Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-30

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/ C. The Trial of Dr. Y. Cooldse for the
murder OF young associate named Mathews,
Is now proceeding in Augusta, Me. Coolidge
was dashing, specializing young man, and
appears to have borrowed money of Mathews,
and then destroyed him to get out Of debt, by
means of brandy drugged with prussic acid
( This was in his own office, and Coolidge pro-
cured the aid of student, now a witness
against him, to remove the body. Mr.. VIM.
Mathews testified that he read a portion of u
lctteS from Coolidge to the deceased request
ing him to come to his office that evening, ad-
ding, "rereal IL not for your hje," We copy
from the Portland Advertiser a condensed ac-
count of the testimony of Thomas Flint, the
student above referred to-
Thomas Flint sworn. On Thursday eve
ming, Both September, between q and 7, | re-
turned into the Office, and after sitting there a
while, Coolidge came in. We sat there in
conversation while we commenced talking
about getting subject we had previously talk
ed about he introduced this he said he had
made arrangements TO meet Charles Stackpoe
there about o'clock, and if he came in he
wished him to leave the room. About o.
clock some one came up doors shut and blinds
shut | supposed it was Charles, and when
the man went down, | asked Coolidge if he
supposed that was Charles, and he said he did
not know waited few moments and then
went out, thinking that he, Stackpole might
come up. went to Williams and played
backgammon a while with Miss Williams :;
al, 4 L.. 4
started to 90 to bed when went into the en-
try, met Coolidge, who took the lamp from
my hand, blew it out, and sat il OH stand, and
said he wished me 10 90 to the Office we
went, he unlocked the door, and passed in
/ by him and sto d by table there was then
dim burning fluid lamp there he locked the
door, and then came up and said, j am going
10 reveal to you secret which involves my
lie. lie said that cursed little Ed. Mathews
[came in herel and went to take glass of
brandy, and fell down dead and he now lies
in the other room, and have thumped him on
the head to make folks think he is murdered
| then sat down in rocking chair behind me-
! lie then asked what we should do with him,
and | said did not know, and we sat a few
minutes without any thing being said. lie
said he must get him out of the office he said
he wished he was in the river told him
did not think we could get him there, for it
was rather light, A place back Of the build
ing was spoken of; | finally told him we,
could not safely carry him further than the cell
lar it was as far as | could go with him.,
lie objected to this said he would be found
there. told him he would probably be found
before o clock the next day it could not be !
concealed. After hGsitating short time, he |
took the lamp and walked towards the door
between the front and back office. did not
follow at first, but he turned round and beck
oned me to follow, and did. On pair of
drawers hanging up was the impression as Ola
head, and near by spot which had apparent
" been wiped. passed along to window
which was raised as high as ii could be in
front of that window was a temporary counter,
behind which the body lay. After seeing a
part of the body, DIR. Coolidge went down into
Shorey's shop to open the door he returned
and asked me if it was not best to put some
thing round the head which was bloody; !
told him did not know but it was. He went
behind the counter to place something round it,
and he then dragged the body from behind the
counter TO near the door which leads to Sho-
rcy's shop. The hat was drawn down close
over the face he then said it was best to take
of our boots, to avoid making noise. We.
removed our boots, and | went into the front
room to take off my coat he spoke to me to
be quick and come back. After ! changed
coats and put on an old one ! had there, re-
turned to the body went to the feet. lie
said hld better take the shoulders, | could
carry them better than he could. lie then
went to the feet, and took hold Of the shoul-
dcrs. found the arms were then rigid and
stiff,
We went down stairs when we got part
the way down the body slipped forward, and
the clothes were drawn up. When we went
down through Shorey's shop, down the cellar
stairs, over the wood pie, and left the body
near the outside door, which was then partial
ly open. The Dr. then removed what he had
tied round the head. Hat was left off, and we
then returned to the Office up stairs. Dr.
Coolidge then took the lamp and went down to
see if everything was as he found 1t, and placed
everything as it was first lie then removed
spot Of blood between the counter and the
window he then put the towel he wiped with
into the stove he then asked me what it was
best for him to do. ! told him that it was best
to keep on about business, and let the matter
come out as it would lie said, /" People can
not suspect me, can theyl" lie then sand he
was going away to Skowhegon in the morn
ing and | must come in before breakfast and .
see how things looked, and head up a cask in
the closet. then left, asking him to go with
me, and he said it was not best for both to go
together.
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