The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-12-25
I[R|OUs DEATH or CYRUS JEWELL
/ BURNING HOME AGAIN REVIVED
,be Cause Not Found in the Forgery Case
Against Mrs. Gertrude Loomis

shown by Attorney Shumway to in
dicate that the writing was rather
infirm. At the conclusion of the
testimony on the states side, Attor-
ney Shumway moved for the dismiss
sal of the warrant and said that there
was fire sometime in October and
apparently someone was burned up.
suggesting that the present case grew
out of that investigation. He re-
ferred to Jewell himself, coming to
the First National Bank and Mrs.
Loomis in his presence, asking for
5000. County Attorney Thorne cited
testimony which indicated that though
jewell did accompany Mrs. Loomis.
he did not seem interested, pointing
out that jewell could sign his name
at that time and that Mrs. Loomis had
told the sheriff that Jewell could not
sign his name. The County Attor-
ney limited that there was something
serious back of all these things and
that 1t didn't look over and above
board. Attorney Shumway in re-
buttal said that this was an action,
not for murder not for arson but for
forgery.
Judge Merrill did not feel. at that
point, in the case, that he could dis
miss the warrant and Mrs. Looms
took the stand in her own defense.
She said that Mr.. Jewell asked her
to come with him to obtain the
money he had on deposit that she
came to Skowhegan at his request
and went to the bank, when he
wanted the $500. She said that Mr..
Page made the cross and signed for
Loomis and that she talked with Mr.
Page about it.. She. stated that later
she went to the bank and got the
$500 at JEWELS request and gave it
to him; that she went the second
time again, at Mr.. JEWELS request.
to obtain the $500 and that at the
bank, she was given typewriter
paper for Jewell to sign and an en-
velope with it, Mrs. Loomis said
that she took the paper home and
gave it to Jewell to fill out, he ask
ing her to make the cross, as he said
he couldn't write with pen and ink,
his hand was so shaky. She said
she did so and he took 1t and went
away with it. Witness said that
she signed both her and her hus-
bands name. Mrs. Loomis said the
officers had been there at her home.
five. or six times and that she told
the sheriff, Jewell could not write
with pen and ink. She said she told
Sheriff Mooers when be asked her
If he was man that had been to
war, that she didn't know.
After adjournment for recess COun-
ty Attorney Thorne questioned Mrs.
Loomis and she said that she first
knew that Jewell was receiving pen
sion checks after he came there to
live because she endorsed them for
him. She said that she did not re-
turn to the First National Bank with
the second order but gave it to Mr.
Jewell and never saw it again. This
was after the signatures were affixed.
Witness said she last saw Jewell
about five o'clock the night of the
fire. Mrs. Loomis testified that Mr.
Jewell told her he wanted the $500
because he was going away, but
didn't say what he wanted of the
$500. She clung to the statement
that she had told the officers with re-
gard to the pension matter that she
didn't know whether he was a war
veteran and got checks or not. Sher-
if Mooers was recalled and said
that Mrs. Loomis stated to him that
she didn't know of Jewell having
checks of any kind or any income
and this was corroborated by Deputy
Sheriff Tuscan.