The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-21
Supreme Judicial Court.
IMINAL TERM.-TAPLEY, j., PRESIDING,
TRIAL FOR MURDER.

The trial of Charles W. Keenan, for the murder of
Charles johnson was resumed yesterday morning.
The Court room was crowded TO excess.
County Attorney Webb recalled the prisoner and
put questions to him to the purchase of the
knife, and what declarations he had made about its
prospective use; and also the position of himself
and deceased in the scufie. He said johnson
upon his body and held him by the throat. He got
out his knife and "put it into him. not being able
to move from under him or help himself. m .sa
Direct Examination. There talk that
some one had "cut me out of Mrs. Douglass and
said did not care any hing about it. ~
Peter DAILY, sworn. know the prisoner and saw
him the day of the affair twice. he was drinking cor
ner of India and Fore streets when saw him first;
he drank twice there but don't know certainly that
Cross Examined. This was about eight O'Clock in
the morning
Patrick ONeil. know Keenan, him on the
morning of the murder at saloon India street, be-
tween and O'Clock; saw him drink twice and we
.went out together down Fore street to Mrs. Doug
lass; liquor there and drank there; Mrs. Doug
lass present; think Mrs. d. brought out the
liquor; staid there about ten minutes; Keenan, was
up stairs when came away; Keenan, did not drink
there to my knowledge. ear
d Cross examined by Mr.. Webb. I heard Mrs. d.
testify yesterday; it after 10 o'clock when left
Mrs. Douglass; knew Keenan, two or three weeks
lcfore he went to sea; after left him at Mrs. DIS
saw him first again here. lstfH
John Soule. saw Keenan, at Mrs. Douglass the
day of the murder; drank with Keenan, there; he
turned some out for Mrs. Douglass but she did not
drink it.
John Foxton. know Keenan,; keep sailors
boarding house; saw keenan, about noon that day at
my house; drank there. (The admissblity OF testi-
mony rs to the alleged intoxication of johnson
discussed and decided in favor of admitting itl. 1
saw johnson about O'clock did not speak to him;
supposed he had been drinking little
Cross Examined. My place is 124 Fore street;
boarded two vessels that morning; johnson on
board the last vessel boarded he got there about the
same time did; he did not come ashore when did;
did not see johnson drink anything that morning;
saw him about o'clock with Mrs. Douglass boy
John Knapp saw Charles johnson the day of
the killing; he had been drinking; it about two
o'clock.
James Curtis know the deceased. Questions as
to whether deceased was in the habit of carrying
revolver, were deemed inadnlissable.
DR.. Gordon, sworn His evidence only as to
the wounds and the probability Of the position of the
parties ~ s-f RI
Joseph Calvin, called for Government Brother
OF Mrs. Douglass. Saw keenan, day before the muir
der; saw Keenan, have the knife, and Keenan, said he
would cut the belly of that Dutchman open before he
left saw him then go towards Johnsons room.
Cross Examined, He put the knife into his pocket
open, with point down, and kept his hand there;
did not tell johnson what prisoner said; did not
think he would kill johnson.
Manasseh Smith, sworn by defence. Saw Keenan,
on the night of the MURDER his face beaten and
one place was discolored. t
CbariF ated This
Constable Galson, for the Stete, testified to about
the same. He thought the prisoner had been drink
ing but was sober enough to walk about without any
trouble.
Deputy Marshal Irish testified that he did not no.
tice any bruises upon prisoner.
Frederick Fox was sworn and testified as to CONVEX
sation with prisoner the evening of the day Of the
murder. The prisoner told me had acted in self-de-
fence noticed the bruse on his check and that his
lip was swollen. 3'7I nlhb - Z" i.-
The evidence being all in Mr.. Reed made the clos
ing argument for the prisoner. 1t was an able and
ingenious one. His main point was that the jury,
with the testimony could not convict the prisoner Of
murder in the first degree That the homicide was
committed during the struggle between the two men,
when both were, at least partially intoxicated. He
occupied one hour in his argument. er
County Attorney Webb in the afternoon made one
hours and insisting that the evidence in the case
thorized the jury to render their verdict of murder
in the first degree. .i. .u e--1
The charge Of Judge Tapley was fair and impair
tial one, presenting the to the jury in clear
light, and insructng them in the law upon the mat
ter ID .tHr'- rs. t-.- -i it
The jury retired at 10 minutes past O'clock After
being ont just hour they into court and the
Foreman announced the verdict, GUILTY OF MUIR
DER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
The prisoner was then remanded, to be brought up
for sentence when the County Attorney requests
We understand the jury when they first went out
balloted as to the question of the prisoners guilt
They decided unanimously that he was guilty. Then
they balloted as TO the crime, and were unanimous
that it was murder. Then as to the dcgree and on
the first ballot nine for murder in the first de-
gree and three for the second degree. Subsequently,
the minority gave way and agreed to the verdict as
rendered. . tf ,54as. ......4 .e.r
The trial of Jones for arson IN setting fire to the
dwelling house of Capt. Williams, on Federal street,
will commence this morning. tH III