The Portland daily press., 1874-01-24

L.
JANUARY CRIMINAL TERM, 1874, sYMoNDs, J. PRE-
--''".7 SIDING.
sssgE rl-i . SECOND DAY.
FRIpAy.-State VS.. Mary j. Stafford and Anthony
Brown.
Eliza A. Philbrook testified that she the wife
of Joseph Philbrook and lived in the house that was
burned Mrs. Stafford advised her to insure the
house and furniture; the first to suggest it;
said the house was unlncky; and wanted witness to
buy house of hers AMI give $500 for it; witness
when she went away left the old excelsior mattress
under the stairs having used part of it for packing
purposes; when witness left Portland she never ex-
pected her house would be burned; Mrs. Stafford Of
fered Mr. Phbrook S25 for the ell, and while looking
over it, said the house unucky and witness had
better burn it; witness thought she talking idly,
and said she wouldn't do it, but told Mrs. Stafford to
do it on her own responsibility Mrs. Stafford then
said there was man in her block would do it for
her; witness never knew Brannigan; never consent
ed to burning the house, first knew of its destruction
by telegram from Mrs. Stafford; then came immedi-
atey to Portland; Mrs. Stafford said ''it's too bad
your poor house is burned have you got your insur
ance papers?" and witness SAID eyes,, she said 'all
right" and advised me to get the insurance money,
and went for it while Mrs. Stafford and witness
have been in JAIL Mrs. Stafford told her she could
have gone home If she had chosen to go back her.
but she did not and asked witness how she could say
what she did to the City Marshall Mrs. Stafford said
she did not give the Marshal any chance to catch her.
she said that at the time she had her other trial the
two Browns, who were witnesses, were kept in Jail
MONTHS and she could keep putting her trial of for
two years while witness was poor and couldn't get
bonds, and would have to stay in JAIL but if witness
would come over to her side and not tell anything
about the key she would be her friend witness left
fha kav wit Mrs Stafford wi Wan to Rock
land so she could get her machine OUT being afraid
if she didn't Mrs. Stafford would make her pay for
1t. . ~ Ca. -s aF.EatFt Et- 1879 -
On the examination the counsel for defendant
introduced letter from Mr.. Philbrook to his wife,
saying he had seen the County Attorney and that she
need not worry mite.
j. Larrabee called by the State, testified to
making mortgage of this house from Florence S.
Hewitt to Mr.. Sabine.
Charles W. Allen, of the firm of F. o. Bailey & Co..
auctioneers testified to the attempted sale of the
house and the furniture left to be sold.
Alexander Scott This is the witness referred to in
the testimony of the former witnesses as ..ScottyD
After testifyny to his acquaintance with Mrs. Stat
ford, Brown and Brannigan, he said, the first he
knew about the fire Branngan asked him if he want
ed job, and said Mrs. Stafford had offered him $50
to set the Philbrook house on fire; witness told him
the next witness saw was Brown and Brannigan to-
gether after the fire, and said to Brannigap, "you
have done il, !" who said, mo! Brown did IT, Brown
said he awoke about O'Clock in the morning went
to the house picked up some excelsior under the
stairs, thought it smelt of kerosene and touched it
off: next he struck the alarm and broke the key.
After the fire Brown gave the Philbrook house key
to witness and he showed the key to Mrs. Stafford,
who had trouble with his landlady and asked her if
she knew it; she said no; then witness gave it to
Brown again; Pike, Brannigan, and witness then
went to Browns shop, and stayed in the back part
while Brown called down Mrs. Stafford and de-
manded the money tor burning the house, Mrs. Stat
ford said "What money! threatened to have them
arresoed went out; came back; Brannigan said sno-
oooy "ouu know 1t but them and she'd better pay
II; sne oroeeeu 'nem out of the shop but when the
pohceman came saio she would see them by and by.
AFTERNOON
The cross examination of "Scotty'' disclosed Moth
inv very material that was testified to in d;roo
examination.
Alonzo f. Harmon called by the State, testified
that he was member of the police force; that he
called by small boy, saying Mrs. Stafford
wanted him to 60 to Brannigans store; on going
there he found Mrs. Stafford, Brown, Pike Branni-
gan, Scotty and some eight or ten others; that he
asked Mrs. Stafford what the trouble was and she
said there none but she would like to see him by
and by up in her room; he vent up there afterwards
and asked her what she wanted and she said moth
ing.
Charles H. Williams, called by the State, testified
that he arrested Mrs. Stafford about eleven O'Clock
at night; that when he took her down to Jail she
wanted to know If he could get her out of this.
She said she would give me $50 i'll could fix it so
that she could turn States evidence. She said she
knew as much about IL as Mrs. Philbrook did told
her it was too late it could not be done.
Jam II. Walton, called by State, testified. am
the.husband Of Florence Walton; saw Mrs. Stat
ford in Jail Christmas day She asked me If had
seen Mr.. Philbrook said yes She said, sis he 60
ing against me-" told her he was; she said he is
the only one am afraid of in this case and will
give him money to leave the city.
The Government here rested their case.
DEFENSE.
Mr. Frank opened for both defendants.
The first witness called was William Blades. The
next day after the fire was in Pixies and scotty,
Pike and Brannigan was there; they were talking