The Portland daily press., 1871-08-28
The Midway Murder Case

day morning The daughter of Ray, the MUIR
dered man. testified to going with her brother
after the COW about that time, and thinks she
never saw her father after; she also remember
ed asking her mother where her father was
once or twice, but got no answer that she re.
members of.
Reuben Boyhtoa, nephew of Mrs. Ray, tes-
titled that prisoner did not give him the boots
referred to. i found them on some boards in
the shed-chamDer; don't remember whether
before Or after Ray was missing, nor how long
L kept them. The boots were of kip or some
other thin leather; don't recoIlect If any one
measured them while had them; they were
dry when L got them; wore them while dig
ging potatoes to keep my stockings clean; had
them on after Rays body was found; don't
know how long after
Leonard l.. Boswell, of Lincoln Deputv
Sheriff, testified that he arrested Rood at Med
way on the 18th of September, 1870.
Here witness produced in court the cloth
ing taken from the body of Ray, ard the end
| of the setting pole alluded to in Dr. Reynolds
testimony Thursday. The pants were of blue
hOmespun with suspenders attached. The
back part of the pants was dark and had dried
mud on it.
clothing when the arrest was made The pants
were damp then, otherwise they were in the
same condition as now, except that there was
more grass around the buckle and buttons
hceu udu a pair OF ola tanned mOcCaSlnS on his
feet. His hand was swollen ON the back; he
told me he hurt it by falling while carrying
bunch of shingles. Reed told me that Ray
was murdered and said that Mrs. Ray could
not have done it, for Ray was quite a knurly
little fellow" and that she could not have the
least knowledge oft.
VIM. I'll. Campbell, of Midway, testified that
he found the end of the setting-pole [shown ia
COURT on the Friday or Saturday after the
body was found Wednesday, on the ground
among some thistles on the right hand Side of
the door of Rays house.
The government rested its case here and
John f. Robinson, ESQ.,, of Lincoln, opened for
the prisoner.
Lorng w. Lyons, the first witness called nv
the defense, testified that he and Joseph Hie.
gins first found the body of John Raw in the
hole on the island. Higgins stood on the east
side OF the hole and lifted off FIR bush and a
little beech bush, and then put them hack
think he must have made a track in the dirt:
didn't notice any track in particular; dom
know as the track was mentioned for half an
hour: Higgins said, 1T we had thought to
look before they rushed around this place, we
might have found a track" 1 stepped nigh
enough myself to make track aud HIGGINS
had to step on the dirt to get to the place =
Others huddled round and stepped IN to see
the body. Don't remember of ANYTHING being
sa,a ap1u1 a TRACK after Higgins mentioned it,
body when there were only three men there.
and noticed no track. Nothing was said ahout
track until after the body was taken out.
some two or three hours after it was found.
The crowd was all huddled up round the hole
l employed Eldridge Reed IN May, 1870. to
haul some goods for me from Midway to Little
SchoOdic. He hauled one load on the oh and
Jne on the 10Th. | went up with him on the
9Th. l saw Mrs. Ray at VIM. Boynton's at
dinner the next day-the 10th. Reed started
back the night of the 9th. L stayed at Little
Schoodic until 3 o'clock the afternoon of the
10th, when Reed came with the second load;
he had nobody with him. Think VIM. Boyn.
ton went on the drive on the 10th.
The Court here adjourned until 2 D. M. at
which hour Mrs. Boynton was called and tes-
titled that Mrs. Ray was at her house at Little
Schoodic. in May, when Mr.. Boynton went on
to the drive; she remained there most of the
time until after haying.
In the cr0ss-examination, witness testified
that Reed was at Boynton's before Boswell
the deputy sheriff, came up VIM. Bovnton
and his mother were there. Reed cried there.
and said he understood William had been tell.
ing hard stories about him; said he had heard
that William had said that he (Reed) had
threatened Ray. Reed says you know II ia
not with you, William, as it is with me, as Won
were gone when the murder occurred, but / |
was at home, and don't think can clear NV
SELF" He said it was hard for an innocent 4
man to be hung or sent to State Prison
VIM. Boynton testified that Mrs Raw came
to his house at Little Schoodic, in April, and |
vas there when Reed came with the goods for |
Fowler. went away the next day and was |
gone five days. Lett Mrs. Ray with NV wife |
had some conversation with Reed at his trial |
lie SAID he was sorry to see me there, as knew |
enough to hang him; said l ought not to tell of |
threats ne nad made; 1t Was hard thing for
an Innocent man to be hung or sent to State
Prison. He says: 1t is different with Won.
you were away when the murder was commit,
ted. but was at home, and don't think I can
clear myself"
Mrs. Anna Reed, mother of the prisoner tes-
titled that Warren Butlor bore bad reputa-
tion in Midway. Heard Ray was missing on
Saturday afternoon. The Tuesday before. Ell
bridge dug potatoes at home all day till after
supper, don't know if he went to the reading |
meeting at the school house that evening ia
eft home at o'clock, about sunset, and re- |
urned between Z and in the evening l was
Getting ready to go to bed; Elbridge came into |
ny sleeping room and got bottle of lnIment.
'ut didn't say what it was for; he then went
Up stairs as the clock struck 8, leaving his coat
md vest on chair four or five feet from nv
ioor Our house is not lathed or plastered |
ma can hear person walking overhead very
pam. l fastened the door myself and went to
ieep little after o'clock; am easily awaken.
"a; got up at in the morning and fouEd |
1lprloge building a fire. His coat and vest |
we're on the chair where he left them the night |
'eIore. he ate breakfast with us and dug no.
a.oes an DAY. Heard him tell his father he
tumbled down and hurt his hand He NOS 90
ZONE wednesday night. Iremember Reuben
'oynton wearing Elbridge's old thin boots.
ont think saw Ebridge wear them for two
Months previous. - WV
The balance of the testimony is to the char.
cter of one of the government witnesses
AIMED Butler, who is known as that lvino
'utler." Two others testified to digging the 4
ole the fall before for hazel nuts, which thew J
opposed squirrels had deposited there. The S
ase was continued Saturday.