The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-07

he came 10 her home at nearly dark,
the day Of he fight, saying that he
had a large cut under one eye. two
large cuts in the lip. was bleeding
freely and had blood and dirt on his
clothing Witness said he was also
splitting fresh blood and his hand was
bleeding badly. She said she band
aged his cuts and that he went up the
road toward Lester Stewards. In
response 10 her questions. the wit
ness said that Ashcroft had told her
that Trevor Howes inflicted the blows.
Mr. Steward substantially corroborat-
ed his wife's story. Deputy Sheriff
T. II. Cook told OF meeting Mrs. IRE
yor Howes with the County Attorney.
Sheriff Mooers and Deputy Croker
in her home. Witness said that she
was warned Of her legal rights and
made statements relative to Ashcroft,
saying that she and her husband went
in the car TO Pleasant Ridge for the
purpose of giving Ashcroft a licking.
The defense was opened by w p.
Brown, Esq. for the respondent and
in the opening he attempted to show
that Ashcroft had previously asserted
himself in a manner not proper tow
ard Mrs HoWes, the presiding justice
reminding him, however, that the
prior conduct of the man to the wo-
man was not allowable in this case
The defense claimed that Howes left
his home 10 pick up his traps which
had been set in the woods and that
Mrs. TIowes later left in the automo-
bile TO meet him when he came out
Mt he bferb Nv
the first witness and tod of his long
acquaintance and his relationship
with the respondent Witness said
he had never thought OF whipping
Ashcroft the day of the fight but that
he had gone out to collect his traps
which had been set the winter before
and arranged with his wife to meet
him with the car. When he first
saW-his automobile. witness said that
the car was stopped, that he walked
up behind it and saw his wife and
Ashcroft in the vehicle. Witness
said that he asked ASHCROFT what he
was in the ear for and told him to get
out and that Ashcroft struck him in
the arm. Howes said that he then
got into the car and tried to take him
out Ashcroft trying to prevent it. A
fight ensued according TO the witness
and they both struck blows. HoWes
said his nose was bleeding, his arm
was hurt and he was cut and bruised;
that he was not able TO work until
the last Of May or June. Under
cross examination, the matter of
Howes settlement with Ashcroft was
taken up and he said he didn't known
b1, 10 ~ Il; IA
owed him. but had tried to notify him.
He said that he had snapped the
traps that he had picked up the day
of the trouble for gun. that he had
left the traps at the edge of the road
and afterwards got them He thought
it was necessary to overpower Ash
croft to get him out of the car, he
said. Mrs Howes told of the events
of the day and of driving to the turn
of the mountain to meet her husband
She said she had been suffering from
dangerous illness Not finding
Z Howes where she expected to, she
drove up to the Steward home and
thought she might see Ashcroft and
bring about a settlement between her
husband and him. She testified in
substance as did her husband. CUES
toned about the conference with the
officers, she said she did not recall
that she told the officers that she and
her husband left their home together,
| the day of the fight but said she did
90 alone. Under cross examination
she said she had answered the ques-
tons of the officers the best she could
but that she couldn't remember all of
The conversation she had with them.
Mrs. Frances Bonnell of Portland.
mother Of Mrs. Howes, said that Ash
croft and Laurison Howes came TO
] her house and asked her advice about
an attorney for Ashcroft. She said
that Ashcroft had told her about the
assault and battery and had said that
he was as much or more to blame
for the fight. adding she said, that he
had said he was frightened into hav-
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Howes arrested. He
had told her. she said that he had
struck the blow.
Laurison E. Howes, brother of the
respondent, said that Ashcroft had
been employed by Trevor Howes. 76
days. He said that Ashcroft had
gone to Newfoundland where he was
then located and stayed about a week.
Witness testified that he had received
telegram from the county officers,
demanding that he produce Ashcroft
and that he had brought him here to
Somerset County. Howes said that
Ashcroft had told him that he was
to blame for the fight because he
didn't get out of the car He claim
ed that Ashcroft said that he wasn't
sure whether Mrs Howes pulled
revolver on him or not. Warren
Clark of North New Portland. a
justice of the peace, testified that he
administered the oath to Mr.. Ash
croft in the statement previously re-
ferred to. and said that Ashcroft told
him the statement was true. ". A,
Foss who had charge OF road laborers
in 1922, working on the river road,
saw Mrs. Howes riddle by in the car
alone and afterwards saw Mr. and
Mrs. Howes come back he said. Under
cross examination, the witness said
that he could't state positively date.
He saw Mrs. Howes go by but this
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