Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-20

WALTER G. RIPLEY
Cony Senior, Victim Of Prank of His
Schoolmates
Walter C. Ripley, an active and pop
ular member of the senior class of
Cony High school, lies at his home on
the Cony road suffering from concus-
sion of the brain and other bruises
and injuries, and nine of his class and
schoolmates, all prominently identified
with the athletic and other student ac-
tivities of the school, are very much
sadder and wiser young men and are
awaiting with some trepidation the re-
suit Of court proceedings next Tues
day morning. all growing out of Sc
ries of events Monday night and early
Tuesday morning which were started
as a youthful prank but which devel-
oped into disaster.
The nine Cony students, who are all
under charges of assault and battery
preferred by Edward Ripley, the in
jured lads father were arraigned in
municipal court Tuesday morning be-
fore Recorder Arthur +. Tiffin, who
continued the cases for one week, as
young Ripley was at that time in a
semi-conscious condition and unable to
testify.
The group, whose scheme OF tempo
rary abduction got them into difficult
ties which resulted in several chapters
having their scenes in the Augusta po-
lice headquarters in the early hours
yesterday morning, is composed of stu
dents who have never been considered
in any degree vicious. and among
whom are several scions of prominent
Augusta families. One Of the num-
Der, and in whose automobile the Rip
ley youth was spirited away Monday
evening is John Elmore, son of Mrs.
II. T. Elmore, a member of the Angus
ia board of education.
Several Star Athletes
The others concerned in the escapade
are Theodore Lishness, track star and
hockey player, a member Of the junior
class: Myron Hilton, sophomore:
Henry Gardner of the Cony varsity
hockey team, a classmate of Ripley;
Bernard Lapidus, Cony football, bas-
ketball and baseball pitcher, a member
of the sophomore class; John McCau-
ley, a Junior, and star backfeld man on
the Red and White football team; HUI
Der Merrick. Jr., manager of last sea-
sons basketball squad. another senior;
Anthony Murphy, Cony '27: and Ken
meth Dinsmore, junior, and football
letter man.
The story as brought out in the in
vestigation by the Augusta police and
as told to Recorder Tiffin in the guard
room of the police headquarters shortly
before O'Clock Tuesday morning, is
as follows:
The group of nine high spirited
young students assembled early
Monday evening, and having the big
Gilmore automobile at their disposal,
the stunt" of Turing
young Ripley away from the place
where he was guest for the even
ing, and holding him until it was
too late for him to again return
there. Ripley was calling at the
Adams home on Green street, and
the young men going to that locality
and finding that his stripped" Ford
Ger was parked by the sidewalk. first
moved the machine around the cor
ner onto Sewail street.
Two of the number then rang the
1oorbell of the Adams house and
when Miss Hope Adams, freshman
1T Cony High school, responded to
Y,
rhe lad came to the door and his |
'choolmates Informed him that |
when they came past the house a |
short time previously his car had
been parked by the sidewalk, but |
hat it had been moved, and wanted !
o know if he had loaned it to any
me. Ripley replied that he had not,
nd then it was suggested that pos
IDLY the machine had been stolen,
md that as the boys had Elmore's
ar there, Ripley might come with
hem and make a search for his
wn.
Lured From House
The youth expressed his regrets
o his hostess and left the house to
company his friends. AS soon as
hey were sufficient distance from
he house, Ripley was seized and
undled into the Gilmore car, where
we're waiting the other members of
he adventureSome crowd. The au-
omobile was driven out over the
ill past the State muster field, and
uring the trip Ripley was held Sc
urely by his captors. This was at
bout 8 o'clock.
AS related to the investigators of
he episode few hours later, one
f the group noticed that their VIC
ms struggles had suddenly ceased,
nd when spoken to failed to
The car was brought to
stop and the lads lifted their
risoner out onto the ground. He
crumpled to the earth
nd hasty efforts to restore con-
,iousness were without avail. In
cling their story to the officers each
the nine boys were emphatic in
is declaration that not one of their
lumber had struck Ripley, or used
ny extraordinary violence.
Becoming somewhat frightened at
lie unexpected turn which their es-
lpade had taken, the group decided
} bring Ripley back to this city and
'cure medical attention.
Locates Missing Automobile
In the meantime, Donald Dewar,
1other Cony student, had called at
lie Adams home and being Informed