The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-02-12
The Lowell Murder Trial.

next Tuesday, promises to be one of the
most interesting capital eases ever tried
in Maine. The discovery, last fall. Of the
headless skeleton in the woods near the
Switzerland road in Lewiston; the speedy
announcement that three years ago, June
18th last, Mrs, James n. Lowell mysteri-
ously disappeared from Lewiston; the Yep
dict of Il coroners jury that the remains
were those OF Mrs Lowell; the arrest for
the murder Of the husband Of the prisoner
i'll this case; the testimony adduced at the
preliminary investigation and the pris-
oner> commitment for trial at the SUI
preme Court. are facts of SO recent occur
renee as to be familiar to our readers The
testimony against the prisoners exclusive
" circumstantial. His relations with his
wife; the fact that she was last seen driv-
ING out with him on the night of the alleged
murder; the curious letters written by the
prisoner and others not signed by him, but
alleged to be his work. and 4 chain OF cir
cumstances which are to be presented by
the government and woven into 4 connect
cd theory of the case, are chiefly relied on
to secure a conviction
The defence will persistently question
the allegation of identity and while deny
ing that the remains are conclusively
shown to be those Of Mrs Lowell will
claim that even on the assumption that
they are her remains. there is insufficient
proof to indicate that she died by violence;
that there are no'broken bones in the slele
ton; that the bones of the neck are Jnin-
lurcd and that even IT q murder was com
mittcd. there is insufficient proof to show
that the prisoner committed the deed.
1t Will be urged that the deceased Wa
very probably a suicide, whosoevcr the
person may be. This position the State
will combat by circumstantial testimony,
and 10y the differences which, it will be
claimed, necessarily follow. The discovery
Of a supposed murder, three years after it
is alleged TO have taken place, enhance
the difficulty of proving the crime, if any
there has been. Witnesses have forgotten
more than they remembers testimony itself
is obliterated by time and by death-thesp
are points which the defence will offer in
efforts to paralyZe the force Of the Govern
ment case AT all events, ii is apparent
the prisoner is to have a fair trial. Ii is
understood that the Government theory of
the case as formed out Of the disiointed
facts, is Interesting and ingenious
The Jury which is to fry the case will be
selected from a list of torty-tour person.
summoned as special jurors. This list will
embrace the first and second iuries Of the
present term and twenty persons addition
AL None of the latter are from Lewiston.
The prisoner is confident of acquittal
and says there is nothing against him
1t is supposed the trial of the case viii
occupy about one week The attorney
General, assisted By County Attorney
Wing, will appear for the state. and Hon.
T. T. Pilsbury, assisted by Mr. Luddcn, fer
the prisoner Lewiston Journal.
Lewiston, Feb. 10
The trial OF James NJ Lowell, for the
murder Of his wife on June L. 1870. was
begun this mornings in the Supreme
Court at Auburn, Judge Walton presid
inc
1t may be remembered that this is
the somewhat romantic case which was
brought to light by the discovery Of a
headless skeleton in the woods, about
three miles from this city last October.
Lowell was arrested in Lawrence, was
brought here for his preliminary exam
nation, and committed for trial He has
since remained in Auburn jail
Lowell, who is defended by the Hon
+, +. Pillsbury, plead not guilty lie is a
man 81 years Of age, with a heavy black
moustache and a careless. Indifferent ain
This morning he was, perhaps, the least
Interested spectator in the room.
The excitement Of this trial is only sec
ond to that which issued upon the di4coy-
cry Of the bones alleged to be those Of
Mrs. Lizzie Lowell. a large crowd is in
attendance at the court room, many ladica
a.
proceedings for the sake Of the coming
sensation.
The prosecution i, conducted by Attor-
neN General Ilaistctl. of Bangor. About
two hours Were consumed in ernpancling
4 Jury. Cyrus Greeley Of Lewiston i an
pointed foreman
AFTERNOON.
The trial proceeded this afternoon With
nndiminiShed attendance. loul witnesses
We're called, as follow: Mrs. Lydia j.
Blethcn, Lizzie Rowell. Jenny Blood and
Annie Nancy. The evidence of the first
three related to the identification of the
black silk dress found around the skeleton
and of the gold chain which She also Wore.
Miss Nancy told how Lowell and his wife
started to ride together on the night CT
Mrs.. LoWel's disappearance, and also bow
she saw her put on the blacl, silk before
going Ii is expected that the testimony
Tomorrow will be stll more important
and interesting"
EAlIE">n tuSlllE>tr. Me John
Felt O=@ood, A. d. Paul and N " AZ
well, of the committee OF Directors OF the
Boston 4 Maine Railroad Company. APP
pointed at Il recent meeting to examine
the line and prospects OF the proposed
Pcnobacot Bay 4 River Railroad, with q
view to aiding in its construction. arrived
in this city last evening, and were met at
the Penobscot Exchange by President Hich-
born, Hon. VIM. Mct'ilyery and Captain
Black of Stockton and other gentlemen
interested in the Bay 4 River road to-
gether with Mayor Bass, City Treasurer
Crosby, Snpt. Angel of the +. < n A.
Railway and other citizens of Bangor
After discussing capital supper provided
by mine host Woodland, IN informal con-
ference was held in one of the parlors of
the hotel, where the prospects Of the Bay
Il River road the resources Of the sections
through which it is located and from which
it Will draw its business, etc, We're talked
over. Dir. Nichols, the other member of
the Committee Of Directors, and Supt
furbcr arc expected to arrive here this
morning and the visitors viii be taken
about town on a tour Of Inspection, after
which, if the weather permits, they will
start on 4 trip through the towns along the
lime Of the projected road, between this
city and Rockland. Bangor Wing.
David w seiders was found in the streets
of Washington city, the other evening
greatly under the influence Of liquor He
was taken to a station house, to sober off
He was locked up, and about $50 O'Clock
the station keeper took q peep through the
iron bars to see if the inmate was asleep,
and found hm in a sleep that knows no
waking. Deceased was 4 we'll educated
man, about sixty Years Of age. and was
| clerk in the Treasury Department. He
| leaves a wife. from whom he separated a