The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-03-19
The FenobscOt Murder Trial.

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account of the change in the testimony of
Rays wife. At former trials she swore that
she had no knowledge of the crime or of
the murder Now she admits that her for
mer testimony was false, and relates what
she says actually took place. Since the
murder she has married again, and is now
Mrs, Boynton. Her testimony is as fol-
lows
Mr. Ray came home about P. NJ. on
Tuesday, ate supper and went after the
cow-went towards the river. About an
hour and a half OF two hours after he LETT,
went to the door to see if he was coming,
and Elhridge w. Reed stood about three
feet from the door He had coil of rope
deed; | met John and got into quarrel
with him and have Killed him. Reed
told me not to tell of it; it did, he should
place the body so that it would appear that
| did it. He then left and went towards
the river and | went into the house.
Witness states where she was several
days and nights after till the next Sunday
evening, when, she says, she went to meet
ing on the West side of the river; saw
Reed that night, al the ferry. He said
something to one of my sisters about Mr.
Ray, but don't know what it was. Was at
home Monday, sister Sadie with me, and
also at home Monday night, withmy sister
with me Tuesday moved away, down
10 the house | formerly lived in; stayed
there Tuesday night, and on Wednesday
went to the place moved from, to get
some hens; was there only 4 few minutes.
My husband was found the next day.
first heard Of it at the village; went up to
the grave with Rev. Mr. Rae and VIM.
\ DIRK saw Reed at the hotel the day the
body was found The prisoner was dis
charged from arrest that week. Can't re-
member when | saw hum after that. |
moved up river after that, and used to See
Reed he 'toted' up that way | saw him
in December and he put up his team at
VIM. Boynton's and stayed over night |
asked him about my husband and what
cause he had to Kill HIM He said they
met and he got mad and got into fight
down on the flat and he killed him Said he
was driving our COW down from his field,
and got into the fight and he struck Mr.
Ray with a club had a smart fight and he
killed him; should not have done so ii Mr..
Ray hadn't struck him. Said he hurt his
hand IN the fight said he had the smart
est fight he ever had that was the way he
expressed himself | asked him if my
husband made any noise and he said he
'hollered.' Some one came in and inter-
ruptcd the conversation Reed didn't want
me to tell about it ; he said it would be as
bad for me as for him if did. This is all
| remember. Reed said he buried his hat
on the island under a stump, Had no con-
versatiOn with him after that He didn't
tell me where he buried the body.
Cross-eXamined | don't know as ever
had any improper connexion with Reed
am lett-handcd never told Reed that
anybody had dug hole oil the island
Reed did not knock atmy door that night
did not know that Reed was there when
| opened the door Ray had been gone
an hour and halt or two hours. Don't
know what Reed was waiting there for;
didn't know anything about Rays death
till he told me Of ii. When | opened the
door could have seen my husband halt
way to the bank of the river; could have
heard him some distance; the cow had
bell on Reed had rope; didn't ask him
what tor. 1t startled me some when | saw
him. | stepped outside the door and shut
1t, OF it came to after me Reed was very
much excited; he told me he had done a
horrid deed; that was the first thing he
said he told me if didn't keep the secret
he would put the body where it would
appear that had done it. was afraid Of
my life that and the talk OF others fright
ened me. He told me to go into the
house told me to say Ray Went away
Wednesday morning,
Don't remember that | sold my hus-
bands gum sold the COW to nv brother
didn't sell the gun Have no recollection
that applied to any one for insurance on
my husbands life My sister washed the
floor the next day don't remember any
grease-spots which We're Scraped up. J.
K. BOynton's mother came to my house
Saturday-mv brothers wife | didn't in
qure OF Reed into the particulars of the
circumstances; asked him where my hus-
bSnd was; he acted as if he was going to
tell, but stopped made as if he was going
to speak, but didn't; thought il best to
60 into the house and tasten the door |
went in because | was afraid Reed was
III his shirt sleeves, sleeves rolled up and
no hat on: it was enough to scare any
one; | was alone in the woods with my
children that was why | was scared and
went in and shut the door
| was not afraid when | saw him at
CORK 5 in December. there asked him If
he hurt his hand and if my husband hol-
lored; | asked him to tell me about it.
Reed said he was driving my COW out of
his field had a club in his hand driving
the COW he met my husband; got into a
quarrel with him; one word brought on
another; they GOT into a fight and he killed
him, said is was a hard fight as he ever
had; said he was crazy and didn't know
what he was about. Didn't ask him about
the talk that brought on the quarrel We
We're Interrupted by somebody coming in
Reed said that my husband hollored saw
Reed many times after that, but had no
further talk about the murder
My age is 50 have four children; the
oldest is IS, the youngest 9. 1t was in
April when | went to Schoodic stayed till
my father moved into the log house in the
woods, when | Went with him. | was
married to Mr. Severance last May.