Portland Evening Express photographers captured a portrait of murder suspect Norman Mawson posing outside his jail cell in Farmington. Reporters noted in the article that the suspects "liked to be photographed" and willingly posed for the camera, which is evident in the several high quality portraits taken of Mawson outside of his cell.

In October 1922, Mawson, along with Jeremiah Wheaton, was arrested in connection with the murder of Otis A. Bean, a 37-year-old guide and letter carrier, found slain near his garage in Oquossoc.

Despite their initial detention, authorities released the two suspects months later without charges. Evening Express reporters noted that the men willingly posed for the portraits, and when called from his cell, Mawson smiled and asked the photographer "how he wanted him to pose."