The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-08-02
THE AUBURN ruRDgR.


on Friday afternoon the editor Of that ps-
per in company with Col Luls6eld. Me-
Record and Mr.. Frye visited Harris In his
cell, Il having been underwood that the
prisoner wanted to mako q statement Of
great importance. The Isrnal says:
On entering Hanis's cell and referring to
the fact that We had come to eco him in re-
Spouse to request, Harris began IN the
following strain, q large portion Of bis state
-msnt being IN response to questions:
Hans want you, 2 P.s . piece IN tho
paper. First, want Nj. Verfli released.
The reason, can't tell now. want to
change the stosJ that !, have told. u have
no Particular reason except that no was not
there. . ~ ia AID =,
Harris was then asked Why he charged
verill with being there II he was not there,
and replied;
al don't want to state. lfh best to do
as man would like to be done by. ! sup.
pose that would be right" =.
Tho prisoner was then qucssioned at
great length. The natursof the astemcnts
elected Is shown By The account winch wo
subjoin Of an exsrhinaeion which e,ok p'aco
subsequently in ths prssencs Of Venill.
At the interview. re HsrA and yeuill
there were present An Record, oos OF Yer
rilI's counsel, Col. Llsslciisld and ooselE
On Harris sppsaranco he took scat on
Venills cot, while tho latter sat at tho head
Of tho cot, leaning against the wall. liar
ris had one of hs' ears orpsn,ented with
cherries and wore jaunty and indspen.
dent air, turning his eyes In very seriti.
MIXING way TO Henill occasionally, and
seemingly debating what phase Of the story
Il was best to stick to this time. Verrill
looked al him with entire calmness and
broke the silence: sWcll, Cliff, how do
yo,, feel shout this matter to.day?"
'sAiout % usual" -ri~l'i .
swell, It's short story to tell and Il
won't take you but few minutes to tel It
and you will feel s sSSGasA better ''r ''s'"s
Harris said nothing, but swinging his feet
nervously and twirling tho cherries IN his
fingers, ne looked first at Vcrriil with
queer smirk on his face which Indicated
anything you please-then at gentlemen
present, then down at tho floor, Gill after u
icw moments he looked up at Verrill and
said:
"What, do you want mo to 90 back to
the flint of III" when some ono interrupt
ed: ayes, 70 back a. far as you please"
q Did any ono mention 70 you to 30 to
Mrs. Kinsley's7 A. Yes.
@. Who was Il? (llaris looked at
Verrill, and without replying to the qlles.
ton, said:) Well, you can discharge MIR.
Verrill.
q. But what we want to know is who
II was that proposed to 90 to Mrs. kinley's.
A. ! talked In August last about going to
that house.
@. Who was It you talked with It won't
harm any body to .ell that2 "A. Yes twill |;
well, twas with Mr.. Verrill talked.
@. Why do you say you release Mr..
Venill? You nor no other man has any
authority to release him. A. Mr.. Verill
said II { would put him out of It, 'twould
clear him, and 80 say he wasn't there.
@. But you testified that he was there,
In Coun, and swore TO hi A. Yes.
@. Well you sworc on your oath that
he was there when did you tell the truth
A. I told the truth In Court.
3 G. What do you say now that he wasn't
there for-to please peoplef a. As much
that as anything. Because II people won't
believe the truth, let them believe Ito.
G. Do you think you AFRO moro bound
to tell the truth when you ara under oath In
Court, than you are IN ordinary converse
tion3 A. do, That's the way look at
il.
@. What, then, arc VIC to believe? A.
The Truth Is what swear TO.
Q. Did you bring into this murder an
innocent mani A. have not brought In
an innocent man. ...
G. What was the conversation you bad
with Verrill while Mr.. Bicknell wns letting
some one out of Jail? A. lilo said was
a fool to confess and wanted to know why
brought him in.
@. Ito Verrill) What do you have to say
to that, Verril? A. docking. at Harris
Now Cliff, don't you remember what
said. said, You know as sure as You're
alive that you didn't see mo this side oil
West Auburn meeting house after That
Tuesday You said supposed twas
you; you were bundled up so ! did not
know YOU
Harris denied that he said any such thing.
@. Now Harris, you said what you
swore to in Court was true but In CouH
YOU sworc Verrill committed the rape
now you say you did IL? A. Yes, l say
my statement in Court was correct. There
might be some parts that were not correct.
@. Was il correct that Verrill was there ?
A. Il was, no was there.
@. But you now say that Venill had no
hatchst, while in Court you say no had q
hntchet7 A. saw no Ratchet, is what Is
true.
@. But you said in Court that Verrili
used the knife? A. Verrill did not use
tho knife.
@. Then you change your story-that
Verrill did not strike either Of tho women,
that he did not commit the rape, and that
he had no haicbet? A. do.
Harris was then asked if what no said
in Court, that verrill was there, was false.
Without answering tho question. he simply
replied, I" l say now. that Verril want
there" IL
Harris was then asked whether he said
the truth now or when no was 10 Court,
when he at once pointedly replied, told
the truth in Court, but say now be wasn't
there"
On being pressed further, and being re-
minded Of some things no had said prcvi.
o,isly. he said Il Is tho truth that Vcrill was
there and on being requested to look at
Verrill in the face and tell tho truth, he
turned directly towards venill, and with a
smile on his countenance, said you was
there"
Verrill was then asked to look towards
Harris and indicate what he had to say In
reply to that, when he quietly answered,
"That isn't true, WINS not there"
Harris, with sarlonic smile on his faeo.
then said, "There you have It; l say he
was there, and he says he wasn't. Now
what are you going TO do about Il -
During the remainder Of The meeting be-
tween Harris and Verrill, the former re-
ported several times that Il was the truth,
that Verrill was there. On tho contrsry
L.. ,,o,,IJ v,o.., . M shoc I,r.sk f,r,f saving