Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-01
Reported for the Journal.
TRIAL OF THE LIME ROCK BANK
ROBBERS.
THrRsDAY, Sept. 20.

ROBBERS.
THrRspAY, Sept. 20.
The Court came in at nine o'clock. Walter
Tolman testified to seeing Litchfeld with
Keller at Rockport ten days or fortnight be-
fore the robbery. Capt. Cooper testified that
Litchfeld tried to charter boat of him. Here
the government testimony closed
Mr.. Bliss opened for the defence. We are
obliged to omit his remarks.
Mrs Mary B. Litchfeld, wife OF the pris-
oner sworn for defence. resided in
Rockland about IL years Am wife of Alden
Litchfeld. l first learned Of the robbery the
morning after it took place. My husband
had not been arrested when first learned of
it. He was arrested in the afternoon My
husband had a store on Main street. He
gave his personal attention to it. TO the best
of my knowledge. l heard Graves testimony
yesterday. He came to my house Sunday
morning before the robbery. There was no
| lady about my house that Sunday but myself.
Graves asked me if my husband was IN.
told him he was, and asked him TO walk into
the sitting room, and he came in. l notified
my husband and he went into the sitting
room. Graves remained a few minutes. L
think this was before breakfast. He was not
there again that day or evening. | have not
seen him since until saw him in court. There
were was no men in my house that SUNDAY
except my husband, nor on the day before
1t is not true, as Graves says, that two men
came down stairs that Sunday Mr. Daniels,
the sick man, came down to my house on
Tuesday, the day before the robbery, about
niue o'clock in the forenoon. l did not see
him when he came. My husband came and
told me he had brought sick man home with
him.
Daniels was never there before. He re-
NAMED there until arrested next day. l never
saw Moore or Hight until saw them in the
lookup last spring. They have never been
to my house to my knowledge. | never saw
Rand Daniels did not come to the table.
My husband carried him what he had to eat.
His cough was severe. l heard him cough
in the lower part OF the house. My husband
came home think about nine o'clock that
Thursday night OF the robbery and remained at
home during the night. Hattie Watts was in
the house when he came in. Her parents re-
side next door to US. She is in court "a
child about nine years old.) ] was present
when my husband took off his boots. He did
not put on slippers. l don't remember
which of us retired first The little girl went
home about five minutes after my husband
came in. My husband retired before went
to sleep, to my own room and bed. He
was not out of my bed that night. think he
came home at his usual hour--from
ceding--I am sure he was at home at or be-
fore ten o'clock, and retired to my bed. He
did not get up either of those nights after he
retired until morning. He was at home early
Sunday evening, by dark. On Saturday even
ing do not remember that he was utany later
than usual. No fact in my husbands conduct,
peculiar, came TO my knowledge before the
robbery. l did not discover or notice any
thing peculiar in his habits or conduct There
| oh in, a bnr
firing. l never saw Keller, Graves or Black
at my house. Black never came to my house
for crackers within my knowledge.
Cross enthusiastically consisted of hus
band, self and girl. Have kept no servant
since last winter Attic not occupied, during
few days before the robbery. Husband
usually gets home by or 10 o'clock, If my
attic was occupied it was without my knowl-
edge that Daniels was out ON night robbery.
l do not know my husband brought Daniels
to the house. l only knew of his arrival after
he was in the house. On the morning of rob-
berry, my husband arose about o'clock. Am
able to swear he was not mp before.
Hattie Watts was put upon the stand by the
defence.
Court-How old are you?
Witness-Nine years old.
Court-Do you know what you are TO do ?
WitnesS-Tell the truth.
Court-Do you know the nature of an oath
what it is To testify?
Witness-No sir.
Court do not think the child competent
Mr.. Jewett-I think it could hardly be ex
pected that she should be able to answer that
question.
Court-You may question her.
Jewett to the Witness-Do you know what |
would be the consequence if you should not
tell the truth?
Witness-Go to State Prison.
Court decline to permit the child to be |
examined.
Alden Litchfeld, the prisoner, sworn
Have been in business ever since the close of |
the war Have lived in this city since 1851.
Was with my brother in his store until three |
years before the war. Was Quartermaster of
the goth Maine Regiment. Got an honorable |
discharge from the service. Invent into bust |
ness on my own account on my return from |
the army. first knew l was to be charged |
with bank robbery on the day after the rob-
berry. had had nothing to do with it up to
that time.
Questionable you incite, move, procure, |
aid, counsel, hire or command Moore, Dan
iels, Hight and Rand, or either of them, to |
rob the Lime Rock Bank?
Answer did not.
| was at my home on the evening |
of the robbery. Left my store a lit
tie after nine and went directly home. |
Found there my wife and Hattie Watts. l |
retired Immediately after l got home-in |
fifteen or twenty minutes. Was not out of
the house that night after that.
arose about seven O'Clock next morning. |
Joshua Daniels was at my house. Neither
of the others were ever at my house. On the |
morning of Tuesday about nine o'clock, |
Addison +. Keller came to my store and re-
quested me to take Daniels for few days,
saying that Daniels had come there to do
some business for him, had no money, and
was not ready to do it. Daniels was with
Keller at the time. He very slim and
had very bad cough. | had seen Daniels
once before in the army. When l was sick
he assisted me at City Point, Virginia.
had no knowledge of the purpose for
which Daniels was here. l did not then know
that Moore Hight and Rand were here, nor
that Keller, Graves or Black had any purpose
to rob the bank or to aid in it. know moth
ing about bundle said to contain tools, which
has been testified about. Can't say who