The Portland daily press., 1870-02-17
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PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
MAI y e.
Trial Of John Lawrence at Bangor
for the Murder Of Mrs. Atwood.
Wednesdays Proceedings.

tSpecialDispatch by International Line]
BANGOR, Feb 16-At the opening of the
court the examination of witnesses for the de-
fence was continued.
DIR. Jones testified that the prisoner has
never relnquished the idea of killing himself;
although he knows of no attempt.
DR.. Martin stated that he was surgeon in
the army; became acquainted with prisoner,
who was under his care for month. He fur
Their testified as to the general effects and ma
ture of sunstroke; had personal knowledge
that the prisoner was sunstruck; Furthermore,
intemperance and excessive use of tobacco
were causes of insanity. A cross-examination
Brought out the fact that but two cases of in
sanity followed from fifty to hundred cases
of sunstroke at that time, and they were both
within five months of the shock.
The next witness, DR.. McRuer, was caIIed
upon to see the prisoner; saw no positive evil
dence of insanity at that time, but at subse-
quent visits observed the brain was fatigued
and Lawrence couldn't keep his mind for a
long time on any subject; also spoke of the
general results Of intemperance and sunstroke
as tending to insanity.
| Robert Williams called He shaved prison.
er on Saturday, who called him one side and
said "this is the last time you will shave me; 1
| am going to ireland by cars" He was wild in
| his manner, but not intoxicated.
Mr.. Alden, apothecary stated that the prs
| oner called at his store on Friday and asked
for some bed bug poison: sold him nothing, as
he wasn't in right condition.
Us. Ingraham testified that Lawrence called
at his store on Friday afternoon; asked for
some poison to kill rats; sold him none, as he
| was in an improper condition; was partially
drunk. He notified the police that Lawrence
needed care.
DR.. Calvin Seavey testified he had known
Lawrence's family since his youth. Both pa
rents were addicted to strong drink; thinks
intemperance hereditary. The remainder of
his testimony was of medical character, some
what similar to that Of the other physicians
| He stated that no man, in his opinion, ever
| attempted to commit suicide unless insane /;
that jealousy is frequently a cause of emotional
insanity. This closed the defense.
The prosecution then called Mr.. G. Larkin,
who has seen him two or three times in Jail !;
saw nothing remarkable in his manner.
Mr.. j. W. Humphrey stated that the prison.
er had worked under him on the custom house.
Drunkenness was the only thing out of the
way he had ever seen; was constant about his
| work.
Mr.. j. H. Perkins testified that the prisoner
| had applied to him to procure pension on the
| ground of scurvy; no other complaint
DR.. G. A. Jordan said he saw Lawrence Sun
day noon, but had no talk afterwards in a
prison conversation prisoner talked nationally
about the deceased; saw nothing unusual; his
| memory seemed good.
Mr.. G. w. Whitney, jailor, testified that he
had had charge of the prisoner since January
Sd; saw nothing out of the way but once. Re-
moved man from his cell and put another
with him; the latter was frightened off by
| Lawrence's threats to kill somebody and to
pull the Jail down.
room was crowded. Police were stationed at
| the door to keep out the rabble.
| Mr. Webster Treat, witness for the defence
testified that the prisoner met him on the street
| in November and asked him for work on
foundation he was to build, but Immediately
wandered from the subject. Appeared very
| wild. Wasn't intoxicated.
DR.. HIM. Harlow's testimony was listened
to with strict attention. 1t occupied two hours
comprising statistics of Insane Asylums ans
wers to numerous hypothesis based upon thu
testimony; many of which the witness regard
ed as not conclusive evidence of insanity. Th,
prisoner to-day denied all knowledge of th
deed to DIR. Harlow. Generally such denia
would be suspicious. If after so long time sui
stroke, jealousy and excessive intemperapc,
should produce insanity, he would expect it +
be permanent. Jealousy without fouudatio,
is monomania. At the cross-examination tn
counsel for the defence asked to in troduce evi
dence to prove the charges against certain cit
} zens yesterday as wholly false; deluson.-
After some argument between the counsel O
the point, the court adjourned, leaving tn
| question unsettled.
. FIRE IN sACo.
SACo, Feb. 16-The barn of Ariel Hoyde {
Saco was burned to-day. 1t was located {
Somesville. Loss small
ITO the Associated Press.l
!, | BANGOR REFUSES TO TAKE STOCK IN THE VII
| TERPORT RAILROAD.