Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-28
Pleads Not Guilty

Although he had made a confess
sion, signed in the presence Of wit
nesses, and had re-enacted the events
of that night and the next forenoon
when the body was buried, according
to the Hancock County officials, he
entered a technical plea Of not guilty
and waived examination.
Probable cause was found by Judge
Harry J.. Crabtree, before whom he
was arraigned in his law office in
stead of the municipal courtroom
and was remanded without bail
to the county Jail here to which he
was brought last night with his
younger brother, Victor. held as q
material witness for the state, to
await the action Of the grand jury at
the term of the supreme court which
convenes here on October IA
Seek More Evidence
Although the county authorities
have in their possession the shotgun
with which they say young McDon-
aid killed his teacher, the spade with
which he is said to have prepared her
grave. and her jewelry and money.
County Attorney William f. Whiting
returned to Amherst tonight in
quest of more evidence. He took with
him Victor Mcdonald. Deputy Sheriff
Patten, detective and photograph
c..
Robbery the Motive
Sheriff Westcott said today that 1t
had been concluded that robbery was
the motive in the case-that young
In kAI, 80
anything In the way of jewelry or
tlnery. and that. being employed at
the Williams house, where Miss Ger
IRISH boarded, he was familiar with
all her belongings, which included a
wrist watch and a couple of rings.
one gold, the other platinum. These,
with what money the young teacher
may have had (and on this occasion
1t W only a few dollars), the off,
Gals regard as sufficient to have ex-
cited McDonald's cupidity. and to
have served as sufficient motive for
his act. He is not over bright, and
some say he is vicious in n dull way
and of very slight moral perception.
May Have Aid sOIder Person
1t has been suggested that McDon-
aid may have had the aid or at least
the prompting of another and older
person, but inquiry thus far has fall
ed to develop anything of the sort.
Sheriff Wescott on Friday last dis
covered the clue that led to the closer
investigation of Roland Mcdonald
and put the spotlight of suspicion
strongly upon him. 1t appears that
a day or two before the murder Miss
Gerrish. after making some purchas-
es at the shop wherein the postoffice
is located. went away leaving her
purse upon the counter. Postmaster
Donham opened the purse to get the
address of the owner, and noticed
among its contents much worn dol
lar bill. folded and creased in a pc
culiar way. The purse was restored
TO Miss Gerrish.
Creased Dollar Bill
On Friday, two days after the MUIR
der. Roland Mcdonald came into the
shop, bought fifty cents worth OF
candy and rendered in payment
dollar bill folded and creased in the
same way as that which had been in
Miss Gerrish's purse, and in every res
pect Identical. That bill really was
the key to the mystery. The wrist
watch OF the slain teacher was found
where Mcdonald had hidden 1t. UNI
der the sill of a woodshed. indicated
by him, and also Miss Gerrish's purse,
containing only one dollar. Mcdonald
said that he had taken the rings from
his victims hands but had lost them
through hole in his pocket.
Adelbert c. Mcdonald. father OF
Roland, held for the murder, and
Victor, held as a witness. called at
Ellsworth Jail today and thanked
Sheriff Wescott and the other off1-
Gals for the consideration with
which they had treated his sons, and
remarked that he hoped they would
be comfortable. but that he realized
that in Roland's case the law must
take its course, and he had no COM
plants or requests to make.