The Portland daily press., 1874-05-30
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The examination of Charles Tilton Robbins
yesterday before Com missioner Rand attracted
a good deal of attention. The interest was in
creased when it was known that his friends
had arrived from Deer Isle. His father, moth
er, brother and wife came on the Lewiston
Thursday evening, but did not see the prisoner
until court time yesterday morning
On his arrival at the court room tne prison.
| er was at once taken into the marshal once,
| where no one was allowed to see him but his
| counsel and friends. When his friends arrived
| thew were at once admitted. The mother was
! nearly frenzed with grief, and could hardly
| be induced to leave him. His wife, who two
months ago was bride,put her arms about the
neck of the unhappy man, and wept bitterly
She is very pretty woman, apparently not
more than twenty years of age. At the close
of the interview the prisoner was placed in the
box and the friends took seats in the court
room. AS Robbins was led to the box he was
much affected. During the whole session of
court the mother scarcely raised her head from
her hand.
He was first arraigned before the Circuit
Court for the murder of Solomon Camp on
board the schooner "Annie b. A. A. Strout,
in behalf of the British authorities, offered a
complaint and petition to Judge Shepley, ask
ing him to authorize Commissioner to hear
the case. Judge Shepley authorized Commits
sioner Rand, and adjourned the court
Commissioner Rand then began the examin-
alton of government witnesses. A. w. Brad
bury, esq.,, and Hon. j. H. Drummond ap.
peared for the prisoner.
The first witness called was Capt. Secord.
His full name is Ambrose Secord, % years of
age, resides in st. Jonn, N. B. He then relat-
ed in detail his movements while here, before
sailing on the unpleasant voyage The ques-
tions were all to show that he had received
sum of money before he left here and that
Robbins knew it, and went on the vessel with
the intention of robbng him. The examina-
ton continued up to the time of the attack,
when the court adjourned until Monday morn
ing at ten o'clock.
The Commissioner gave the officer strict ord
ers to allow no one except counsel to see Rob-
bins alone. His friends were not excepted.
The rest of Capt Secords testimony will be
in substance the story published in Thursdays
issue of the PRESS.
At the close of the examination the prisoner
was once more taken to the marshars office
and again visited by his friends The father is
man about 30 years of age and appears we'll.
He says that few years ago his son Charles
fell from a carriage ard struck on his temple.
He was 'out of his head'' for one or two days
in consequence, during which time it required
five men to keep him in bed. After he got
better the boy did not remember anything of
the affair. About week before the "Annie
B" affair occurred Robbins wrote to- his wife
saying that he expected to have to give up his
trade as his head was troubling him where he
hurt it in falling from the wagon. The father
says that Charles has always appeared
strangely since he fell. When quite
young he went away to work and worked quite
steady, but since he fell ho has not appeared
to care whether he worked or not
The prisoners friends returned home last
night to Deer Isle, and will procure witnesses
from there to show the character of the prison.
er. They will return Monday night on the
Lewiston