Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-07
WEDNESDAYS
COURT NEWS


| Of Highland was continued Wednes-
| day morning in the Supreme court.
| County Attorney Thorne and ques-
| toned about his visit upon Mrs. Ben
nell in Portland. The third witness
for the state was Mrs, Ada n. Ste
ward, wife of Eli Steward OF Pleas
ant Ridge who testified that Ash
craft came TO their home on the al
! ternoon about dark OF the the day
! IN question of the alleged assault IN
a terrible condition and was bleed
! ing dreadfully about the face and his
| cloths were covered with blood and
| that she washed his wounds and BAN
daged them up with a large bandker-
chief and cloths and that after being
! there about two hours went away
I'D the road. In regard to who had
injured Ashcroft Mrs. Steward stated
| that Ashcroft admitted that Trevor
| Howes had done 1t. The fourth wit
ness for the state was Eli Seward,
! u farmer at Pleasant Ridge and he
! testified to Ashcroft coming to their
home on the night OF he alleged as
sault and to his condition and the
care given him by his wife, Mrs. Ste
ward who had just testified. He said
he did not know how long the in
iuries laid Ashcroft up as he did not
see him again for sever al weeks.
The fifth witness for the state was
Deputy Sheriff Ernest &. Cook Of
Athens who in company with the
county attorney. and Sheriff Mooers
and other officials were at the Trevor
Howes' place when Investigating an
other matter, who testified that Coun-
ty Attorney instructed Mrs. Howes as
u her legal rights and she stated
that she and her husband did what
they went to Pleasant Ridge for. she
described the beating of Ashcroft and
that she was arrested at the time
Trevor Howos was but that the
grand jury did not find any indict-
mcnt against her.
The testimony Of Mr.. Cook closed
the testimony for the State and the
response was opened by attorney
William =. Brown Of Madison. who
in his opening stated that there was
no generalization on the part of Mr..
and MIS-. HoWes to assault Ashcroft
and that they did not go 10 the place
OF the alleged assault together and
that Howes did not use any more
force than he was obliged to and
that Ashcroft who was in the car
with Mrs. Howes when Mrs. Howes
met her husband and that he refused
to get out Of the car when Howcs
told him To and that Ashcroft struck
the first blow.
The witnesses called for the re-
Spouse were Trevor Howes, of High
land. Laurisen EowCs. of Lexing-
ton: Mrs. Frences Bonncll of Port
land; Mrs. Trevor IIowes. of High
land Plantations: Warren Clarke, n
merchant of North New Portland and
VIII Foss Of Highland.
Trevor Howes was the first Wit
ness who testified for the response.
and he said that lie went across
country that morning 10 get his traps
and to cell on his mother, and that
lis wife. by agreement met him with
the car at the turn of the mountain
md that when he saw them, Ash:
croft was in the car with her. He
commanded Ashcroft TO get out of
the car but he didn't. and as ! e.
lIowes. went to open the door. Ash
croft. who struck the first blow land
Cd him heavy blow on the arm.
Just above the left elbow. Thereup-
on a fight ensued, both Of them being
in the car. After a short time Ash
tloll Sdltl lIldt ne IS(I tltpISl anu
IIowes let him get out of the car.
The next was Vivian HoWes. wife
Of Trevor 1IoWcs. She testified to
the visit of the officers at her house
when they were inve sti2ating another
case and stated that she was fright
cred Mt that time and could not re-
member much of the conversation
that took place. Mrs. HowCs told Of
Ter trip by automobile to meet her
husband and that she called at the
home of her cousin. Mrs. Abbie Stew
ard. whore she telephoned to Ash
croft. and asked him to meet her
which he did and she took him TO
meet her husband. saving that they
owed Ashcroft and that her husband
wished to pay him.
She testified to the fight which
she witnessed, being IN the front seat
ot the automobile AMI said that there
vas nothing that she could 10 to pre-
, won't 4. Laur.son Howes. brother
Of the respondent vino is = lumber
nan and operates at Newfoundland.
, testified concerning the statement
signed by Ashcroft in tao presence of
the Justice Of tho Peace. Warren
, Clark Of North New Portland. He
also told Cf bringing Ashcroft to
Maine from Newfoundland unon the
demand of Sheriff Noocrs and Coun-
" Attorney Thorne. He also said
that he took Ashcroft TO Portland
TO see Mrs. Francis Eonrell and who
- Mrs. Trevor Howes mother and
that they together went 10 see at
torrev Howard Davis of Portland
consulting him concerning a state
nert which Ashcroft wished to make.
Another witness was Will Foss.sa
laborer who was working on the
road the dav Of the fight He said
that he saw Mrs. Howes go by in the
middle Of the day alone in the car
and that she returned a little after
accompanied by her husband. Jus
tee Of the Peace. Warren Clark of
North New Portland testified to 60
ing to the house Of Howes and adj
ministering the oath FOR the sigma
ture Of Edward Ashcroft to the
statement already referred to in the
case. Clark said that Ashcroft SEEM
| ed to be all right at that time and
did not show any evidence Of undue
pressure brought to bare. Mrs. Fran
ces Ronrell testified to the call made
10 her in Portland by Ashcroft and
Howes before the September term OF
the supreme court, and that she went
with them TO see attorney Howard
| Davis who advised Ashcroft to have
| a statement made out in Somerset
county. She said that Ashcroft told
! her that he struck Howes first and
! that he did not consider Howes to
| blame. Ashcroft said that he would
not have had anything to do with
| the matter IL he hadn't been fright
| ened into II by the officers.
In rebuttal. Thorne called Sheriff
Mooers whose testimony related to
| the call made by the officers to the
| Howes home and conversation with