The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-03
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PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
Domestic N ewS.
NJ E.
Trial Of f, III. HOsWell at Augusta
for the Murder of j, Ii. Laf1in
TESTIMONY OF HosWELL.


Especial Dispatch by the International Incl
AUGUSTA, Dec. 2-In the Roswell Latin
trial to-day witnesses were called from Law
renee, Mass, Lewiston, Saco, Hermon and 9TH
er places where Hoswell has previously lived,
who testified 10 his peaceable character as a
good citizen. The defence succeeded beyond
doubt in establishing more than average good
character for him. On the question of his in
sanity number of witnesses testified to
strange and unaccountable acts on his part at
various times the present season, since the par
tial separation between himself and wife took
place; that he talked of her continually, walk
wept while speaking of her. The keeper OF
the Kennebec bridge testified that Hoswell
walked forwards and backwards across the
bridge imagining that his wife was to cross
with a strange man, and when finally persuad-
ed to desist, he tried to engage the keeper to
watch for him. 1t also appeared that he had
made similar request of the City Marshal and
the keepers of the livery stables.
Roswell himself was placed ON the stand
this afternoon, sworn, and related his story of
the proceedings of that night for the first time
except to his council. He stated, as Mr.. Lib
hey intimated in his opening, that he met his
wife at the cars here on that day at noon, she
being on her way home to Hallowell from her
fathers in Hermon; that he told her that he
would 60 down and see her that evening, but
she urgently requested him not to come until
the next evening or evening after, giving as
her reason that she would be Too tired that
evening to converse with him; that he as
sented to her request; but being suspi-
cious of her manner he did go to Hal
lowell on that evening and that while she
was fastening The windows in the back part o.
the house preparatory TO retiring for the night
he took off his coat and heavy shoes, laid them
by the door, crept through the open door into
her bed room, and secreted himself under her
bed. Presently she came in, removed her out
| side clothing, put on her night clothing,
turned the lamp partly down, and got into
bed. In few moments footsteps were heard
| approaching, and man entered the house
stealthily and came into the bed room-
! He approached Mrs. Hoswells bedside an
greeted her with a number of kisses. She
| inquired of him if he had locked the door,
Upon receiving an affirmative reply she asked
him if he was not going to undress He re-
piled that he did not have sufficient time, as
he was to put down carpet that night
Something then was said about the boy, which
he did not distinctly hear. Latin then sale.
"you really love me, do you" She answered
"of course 1 do, or / shoald not do as 1 am do
ing Latin then said, "let us have y
# now" when Hoswell rushed out from
under the bed. The scuffl, ensued, of which
he testified he remembered but little. He said
he did not know that the man was Latin
when he came in, but admitted on cross ex.
animation that he inflicted the gashes on LAT.
Inns neck.
An adjournment was reached before the
cross examination of Hoswell was concluded
The general impression is that his testimony
ak ed the defence considerably. The defense
will introduce medical experts to testify on bis
insanity tomorrow, when the government will
nut in their rebutting testimony. The argu
ments will not commence until Monday, pos
sibly not till Tuesday. The local interest in
the trial continues undated. If possible the
crowd of spectators was larger to day than any
day before ..