The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-22
Rum's ID 0inxs-n sad Story Of Misery and

DEaIns
Sixteen years ago this month William B.
Smith and Charles f. Brewster met for the
first time in a rum shop in Great Falls, Me-,
kept by one Hayes, and the following sad story
is from the lips Of said Smith to the then War
den of the State Prison, upon what was then
believed to be the death bed of said Smith,
He says: first encountered this man Brews.
ter at Great Falls in a rum shop kept by Mo-
SEES Hayes He, Brewster, was drunk at the
time, and Hayes refused to give him any rum.
down to Berwick (Which is two and half
miles,; told him that 1 was bound that way
myself. lie went out, but overlook him on
the load and we walked on together, arrived at
Berwick, went to Samuel Dixon's rum shop
where we play ed Cards in company with sew
eral others until near midnight, when started
to go to my boarding house. Brewster wanted
to 90 with me. I told him be could not. as It
was factory boarding house, but would see
him safe TO The public house. When we got to
the tavern ne refused to go in, aud would not
leave me, SO put him IN the woodshed attach
ed to the house, and told him to get away be-
tore the bell rang IN the morning as the girls
would find him there and there mAnlL- be
trouDe. never expecJpu TO see him again, as
he told me he was going to Dover the next
morning; he said his coat was there at Eph-
rain Sands saloon Oh the landing $50 called(
The next morning did net stop for breakfast
but started for Dixon's to get drink; on the
road again met Brewster; he asked me
where l was going. told him and he Joined
ne. We played cards all the forenoon in COM
pany with otnrrs. AT noon Dixon closed 10
get his dinner, when Brewster anu myself took
bottle OF lum aud went out on the side of the
street, sat down and played cards. The sun
being rather warm we got the bottle filled and
went over by ciump of pines near the road
and in sight of two or three houses, and so
near man who was working with an OK team
that we could hear him speak to his oxen. We
were both excted by the rum, and cheated
each other until we commenced to quarrel by
calling each other hard names, and he sal d he
would "trip me open;" We both came to our
feet together; as he approached me struck
him with stone which I.hpId in nv hand. he
ell toward me; supposed that he was trying
to butt me, and | struck him either once or
twice more, but am now convinced that the
first blow that struck was fatal. When saw
what had done 1 was Immediately sobered,
and obeyed my first impulse which was tc
conceal the crime. dragged the body into
small clump OF alders. and took his hat and
vest and stamped them into the broke n
ground; his pants I took in my hand (Which
were an old pair patched), intending to throw
the % into the river, but l went to my board
ing house and to the room where my woman
was and told her all about it (but she did not
testify to that in court, then went to D x
on's, returned his bottle, spoke for cab, and |
left next morning for my home in Vermont. |
circumstantial evidence convicted of murder. |
IF this sad statement is tru., clearly Smith |
was only guilty OF nadnSlaughter the extent of |
punishment for which crime IS ten Years i'm |
prisonment, often not more than three or four |
years.
Smith has already suffered sixteen long
years of imprisonment, during all of which |
time his conduct has been such as to merit and |
receive the best of Communications from ex-
Warden Tbos. HI. Hix and Warden Rice who
now has him in Gu. tody.
A petition signed by the leading men of all |
professions of Guildhall, Vermont, his native |
place, also one from the citizens of York coun-
ty, together with excellent recomn endatiops |
from many Influential men have been present. |
ed to the Governor and Council tor his pardon |
aud we hope that the day is soon to dawn after
the long night of sorrow caused by rum drink
ing. q
From the best information we have been
able to get, from letters from the prison ofic-
ais and conversation with gentlemen familiar
with all the facts in the case touching the good
conduct of the prisoner at Tbomaston,. we are
Inclined to think pardon to Smith will be
both just and expedient.- PRESS.