The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-31
The Auburn Murder.


CONTRADICTORY STORIES OF HARRIs.-We
learn from the Lewiston journal that on Fri
day afternoon the editor of that paper in COM
pany with Col. Littlefield, Mr.. Record and Mr..
Frye visited Harris in his cell it having been
understood that the prisoner wanted to make
a statement of great Importance. The Jour
nal says:
On entering Harris's cell and referring to
the fact that we had come to see him in re-
sponse to request, Harris began in the fol-
lowing strain, a large portion of his statement
being in response to questions -oI
Harris. i want you to put piece in the
paper. First, I want Mr.. Verrfll released
The reason, can't tell now. want to change
the story that have told. 1 have no particu-
lar reas1n except that he was not there
Harris was then asked why he charged Yer
rill with being there if he was not there, and
replied: .g8G3 y E,,l8 aqlrao -n
81 don't want to state. 1t is best to do as a
man would like to be done by. suppose that
would be right" IsJ siTli'.
The prisoner was then questioned at great
lengtg. The nature of the statements ELECTED
is shown by the account which we subioin of
an examination which took place subsequent
ly in the presence OF Verrill.
At the interview of Harris and Verrjll tbere
were present MIR. Record one of Verrilps
counsel, Col Littlefield and ourself
On ,, Harris appearance he took a seat on
NCitifl Ooo, WhliO thc ldbUtf SAT AT the head of
the cot, leaning against the wall Harris had
one OF his ears ornamented with cherries and
wore jaunty and Independent air. turning
his eyes IN very scrutnizing way to VerriH
occasionally, and seemingly debating what
phase of the story it was best to stick to tL;s
time Verrill looked at him with entire cal M
ness and broke the silence: "Well, Cliff, how
do you fell about this matter TODAY?
Hdrris-About as usual - 'l39
| VerrM-Well, its short story to tell, and il
w IN hDt
and you win feel enough better for taking now
to tell US about it, fne- EN- +f,f o'7IEf'
Harris said .l-othing, but swinging his feet
nervously and twirling the cherries in his fin
snirk on his face which Indicated
you pease-than at gentlemen present, then
down at the floor, till after few moments he
looked up at Verrill and said =
Wnat .o 90 you want me to go back to the
first OF it?"-when some one interrupted:
Yes, go back as far as you please"
Y. Did any one mention to YOU to 90 to
Mrs. Kinsley's? A. Yes.
=. Who was it? ()iarris looked at verill,
Well, you can discharge MIR. Yerrin.
Y. But what we want to know is who it
was that proposed to go to Mrs Kinslev's
A. l talked III August last about going to that
@. Who was it you talked with. If wont
harm any body to tell that? A. Yes. twill:
well, twas with Mr.. Verrill talked.
y: Why do you say you release Mr.. Yer
FIJI ION nor no no other man has any author-
" 10 release him. A. r Mr.. Verrill, said if
L would put him out of it, 'twould clear him
and 50 say he wasn't there }li
., .. But you testified that he was there. in
Court, and swore to il? A. Yes. IT,
y. Well you swore on your oath that he
was there; when did you tell the truth? A
told the truth in Court , -
.. What do you say now he wasn't there
forLto please peoples? A. AS much that as
anything. Because if people wont believe the
truth, let them believe a lie.
O.. Do You think you arc more bound to
teli the truth when you ere under oath in
Court, than you are in ordinary conversation?
A. l do That's the way look at it.
G." What then, are we to believe? A. The
truth is what swear to. f vi -
"a y. Did you bring into this murder an inpo-
cent man? A. L have not brought in an inno-
@. What was the conversation YOU had with
Verrill while Mr. Bcnell was letting some one
out of Jail? A. He said / was a fool to confess
and wanted to know why broueh LIT him i'm.
q. Ito Verrill) What do you have to saw to
that verrlll? A Cooking at Harris) Now
CHI, don't you remember what said. said |
! You know as sure as Your alive that you did
MT see me this side of West Auburn meetino
house after that Tuesday You said L sup,
posed twas you; you We're bundled up so did
Harris denied that he said any such thing
: @. Now Harris you said what you swore TO
in Court was true but in Court Won swora ]
Verrill committed the rape: now you saw Won
dio luz "A. eS, say my statement in court |
was correct. There might he some parts that |
were not correct.
@. Was it correct that verrill was there?- |
A. 1t was, he was there. Jiila5f ~ |
Y, But you now say that Verrill had no |
Ratchet, while in court you saw he had a |
Ratchet? A. saw no Ratchet is what is |
true .,f'f G.fH a,r-.ft .,.i5 ,l4i- -
@. But you said in court that Verrill used |
the knife? A. Verrill did not use the knife
@. Then YOU change your story-that Yer |
rill did not strike either of toe women, that he.
did not commit the rape, aud that he had no |
Ratchet? A. do. = II
Harris was then asked if what he said in
Court, that VerTill was there was false With |
out answering the question, he simply replied |
II say now. that Verrill want there" / !
Harris was then asked whether he said the |
truth now or when he was in court, when he |
at once pointedly replied az told the truth in
Court, but say now he WASH t there"
= On being pressed further, and being remind |
ed of some things he had said previously. he |
said it is the truth that Verrill was there: and
ON beng requested to look Verrill in the face |
Verrill, and with smile on his co1ntenance.
said "YOu was there.'i-ry sH5 Eae N u :,
.Verrill was then asked to look towards Har- |
ris and Indicate what he had to say in reply to |
t t when ne quietly answered, "That isn't |
Harris, with a sardonic smile ON his face |
then said, There you have it; say he was |
there, and he says he wasn't. Now what are |
You going to do about it?"
During the remainder of the meeting he |
tween Harris and Verrill, the former repeated |
several times that it was the truth, that Yer |
,rill was there. On the contrary he wonld now |
and then break outsaying, "He wasn't there. |
you may let him 60" 4 On reminding Harris |
of his contradictions he would simpiy smile |
and sometimes say, Well, they NAV have it |
as they please; public opinion saws i liz. !" and |
again when told that he had told a different |
story, he very coolly replied, "Well, L told YOU |
this way too."i3 ll til9a - a9l 81 on
Harris and Verrill were confronted on yari-
GUS other state ments--particularly on Harris
statement that Verrill had had an interview |
WIN MIN me previous night or that morning, |
as 1t proved to be, and had asked him to cbanea
his story. Verrill denied that he had nerson1
ally made any such request and it finally an
peared tlat Mrs. Allen, who is in iail. had the
talk with Harris and urged him to saw that |
Verrill was not there, tlG 800
AFTER Harris had gone out we conyersed
with verrlll, when he said Before God de-
clare That know nothing about this matter"
we asked him to explain how he, if he was
innocent as he claimed could quietly sit and
near Harris charge him with being an accom-
piice, and tell the story in all its horrible a.,
talis and when he had completed it. could con-
tent himself with mild denial >,
Verrllls reply was this: "No one knows
now much felt While Harris was TELLING
ms story, could hardly keep my hands from
him. But held back my feelings, thinking
tnat 1t would only harm me to get him mad / |
thought If did not rifle him he would soon I
''i- '-' 'l sEa 1B esJsa15 .l.lf.