The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-14

Witness stated that she bore no Ill
will toward Mr. Upper, but enumer-'
ated many articles which she had.
brought TO the house, In addition to
articles which Mr.. Topper had testi-
fed she had brought there. Mrs.
Parsons testified that there were old
newspapers in the cellar closet ana
that there We're many rats about the
place, adding that in the upstairs
closet the Tuppers had left articles
done up in newspapers, cans OF grease
or similar material, big lunches OF
waste that looked as though they had
been used to wipe something oily and
a quantity of matches. With regard
to the insurance Mrs. Parsons be-
lieved that they had fully $500 worth
of goods in the house.
Albert w. Parsons, husband of the
respondent, told of having fire in
the cook stove late before the night
of the fire and testified that his wife
was at that time employed away from
home at the Farmers Telephone office
nights. He said after he got up the
morning of the fire he built a fire In
the kitchen stove and found 1t wasn't
burning well, so took out the ashes In
a pail but couldn't recall Just where
he set the ashes, only that the pail
and its contents was carried into the
cellar. He thought that the furnish
ings and the clothing of the family
at the upper house could not have
been replaced for from $1,000 to $1,000.
Evan W. Adams, superintendent of
the Madison Electric Light Co., who
had been called by the state but did
not testify was called for the defense
and said that the house had been
wired under his direction. He said
that the wires in the cellar came
within about four and one-half inches
of the cellar cupboard and passed up
through the cellarway to the switch.
He said from his knowledge and ex-
perience there was possibility of
the fire having been started by the
electric wiring but it was not prob
able. He said he saw pail OF
ashes in the cellar cupboard, but the
evidence disclosed that there was no
fire at the bottom of the cupboard. Os-
wald Wood, - years old, testified
that he and his grandmother and aunt
had been at the house that forenoon
and that his grandmother was ironing
and sweeping during the forenoon.
VIM. Folsom Merrill at the conclusion
of the testimony asked that the court
direct a verdict of not guilty on the
ground that the State had failed to
make out it's case beyond reason
able doubt. The attorney said there
were only three conceivable motives;
hate for Upper, the only evidence
being as to this that the respondent
and Mr.. Topper had had sharp words; ;
personal gain, but no evidence that
there was more property there than
was insured for in value, and enmity
for the Insurance agent of which
there had been no evidence. County
Attorney Thorne, who represented
the State, claimed that the three per-
sons, Mrs. Parsons, her daughter and
grandson did not leave the house to-
gether and called attention to the fact
that there were two fires quite dis
lance apart and that he respondent
had two motives, one to get even with
upper and the other to obtain in
surance. Judge Deasy said that in
his Judgment the jury would never
convict. that he believed that there
was neither motoive nor exclusive OPP
portunity shown, and that the case
bristled with reasonable doubts. He
accordingly directed verdict of not
guilty and the respondent was dis
charged. Members of the family
who were near Mrs. Parsons kissed
her and the respondent was apparent
ly much overcome.
DIVORCE HEARINGS
After the discharge of the jurors
who were occupied with the arson
case on Friday. divorce cases were
heard.
Elizabeth York of Skowhegan asked
divorce from her husband, Walter