Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-16
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Eepnebee Youtnal.
BANGOR.
The Reed Murder Trial.

| New NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in Court.
| Bangor, Me. II. The first witness in the
Reed Murder trial today was Margaret Fiske
who testified to Reed coming to the house
where she lived to get bunch of shingles to
carry to Parsons, between and o'clock on
the day the murder was committed.
Lillian Fiske daughter of last witness cor
roborated her testimony and stated that she
saw the prisoner before and after he got to
the bars with the shingles on his back thinks
she saw him pass the bars and is sure she did
| not see him fall.
In the former trial the defense claimed that
Reeds hand which was hurt that night was
bruised by his falling over these bars with
the shingles on his shoulder.
Mrs. Ira Parsons testified that Reed
brought the shingles to her house and put
them down with both hands near the door be-
tween 5 and G o'clock p NJ. Knew nothing Of
bis hand being hurt.
Park Parsons, husband Of the last wit
ness. corroborated her testimony.
John r. Boynton, boy testified that after
school that day he went to Rays house and
saw Reed near the shore whiting.
Eva Emma Ray daughter OF murdered
man testified that on day of murder her faith
err came home at sunset and after eating sup
per went out after the C ow which she and her
brother failed to find. Never saw her father
alive after that.
Wi.bor Theodore Ray son of murdered
mau eorroborsted his sisters testimony.
Mrs. Augusta Fiske testified that going
home through the woods inHthe twilight that
evening when she was about 80 rods from the
Island where Rays body was found she heard
a smothered shrek.
Mrs. Martha Jane Severance the widow of
the murdered man, who has since married,
next took the stand and testified that Ray
came home to supper about p NJ, Sept. 20,
1870, and soon after went out after the miss
ing COW; about an hour and half or two
hours after, the children being abed and asleep
she went out to see if her husband was COM
ing, when she saw Reed standing about feet
from her door, his coat and hat gone nd his
sleeves rolled up. Had a rope in his hand
lie said to her 81 have done horrible deed
met John and got into a quarrel with him
and have killed him." Told witness not to
tell of it or he would place the body SO it
would appear that she committed the murder
Witness then went into house and Reed left
towards river. Witness next saw Reed the
next Sunday night at the Ferry when going
to church, he said something to one of her
sisters about Ray but don't know what it was
Witness was at home Monday and Monday
night and Tuesday moved down to house she
formerly lived in. Wednesday went back 70.
old place after some hens. Rays body was
found next day.
After some unimportant details, witness
said she next saw Reed in December 1870, a.
VIM. Boyntons and asked about her husband
and why he killed him. Reed said he was
driving Rays COW out of his field down the
hill and on the fiat met Ray he got mad and
they got into fight and he struck Ray with
club and killed him. Had smart fight and
was crazy and didn't know what he was
about; should not have killed Ray if he Ihad
not struck him; said he hurt his hand in the
fight; said Ray hallowed. Then some one
came into the room and witness and Reed
did not converse further. Reed said he did
not want witness to tell about it, said it would
lie as bad for her as for him if she did. Said
he buried his hat on the Island under stump.
Didn't tell witness where he buried Rays
body.
Witness was Injected 10 a searching cross
examination by Mr.. McCrillis counsel for
defense but did not vary from her testimony
in the direct examination.
In the two former trials this witness has
denied on oath all knowledge of how the
murder was committed or where committed
and her testimony today created sensation.
ROCKLAND.