts of vandalism
in different localities of the city are
arousing considerable Indignation,
and some nervousness among people
who live in the neighborhood. 1t is
not definitely known that the two
have any connection. but it is thought
by the majority of the parties inter
osted. that there is not. On last
Thursday night, several of the large
windows of the Junior high school
were found broken, an an eXamina-
ton revealed several large pieces of
coal on the floor of the room, and the
fact that considerable force was ex-
erted was proven by the fact that the
pieces were found beside the desk or
the teacher, which is some distance
from the window. Other pieces of
coal were found near the flag pole
in the school yard. and there is abso-
lutely no clue to the guilty ones. eX-
cept the mere suspicious of the school
authorities.
The second act happened on Mon
day evening at five minutes OF eight
when one of the front windows of
the home Of Mrs. Mary Walsh on
River avenue was broken and upon
wrench was found in the center of
the room. The family attach
no Importance to the incident. and
believe they understand the circum-
stances, that the wrench was not in
tended to do any one any harm, but
was thrown at the house by mistake
that is they think that some one had
n fancied grudge against some one
living in a house nearby, and threw
the wrench in spirit of meanness,
thinking to alarm that person. The
police were called in by neighbors,
and carefully examined the premises
but found nothing of value to aid in
detecting the thrower. Contrary to
reports there were no tracks found
near the house, except those made by
boys in the neighborhood earlier in
the day. The wrench was about six
inches long, and bore the trademark
of the United Shoe Machinery Corpo-
ration. and had evidently seen hard
usuage. Chief Dunn. and State Off
Ger A. G. Robinson were on the scene
in a short time and although nothing
could be done, they collected all the
infOrRa ton possible, and passed the
large part of yesterday in hunting up
what they could that would help in
the case.
The theory advanced by Mrs Walsh
that the missile was intended for
some one else is logical when the cir
cumstances are understood, as the
person could have no reason for at
tempting an attack on any one in the
house. Whoever threw the wrench
must have had considerable strength.
as the officers decided that from the
lack Of footsteps in the vicinity of
the window it must have been thrown
from the sidewalk or fl ON the street,
ind the house sets back from the
road. the wrench came through both
the window and the curtain, and
landed In the center Of the large
room.
While the first affair might easily
have been the work, Of certain mis-
chievous boys in the vicinity, the
second is evidently the work of an
older person for the. above reasons.
The thory has also been put forth
that TIL man must have been intoxica-
ted, or temporarily deranged, as It
was an unusually bright evening, and
very early hour to attempt such q
deed. and persons had passed by both
a short time before and after the in
eident. and If the guilty man had
been posed of his sound senses he
must have realized the chances of de-
lection he took. 1t is hoped some
light will soon be thrown on the mat
ter. as 1t has caused uneasjness in
many parts of the city TO think that