“Forrest E. Ware — sworn. Q. (by Mr. Peters). What is your full name? A. Forrest E. Ware.
Q. How do you spell your last name? A. W-a-r-e.
Q. You live where? A. I live in the town of Whitefield, county of Lincoln, State of Maine.
Q. You are a deputy sheriff there, are you? A. I am.
Q. Did you know George E. Bailey? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you know where he was born? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where? A. In the town of Whitefield, the very southern part of the town.
Q. And he had lived there, and in Wiscasset, had he not? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, there was some difference between your age and his? A. I think about eight years.
Q. Had you gone to the same school with him? A. Well, I played with him as a boy; I don’t remember that we went to school together; I lived a neighbor to him, and we were boys together.
Q. Boys together? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, was there anything about his person that you can tell us that enabled you to identify him? A. Any deformities, do you mean?
Q. Yes, about his body. A. He had one thumb that had been cut off near this first — I suppose it would be the second joint, there [indicating].
Q. You know which hand that was on? A. His left hand. Q. You were also in the undertaking business in Whitefield? A. Yes, sir.
Q. How long did you say you had been a deputy sheriff? A. Nearly four years.
Q. As deputy sheriff, was it part of your duty to serve criminal processes? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You are the only one? A. I am the only one in that town, and that part of the county, northern part.
Q. How far away is Wiscasset from the town of Whitefield? A. Twenty miles.
Q. Did George E. Bailey have a legal settlement in Whitefield? A. Yes, sir; had a pauper settlement. Q. Where his family are? A. Yes.
Q. Did you some time in October receive a body for burial that had been dismembered? A. Yes, sir.
Q. You remember the date? A. On the 23d.
Q. Of October? A. Of October.
Q. Were you the undertaker that cared for it after it arrived there? A. Yes, sir— I won’t be positive about the 2Sd.
Q. It was about the 23d, near the 23d? A. Some time the 23d or 4th.
Q. Had you been on here to have anything to do with the body before it was received there? A. No, sir.
Q. Now, what did you do with the body when you received it there? A. I was ordered to remove the body from the case, and to remove the hair from the arms, neck and legs and chest.
Q. Now, did you view the remains, or see them? A. Yes, sir; I took him out of the case and took his clothes all off of him, and worked on him about four hours.
Sherman, J. I suppose you do not care about that.
Mr. Peters. No, your Honor.
Q. What do you say now about the hand — you told us, I think, the left-hand thumb was cut off? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Whether you recognized that body? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Whose body was it? A. George E. Bailey’s.
Q. You saw the face, did you? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And did you notice the absence of this thumb, or part of it. A. It was the first thing I noticed when I opened it. His face was covered up.
Q. And you say it was George E. Bailey? A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, I want to know whether or not you have knowledge of the fact that a reward was offered for the apprehension of George E. Bailey, or warrant was issued, from the town of Whitefield.
Mr. Sisk. One moment, sir. I object, and I suppose it goes in under the same exception?
Sherman, J. Yes, the same exception.
Mr. Sisk. The same exception applies to this.
Q. Was there any issued for his arrest, to your knowledge? A. There was never any to my knowledge, and there was never any reward offered, I can say positive.
Q. You knew about the time he came to Massachusetts with Miss Young? A. Yes, sir.
Q. And I mean within that time since he left there. A. Yes, sir
Q. No warrant or reward? A. No, sir.
Mr. Knowlton. I am perfectly willing that the last part of that answer, “I am positive none was offered,” should be stricken out. Sherman, J. Any questions, Mr. Sisk?
Cross-examination.
Q. (by Mr. Clarke). His wife and children are supported by the town, are they? A. His children are; his wife is not now.
Q. And have been ever since his leaving the place? A. Well, from time to time. They have not been on the town all the time.
Q. Have any efforts been made to get him back there, to your knowledge? A. No,sir; no efforts have been made.
Q. Or to have him help support the children? A. No, sir; we never knew where he was until we heard he was missing.
Mr. Clarke. That is all.”
Reference Data:
The Officail Report of the Trial of John C. Best for Murder, by Massachusetts Superior Court, Attorney General's Office, 1903, pages 561-3
