Eastern times., 1855-09-13

nell, Of West Bath Bartlett Morse, of Ar
rowsc; Woodbury. IL. Potter, Of Bath ; Mark
Perry, of Phipsburg; John Potter, Of George
town Francis M. Brown, Of West Bath.
John S. Abbott. Attorney General, and j.
S. Baker; County Attorney, for the State.
Wales Hubbard and w. Gilbert for pris-
noer.
John 8. Baker, County Attorney, opened
the case on the part of the government. He
spoke of the importance and solemnity of the
duty imposed upon the jury. He recaptulat-
ed facts as expected to be proved by the gov
ernment, which are substantially, that while
IN state OF intoxication he brutally murdered
MS wiie-no one being in the house but him
self and wife at the time. II happened about
sunset; Cripps was moving to another place
OF residence; had carried away one load of
furniture accompanied by his children. He
then returned alone to his home where his
vile was left, and soon afterwards came awav
with another load, his wife not being with
him. Being asked by a neighbor, he told her
his wife had gone. The neighbor had nre-
vlously heard groans and moaning in The
house; Cripps was next seen at o'clock in
the evening. He called at a neighbor's for
supper; got it !; afterwards the sons Of Cripus
with some other persons went TO the house
they had moved from, and there found Mrs.
Cripps bloody, beaten, and nearly dead she
died soon after.
The facts Of the case he stated, all of which
will appear in our report OF the evidence.
lst witness called was Henry Cripps, son
of the prisoner, will be 81 years of age in Ju-
ly; lived with father in Topsham-moved to
Topsham in the fall defendant is my father
moved to Mr.. Staples's house in November.
about mile and half distant was at home
during the day he moved; was at home night
before he moved came to Bath the same day
he moved, and got two quarts Medford rum
met father on the road just before got home;
gave him the rum when we moved to Sta
pies house, went with Staples on the first
load of goods; left father and mother at the
house we moved from; the nearest neighbor
TO the house we moved from was Isaac Ward,
about IA OF mile from our house when /
left the house that night, my mother was in
the front room she was dressed as she usual
ly was; did not carry the jug of rum got at
Bath with the load of goods Staples took away;
left it in the house after left the house next
saw father at the Staples house about O'Clock
the same evening father came there about
quarter Of an hour after we arrived with the
goods; he came alone; he said cannot get
your mother up for she is drunk father and
Mr.. Ward wanted US two boys to 70 down for
l
it was dark found mother in the house we
left. She was in the kitchen lying on her left
side, with some blood on her face and eve,
and her clothes torn around the waist we
carried piece OF candle and lightedit. Took
off our jackets and covered mother up where
her clothes were torn off; spoke to mother;
she didn't answer she breathed, but couldn't
move we went Immediately back /; she had
on thin dress met no one going back
found father at Staples house then went
back again TO the house father, Charles and
myself went with the wagon /; father and /
went in and Charles held the horse at the
door found mother dead where we left her
with the jackets on ; put her into the wagon
father drove, rode behind we went 10 Sta
pies house mother breathed once when we
took her up; washed the blood off her face
Josiah Staples went 10 the house with me.
Cross Erdmined.-There was wood in the
house when we left and there when we came
back; dog was walking about ; her dress
was torn off doors shut when we went back
mothers health had been pretty good she had
drank some drink two or three times day
she was in the habit of drinking drank at
Brunswick complained Of headache; she was
not in the house much before she died had
fits sometimes had a fit one week before she
died father was present then; she had one
shortly after was sitting in chair then
she fell and struck her head against chair
4 mother was abed the middle of the afternoon
we left with the furniture; Staples took the
things and requested father to stay with
mother all that allied her was she had been
drinking liquor heard her speak cross to
father a short time before we left.
Direct reSluned.-She was on the bed when
she spoke cross to father. Father did not
hurt her mite, She did not stand on her
feet when father took her off the bed. Saw
mother drink the day we moved.
Isaac Ward-Some acquainted with prison~
er Cripps came to my house about 8 clock,
evening Of the MURDER said he wanted some
supper; gave him some asked him where
his wife was he said she was at home asked
him why he left her; he said she had been
drinking so much, he could not take her with
him while eating his supper. he said if any
one should go to the house and find his wife
dead, they would say he killed her wanted
me to go with him TO Staples house he sent
the boys after their mother boys when they
returned said they could get no life in her he
insisted on my going to the house with him
went lit light and went in went into the
room aad turned round facing where she lay;
saw large spot of blood on the floor three or
four feet from. her stopped to listen could
not hear her breathe told him he had killed
her; he said no called me back her clothes
were torn; Cripps had been drinking when he
came to my house said his wife had been
drinking he had liquor with him when he
came 10 my house drank there.
-Erdmined.-Sa Cripps in the morn
ing he had been drinking saw bruises on
her face; saw her before breakfast, after sun
rise had not been at the house for some time:
she could not walk straight in the morning be-
fore she was killed Grips drank once at my
house don't know what he drank he
brought it in a Jug | did not drink; there
was spot Of blood at her mouth as big as
hens egg her face was bloody.
Jeremiah Milay-Was called out Of bed be-
fore day; was told Mrs. Grips was murdered;
went to the house found Mr.. Cripps in one
+ room asleep, the corpse in another her head
and stomach was very bloody she was badly
bruised and wounded went to the house
they moved from found doors shut floor in
side very bloody; blood spattered on the wall
some large spots Of blood on The middle of the
floor picked up some sticks of wood, (which
he exhibited in Court) with blood and hair on
them there were scars on her face Grips
told me he struck her with his fist so as to
make her fall on the floor; that made her nose
bleed; said he did not strike her with club.
Cross -Eramined.-I took Cripps to Wiscas-