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

in the dance hall that there was
fire, Gilbert and his companion, White
in Whites car, started out to go the
fire. They overlook two men and
with them went to the Bunker farm.
At that time the witness said there
was no evidence of the fire on the
outside OF the premises. He went
into the house and saw Mr. Bunker
there. Mr.. Bunker went up stairs
and got two children. putting a fur
coat around one, and another coat
around the other. He gave The two
children to Gilbert and White, and
as they were thinly clad, Gilbert said
he took off his coat and wrapped il
about the child in addition TO the one
which Mr.. Bunker had placed around
it, they then took the children to
the next house, where they gave them
in charge of a woman who answered
! to their rap at the door. Witness
said the woman passed him back both
coats and he took them both. throw
ing the one which belonged to Mr..
Bunker back into the rear part of
automobile He then returned to the
Bunker place and assisted in the re-
building. Eventually both boys went
back to the dance, and Gilbert said
he walked back to the fire with Miss
Danforth, who wished to go TO the
fire. He said he stayed there as
much as 20 minutes or a half hour
before going back to the dance hall
and then the two boys accompanied
by Miss Danforth started for home
Miss Danforth leaving them at her
home in Norridgewock As they left
her, Gilbert said he reached round
to get a robe in the rear of the car
and found the coat which he had for
gotten to return to Mr.. Bunker His
companion. to whom the car in which
they We're riding belonged. did not
wish TO go back to Mercer that night
with the coat. but said he was COM
ing to Mercer again the next Satur-
day night and would return it at that
time, declared the witness. Gilbert
said that he took the coat into the
front room of his home and left il
there When taken into custody by
Deputy Sheriff H. f. Merrill who had
found the coat in the home of Gill
bert, the respondent stated that he
supposed that he was being taken to
Mr.. Bunker's to fix up the matter,
but instead was brought to Skowhe-
gan FOR triaR Gilbert was repre-
scented by Judge c. o. Small of Madi
son. Following his acquital, Coun-
ty Attorney Thorne moved that the
respondent be discharged and Justice
Deasy so granted.
I HOWES ASSAULT AND BATTERY
CASE
A case somewhat unusual was be-
gun Tuesday afternoon, that of State
VS. Trevor Howes of Highland Plan
tation for assault upon Edward {.
Ashcroft. County Attorney Thorne
opened the case for the state telling
of the facts leading to the case, which
indicated that both men had grown
up together and that Ashcroft had
worked for Howes in the woods In
his opening Mr.. Thorne stated that a
long time after Ashcroft had complet-
ed work for Howes in the spring of
1922, Mr.. and Mrs. HOwes left their
home in Highland Plantation, ii being
alleged that Mrs. HOwes had com
municated thus TO the Sheriff and
County Attorney and other officers,
and that Mrs Howes went to the
home of Lester Steward, where she
got in touch with Ashcroft at the
home of Willie Martin, where he was
then staying, met Ashcroft at the
Steward place and then went with
him to the edge of some woods, where
she sounded horn. covered her com
r.tI,
ing and beating Ashcroft unmerciful-
! ly. 1t was alleged by the state that
afterwards Ashcroft went to the home
of Eli Steward where his wounds
were washed and his head bandaged,
1t being claimed that the man was
badly cut about the head. 1t was
further claimed by the state that
Laurison HOwes, brother of the res
pendent, had paid Ashcroft what Ire
vor owed him prior to his indictment.
Mrs. Lester Steward was the first
witness called telling of Mrs. Howes
calling at her house to get into com
munication with Ashcroft. of the lat
ter's subsequently coming to the Stew
ard place, and meeting there with
Mrs. Howes The witness said they
. went uOWu lIlt Ibdu lON dih i9ill Sllilii
together in the Howes car. Witness
further said that that night she saw
Ashcroft go by her house with his
head bandaged.
/ Ashcroft when he took the stand
said he was 35 years old. He told of
going down the road with Mrs. HOwes
but denied that she had covered him
with a revolver. He seemed nervous
about testifying and his eyes rolled
about the room, but said Howes struck
him over the left eye, that Howes hit
him two or three times, and that he
pounded him some of the time. He
further stated that his condition was
not very bad, but admitted the cut on
his face and said Mr.. and Mrs.
Steward helped him dress his wounds.
He went back to the Martin house,
said he wasn't confined to the house
very long and guessed he worked in
two or three weeks. To many of the
questions Ashworth replied that he
didn't remember" He said he came
from Newfoundland to be present at
the Grand Jury hearings and said that