The Portland daily press., 1869-03-02
Bangor Correspondence.

BANGOR, rep. ~ 1869.
To the Editor Of the Press: sa
The storm of yesterday and last night was
the heaviest of the winter. At least o. foot
and half of snow fell. And to-day has been
a busy one cleaning the sidewalks and streets.
Snowsldes have been numerous and heavy
throughout the day but no serious damage has
been done.
THE TRIAL OF HOWARD A. CLEVELAND,
for the murder of Warren George was finished
yesterday at 8 o'clock PM. The trial has oc-
cupied eight days and has been a severe one
for all engaged in it. Cleveland ON the whole
seems to have felt as little concern apparently
as any one. He is indeed the most singular
specimen of human stolidity that was ever
known here. He bore himself throughout the
trial day after day to the last and heard the
rendering of the verdict without the slightest
emotion or a change of his immovable counte-
nance. He can scarcely be called less than
human monster. His defense was conducted
throughout by Col. Abner Knowles, with sig
nal ability. The closing argument in the pris-
oner's behalf by Col. Knowles, was as fine a
specimen of forensic reasoning and elequence
as has been heard here for many years. His
exposition of the principles of criminal law
the presumption of innocence till proved
guilty beyond reasonable doubt-the nature
of reasonable doubt, the nature of ercum
stantial evidence, the necessity that this kind
of evidence should in its effect be equal to
that of the positive testimony of at least one
honest, dsinterested witness, was most admir-
able and impressive. Then followed a close
and sharp examination of the testimony in
the case with the hope of raising reasonable
doubt as to the guilt of the accused But it
did not avail. Mr.. Knowles occupi ed the en-
tire day Thursday till half past o'clock P. M.
with his argument.
He was Immediately followed by Attorney
General Frye for the prosecution who spoke
half an hour Thursday and finished his argu-
ment Friday, occupying the entire forenoon.
His commencing his argument at half past
FIVE o'clock Thursday afternoon, was quite un-
expected to Mr.. Knowles and was shrewdly
done. For thus he attacked and combatted at
once some of the most specious reasoning of
Mr.. Knowles before its effect had settled into
the minds of the jury. He resumed his argu-
ment Friday morning at o'clock A. NJ, and
for nearly four hours he poured upon the case
u aOOu VI ldpk ~, iOSiOAi anu OAIucS1
at times tragically eloquent-such as drove
home the conclusion to the minds of the Jury,
and of every listener, the terrible certainty
that the prisoner had committed the crime
with which he was charged. Chief Justice
Appleton occupied two hours Friday P. NJ, in
giving his charge to the Jury. The Jury re-
tired at little past 4 o'clock P. M, and after
being out about half an hour came in and rem
dered their verdict Guilty. Thus has ended a
trial that will be long memorable in the GRIM
inal annals of our State.
The Custom House Extension in this city is
a work well worthy of notice. The work was
commenced on the 18th of May last, under the
direction of James HI. Cochrane, Superintend-
ent of construction and j. W. Humphrey,
Master Mechanic, and has been pushed vigor-
ously and rapidly towards completion.
Owing to the situation of the building-in
the center of Kenduskeag Stream-it was nee.
| essary TO go down % feet below the surface to
lay the foundation. The first foundation stone
was laid July 9th. The first hammered stone
above the surface was laid Sept 7th, and the
exterior of the building was completed in De-
cember. The roof and stating were put on in
/ duu tuC iuSlu0 W8Tk Is HOW D6lHg
| done. e
The foundation is solid mass of granite
and concrete and the cost of laying the foun-
dation even with the surface of the ground
was about $4,000. The extension is 80 feet
wide, about 10 feet less in width than the old
building, is 80 feet long and 43 feet in height.
The granite, of which it is built, is the finest
kind, and is furnished by Pierce and Rowe of
Frankfort from their quarry at that place
The various blocks are like those Of which the
temple of Solomon was built all cut, hewn
and fitted for their place at the quarry from
whence they are drawn.
The lower floor of the extension, is to be de-
voted to the Post Office and is much needed,
as the present accommodations of the office
are too limited. The Post Office story is Il
feet in height.
The rest of the extension is to be devoted to
rooms for the United States District Court.
The principal room will be the Court room on
the second floor, whfchis to be 45 feet long, 80
1-2 feet wide and 26 feet high. This will be a
very fine room.
There will be other small rooms for the
Clerk of the Court, for the marshall, for Jury
rooms &C., &c. The inside finish of the rooms
is to be done in ash boiled and polished.
The entire building both old and new is to
be warmed by a new steam apparatus put in
by Philadelphia firm.
The building is thoroughly fire proof. 1t is
expected that it will be finished and ready for
use in year from the time it was commenced.
Great credit is due to Mr.. Cochrane for the
vigor with which the work has been pushed.
During the summer he worked two crews
eight hours each-tbus making sixteen hours
work each day.
The entire cost of this extension will be
about $4,000. DARIUS