The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-20
Superior Court.
SEPTEMBER CRIMINAL TERM, 1878, sYMoNDs, j.,
PRESIDING.
SECOND DAY.

PRESIDING.
SECOND DAY.
THURsDAY-State VS.. Charles Elias Prescott. In.
dicted for the murder of Harry Williams
joel Leighton testified that short time previous
to the homicide he rode with Williams the deceased
that Williams was in measure under the influence
ofliquor and exhibited to him one hundred and
forty-seven dollarsone hundred dollars in bills and
the remainder in silver.
Jane Williams, the wife of the deceased was the
next witness; she testified that her husbands real
name was Goddard; that they were married in Eng
land in 1859; Williams stole horse, and to escape
punishment fed to this country, and nine months
after witness followed him; first saw Prescott about
two months before the homicide; Prescott and Harry
usedto be gone most of the time Harry used to buy
hens in the country, carry them to the city and sell
them; did not know of his death until read it in
the newspapers; he was afflicted with Bright's dis
ease OF the kidneys; he addicted to the use of in
toxicating liquors, and of late had drank hard.
Patrick Donahue testified to seeing Williams and
Prescott in Andrew McGlinchy's shop on the We'd
nesday preceding the discovery of the body Sunday
that he had some words with Williams, who was in
toxicated and Prescott apprehendng that friends of
witness might interfere, called him into the back
shop, told him he was prepared for them and asked
him to feel of his pocket; that witness did 80 and
James Gould, the coroner, who held the inquest,
was called and identified the clothing.
c. X. Bridges, called by the State: Am City Mar
shal; have known Harry Williams for four or five
years: he was about five feet and seven or eight
inches in height, would weigh about las or $50
pounds, was quite sickly and weak in muscular de-
velopment; on Monday night after the body of Will
hams was discovered I, with Deputy Sheriff Hall,
went TO Windham and found Prescott at the house
OF Manchester; we walked in without knocking;
told him would like to speak with him moment
at the door and he followed me out; told him that
Mrs. Williams was very anxious about her husband
and asked him if he could tell me where he last saw
him; he was little excited, but said that he had
gone to Boston; asked him when he left he said it
was Thursday; 1 asked him what he told him he was
going to Boston for, and he said he thought the off,
GERS were after him; asked him what the officers
were after him for and he said he had been selling
liquor; asked him how long he would remain
away? how much money had he9 he said he had
considerable money; I asked him how much; he said
he should think from two to theree hundred dollars
asked him how he went to Boston, and he said he
didn't know whether he went by boat or train;
then said to him, think you and Williams have
been stealing hens, what do you say to that?"
SWELL, said he, faint going to deny it;'' asked
him if he stole hens from the Cape. and he said yes;
1 told him l should have to arrest him; brought
him to the city; he said he would come with me
without putting the irons on him; he told me that
when he was in the city he made his home on Green
street, asked him if he knew the name of the per-
son who kept the place, and he said at first he did
mott asked him if it was Nell Pray's, and he said
yes; asked him where they were on Wednesday,
and he said they out at the colored camp-meet
ing trading horses and trafcking; he said that he
was at Nell Pray's from Thursday after
noon until Saturday, when he left for Wind
ham where he had engaged to dig a cellar.
asked him if he and Williams ever had any
trouble; he said they did down on Fore street
that he struck Williams and laid him out about ten
feet and he guessed he wouldn't trouble him again.
brought Prescott into the city, locked him up in a
cell in the police station. and then sent for County
Attorney Libby. After Mr.. Libby talked with Mel
Pray and another girl, Prescott was called ill., Moth.
ing was said to him to induce him to make any con.
tesson or statement. said to him, 81 suppose Vol
think you were arrested on charge of stealing hens
but it is not SO; you are arrested on a charge o
numbering Harry Williams, are you guilty?" HI
said, mo, am not!'' He did not look me in tn
tace. asked him what he was out at Stroudwate
for last Thursday. He said he was not there Thurs
day. asked him if he wasn't cut there Thursda
or Friday, with team, and he said he was not
Mr.. Libby, them asked him what he had in bis wag
on when he was out there the canal on the tow
path, on that day. Prescott stopped nearly
minute, it seemed to me, and then said, swell, see
ing you have got SO far, may as well tell you tn
whole" MIR. Libby in his questions to him aske
what he had in his wagon, covered with a quilt
Prescott then said, that he and Williams were dow
at McGlinchy's shop Wednesday night, RENAME
there until about nine o'clock, went to Tucker
stable, got their team and started for the colore
camp meeting, at Yarmouth that after getting owe
by a barn near the Marine Hospital, they had som
trouble; that Williams wanted him to go and stes
some hens, but he refused; that thereupon William
came for him with revolver which he, Prescott
grabbed from him before he had time to cock it
that then Williams came at him again with a kni
and he, Prescott took this stick, with the brass en-,
from the wagon and struck Williams twice over IL
headi Mr.. Libby asked him If Williams made an
noise groan after he struck him the first time,
said no. Mr.. Libby asked him why he struck hi
the second time; Prescott said he wanted to be su
that he would not come for him again. He tht
took the body into the barn, laid down and slept III
til morning; about five o'clock he placed the body
the wagon and drove to Pride's Bridge, thinking
would carry the body home to his wife, but he W
afraid he might be arrested, and SO turned arour
and came to the city, His horse tired and
went to S. j. Hezleton's, on Portland St., where
put up his horse, hired another, drove out to Maso
woods and buried the body; asked him where t
pockets were and he told me he thought would Fl
them at the barn, and did; he said that he ne'
went armed, that he never carried a revolver; {
tanned the revolver from Nell Pray; 1 asked Pr
colt If Harry came too after they left the city;
he said yes and they drank four or five times;
said that Williams had eight OR nineudollars, VIII
be took.