The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-23
Superior Court.
SEPTEMBER CRIMINAL TERM, 1873, sYMoNDs, j.,
PRESInTyG

PRESIDING.
State VS.. Charles Elias Prescott The Superior
Court was besieged all day Saturday by great crowd
attracted by the expectation that the prisoner,
Prescott would be put upon the stand to relate in
his own way the story of the death of Henry Will
Hams. The room was packed in sixty seconds after
the doors were opened.
The defence called large number of witnesses to
establish the fact that Williams was quarrelsome
character, and made practice of carrying danger
GUS weapons, and that he had pistol and knife on
the day when he was killed, while the prisoner had
the reputation Of peaceable fellow.
Prescott, the defendant, was then called.
A. w. Bradbury, Esq, conducted the examination.
The prisoner spoke in low, distinct voice, and
without apparent excitement, though he was deathly
white when he took the stand. His name, he said,
is Charles Elias Prescott. He is now % years old.
His childhood was passed in Bangor. His father de-
serted his mother when he was 10 years old. His
mother had six children and was unable to provide
for them. He tried to support himself by working
on farm. Whenhe was about II years old, he had
long fit Of sickness, and recovered slowly. After
he began TO get better he had spells Of dizziness to
which he has ever since been subject. He had dis
charges from his ears, which ceased however after
two or three months. He had previously been small
for his age but began to grow after this sickness and
continued to grow until he attained his present
stature After this illness he did not go to school.
Can read little, by spelling out the words, but
not write. His mother was unable to take care of
him and he went to the poor farm.
Prescott's mother came to Portland in 1873. He
followed her in 1874 and was employed as hostler.
I'm the fall he went back to Bangor and went to the
poor farm during the winter, being unwel and unfit
to work. The next spring he returned to Portland,
rlrn11
season. Early in the winter he froze his feet while
hauling hay and went back to the amshouse in Ban
gor. In the spring of 1876 he went to Lewiston,
where he drove job wagon for two three months.
He was taken SICK and was sick abed at his mothers
house in Portland Tor several weeks. Then he went
to Boston and got job teamster. In the fall he
went back to the poor farm in Bangor. In the
spring of 1877 he rejoined his mother, then living in
Gray, and has lived with her ever since. During
the summer she moved to Windham, and he went
with her. Has been sick abed at times, and always
subject to spells of dizziness but has worked when
ever he could lind anything to do. Last summer was
at work in Windham haying.
First saw Harry Williams on the 4th of July. Will
iams game along to the house where witness lived in
Windham, and witness sold him wagon. week
afterward, Saturday, July 10, Williams came back
and persuaded Prescott to go to Portland with him.
Williams had a three quart jug of liquor, and they
both drank freely. Prescott never drank any liquor
before but once. The next Sunday, July 81, Will
liams again and persuaded Prescott to 60 home
with him to Raymond. From that time, until Sep
TENDER 4, they were constantly together. Their
headquarters during these two weeks were at Will
liams' house in Raymond. On Tuesday, September
g. they came into Portland and put up their horse at
fuckers stable Franklin street, where they spent
the afternoon drinking and carousing. They slept
that night at the stable, and continued drinking
there the next day. Williams made practice of
peddling liquor from his jug, and sold liquor at the
stable that day. At nghtfall they went into shop
on Fore street, where Williams got into quarrei
and wanted to fight. Prescott interfered three
times to prevent the fight and got Williams away.
In the evening he harnessed up, with some assist
ance from Tucker, lifted Williams, who was too
drunk to help himself, into the wagon, and after
driving amlessy about the city for awhile, fat last
took the road by which they came into town and
drove out across Tukey's bridge. Arrived near the
Marine Hospital about II o'clock. Took my horse
out of the wagon and let him there to feed. We
both got out the same time; he On one side and on
the other. He was pretty well intoxicated, but did
not have to assist him cut. He did not fall down
when he got out.
Both of us embarrassed, he enc side and the
other. turned the horse loose; then went back to
the wagon, got the blankets, laid them down on
the ground. Then he wanted me to 60 to barn out
there and steal some hens with him. would not go.
He did not state any place in particular. He was
mad because would not; swore he would shoot me;
put his hand in his pocket and took out his revolver
took it away from him; then he came upon me
with knife. backed to the wagon standing near
by. This club lay on the wagon. took it and
struck him.
Question-While he was coming for you with this
knife did you or he ray anything?
Answer don't remember what was said.
Q-Was there anything said?
A;-Yes, but don't know what it was. know
he threatened me when he drew this revolver.
closed with him and took 1t away.
Q-How far had he taken it from his pocket?
Ale had taken 1t out Of his pocket and put bis
hands on it to cock it when took it away from him.
Q.-Do you remember the number of times you
struck him with this club?
Al don't remember OF striking him but twice.
Odd you strike him after he fell?
A.-No, did not, did not notice how the blow
affected him. whether he fell directly OF not; or in
which direction he fell; struck him quick as |
could. There was no fence between the wagon and
the barn. was between the wagon and the barn
on the same side OF the road as the wagon. He wa
about four or five feet from me when the club
the seat Of the wagon. could not have letreateo
any further from him in any way, either UNDER owe
around the wagon without giving him an oppor
tunty ii so disposed to the knife upon mel thei
went and took OF my horse led him to the barr
ana gave him his feed, tnen went out Wnere w IL
liams was; 1 took hold of him, spoke to him two 0
three times, and he didn't answer; carried the qnil
up to the barn and spread it down; went out afte
him; brought HIM In and laid him down; lay dow
by the side of him; covered him and yself over an
lay by him until morning
Odd you know that he was dead?
Al did not until the next morning between fou
and i've O'CLOCK When spoke TO him then he di
not answer put my hand over and saw that b
was cold. wrapped him up and laid him in Ii
wagon. cut out the pockets just before did
because my hands would not go into his pockets, an
wished to take care of his money-some IS an