The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-29

1 At the coming In of the court yestofua
morning the testimony for the defence was COZ
tinued. Alexander Bell. policeman, was th
first witness. He testified: Have known Gran
for three or four years. In May, 1874, foun
Grant cleaning vault on India street. ii
said that Deputy Williams had given him on
permit to clean bot h vaults Williams told m
he never told him So Knew his reputation
be bad 1 consider his reputation bad iron
what have heard people say of him.
Cross northumberland give the name
of any one in particular, but have heard tn
matter generally spoken OF.
Charles H. Williams, Deputy City Marshal
testified: Have been on the police force TO
about thirteen years. Know Grants reputa
| ton to be bad Recollect the conversation Mr.
Bell has just spoken of; did not give Grant per
mission to clean two vaults with one permit
| Permits are given-to make men careful to dc
their work WELL
| Cross e1anaiaation-Have heard w. f. Saw
yer, Joseph Sterling and Daniel Gould say tina
Grants reputation was bad. Have always had
TO watch Grant to make him do his work well
| Never have charged more than % cents for 6
| permit.
| Cyrus X. Bridges, Deputy City Marshal, wa
| next called and testified: Know the reputation
of plaintiff to be bad for truth and We racity.
Cross COMMUNICATIVE heard Mr. L. Rum
merry say that Grants reputation was bad. Ii
has always been considered bad in the police
department
Charles L. York, policeman, testified: Have
known Grant for six or seven years; his repu'
tation is bad. L arrested Grant at the time OF
the ASA ult upon Gillen. Grant stated to me
that he was shovelling dirt out of the cellar,
and Gilen went in, and not seeing him, struck
him with the shovel. In less than five minutes
Grant said that Gillen went to strike him, and
in so doing struck the shovel. He then threw
him into puddle of water and choked him
until the starch was out of him.
Cross COMMUNICATIVE heard Mrs. Frates,
Mrs. Flaherty and Hugh Dolan say that his
word was bad. Mrs Frates said he was an
awful old liar. and Mrs. Flaherty did the same,
as did Mr.. Dolan, Alonzo Wentworth said
that Grant was an old liar and thief. James
Nodridge. on Centre street, told me that his
reputation was bad, as did George Hail. Have
not named all who have said that his repnta-
ton was bad, as cannot remember names.
Re.direct-I might have used the words "hard
case" and "biggest" at the police station when
the reporter was present. Think they were
used, and may have used them myself.
Hiram ii. Rich testified: Reside in Portland;
have known the plaintiff since 1866. His rep
utation for truth and veracity is bad.
Cross e1ani7aation-Have heard several say
his reputation was bad, but cannot give any
names. Have heard several citizens say his
reputation was bad.
Edwin 1T. Rich, policeman, testified Have
been on the rolice force for seven years. His
reputation for truth and veracty is bad.
Cross-e1anaination-H heard several out
side of the police force say his reputation was
bad. Have heard Mr.. Wentworth and ex-City
Marshal Clark say So Have heard fifty per-
sons say that his reputation was bad. Have
no impression about it, but know have heard
it said.
E. L. Cobb testified: Reside in Deerng, near
the residence of Mr. Grant. Have known him
for seven years. His reputation for truth and
veracity is bad.
Cross-e1ana i,aation--Hav heard quite num-
Der of the neighbors say that his reputation
er, and q. o. Lambert say SO.
Otis Cobb testified: Reside in Deering; have
known Grant for six or seven years. His repu-
tation is bad.
p sS-e1an,andtion-Have had some little
trouble with Grant, Have heard Almon Leach,
James Grant and Eben Frank say his reputa-
ton was bad Have heard good deal of talk
about him everywhere; have heard him lightly
spoken of in the stores of Mr.. Abbott and Mr..
Dyer; have heard him called liar there.
Mr.. Lauriston Rummery testified: Have
known Grant for some time, and his reputation
is bad.
Cross erdnaiaation-All who have ever heard
speak of him have called him liar. Have
heard George Libby and Hugh Dolan say he
did not keep his word; might have said so my
SELF if I did, was not far out of the way
Heard his brother say he would not own him he
was such damned liar. Heard man named
Brown say he could not be believed.
A. w. Barbour, policeman, testified. Know
Grants reputation to be bad.
Observation-Disclosures heard F. A Smith
say he was liar; heard his brother, James
Grant, say he could not believe him. The state
ment was voluntary. Have heard it spoken of
in the police department.
BENZ. G. Miles, policeman, testified: Know
Grant and his reputation is bad.
Gro s. e1anaination-Have heard people on the
street say there goes Grant, the big old liar.
Have heard a rumber of persons speak of his
liar, but cannot give the names. Have heard
twenty make the remark.
facfiEo1.
Know Grants reputation to be bad.
Cross e1anaiuation-Have heard a number of
persons outside of the police department say
his reputation was bad, but cannot give the
names of the persons who said so.
f. A. Smith was the next witness, and testi
fed that he resided in Portland. Know Grant,
and his reputation is bad.
Dissemination had conversation
with Grant; have heard number of persons
say his reputation was bad, but do not remem-
Der the names.
At this point the defence rested the case, and
the plaintiff commenced the rebuttal testimony.
The first witness was Stephen Grant, the
plaintiff in the case. He testified as follows:
Reside in Deering. l first heard of the article
upon going into the Municipal Court the morn
ing it was published. 1 next saw it at Abbott's
store in the evening of the same day; next day
went to the PRESS office and bought a paper
containing the article. After reading it went
up stairs to find the editor; raped on the door
and asked for the editor. A young man who
came to the door said that he was one of the
editors. 1 cannot say positively, but think that
the young man is the one at the desk [pointing
to Mr. Mayo.l Cat this point the account of
his visit to the PRESS office it was shown
that he did not see either Of the owners of the
paper, or the managing editors,) I was at
work clearing out cellar on Ceptre street, and
young Gilen was helping me. He attempted
to leave, and in fact did leave. In the afternoon
he returned intoxicated and began to abuse me.
I was excited and threw shovel of the dirt
was shovelling at him. As threw it Gillen
started for me, and the shovel struck him in
the face. The next morning 1 went into court
and paid the fine, $40 and costs. My brother,
who has been spoken of, is dead. @Heand I
were not on good terms for twenty years before
he died Know Eben Frank; employed him
in haying, and had no trouble with him; paid
him prompt. Formerly lived in Saccarappa,
and was acquitted with all of the citizens in
that vicinity. The witnesses called have either
been my neighbors or police officers. Have
had a slight trouble with Otis Cobb about the