The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-29

had gone home Stepping out of the office 1
closed the iron door; met Walter Hall; noticed
some connection at the foot of the corridor; I
asked Walter about it, he said, "Mr. Pennell
had hurt himself" passed down the corridor;
two men had Mr.. Pennell holding him up by
the arms; he was taken into the sheriff's office
there was large bruise on the side of his
head and cut, his whiskers were bedaubed
with vomit. 1 took towel and washed off
the stains: when DR.. Ring came he directed
him to be carried into the mayors office,
where he lay down. When l first saw Mr..
Pennell he was very pale. trembling and APP
was the matter; he appeared to be confused
and did not answer; he held his hands up to
his head exclaiming, 80 my head, my head"
He had a cut over the eye; I noticed q large
spot of blood on the door of the treasurer's
office; Pennell could not walk; the bruise on
his forehead was red, pulled up, soft and ap-
peared to have been caused by round instru-
ment; did not notice bruise or cut upon his
nose; l stopped in the mayors office fifteen
minutes, went back to the treasurer's office to
lock up the safe; 1t wRs open and all inside
was in confusion; the money boxes were on the
floor, and books and papers scattered in all
directions. The window toward Chestnut
street was open two or three feet. At Mr..
Pennells request l opened the safe and carried
several tin boxes to him, which he opened and
found some papers; saw Mr.. Pennell again
that night IL bed at his house, at the request of
the doctor; Pennell was setting up in bed,
bolstered by pillows; his face was badly dis
colored; saw four distinct red marks upon
the right side of the throat. and one on the
left side, apparently finger marks of some per-
son. He complained of pain in his side. The
corridor was not brightly lighted objects were
distinct. though 1 could see the forms of per-
sons at the lower end of the corridor.
CRoss-ExAMINED.
The chandelier at the foot of the stairs lead
ing to the court room was not lighted. There
was light on the corner of the Probate Court
room and at the head of the stairs in front of
the court room. The light from up stairs re-
Elected below; the chandelier at the foot OF the
stairs was usually lighted. There were lights
in the Register of Deeds Office. The Superior
Court was in session at the time. Didn't know
the men holding up Mr. Pennell, nor where
they came from. There was an entertainment
in City Hall that night and people had begun
to come before Mr.. Pennell was carried from
the building; didn't make close examination
OF the blood stain upon the floor of the office.
1t was as large as two hands. 1t was located
at the side of the door, fronting the walnut
case containing the scales. The spot remained
several days in the same condition; hadn't
seen the discoloration there before. The cnt
was ragged and at the right side of the eye.
The confusion was on the right side of the
forehead. 1 worked for Mr.. Pennell during
1873 and 1874; was paid wages. Not large
amount of money was kept in the safe when I
was left alone, but drew from the bank as 1
required to meet demands.
Reuben Townsend
OF Portland, testified: am messenger in the
United States Circuit Court; remember the
evening of Dec. 80, 1874. 1 was up in the
room over the county treasurer's office; went
to the building little before 6 O'Clock:
went directly to the room; came out at 6.1O D.
m, and descended the back stairs with George
Chairman fOund no 1f
office half way open, Charles Field and George
Mitchell had hold of Mr.. Pennell, whom thew
set in chair. asked what the matter was:
they didn't know. The first thing Mr.. Penneli
SAID was they have robbed me and taken
everything" I bathed him with water; found
bruise on the right side and on the top of
his head. turned to Mr.. Hall and said, "My
God, his head is stove inn; the place on top
OF the head was about as large as silver dol
lar; there was blood upon his face, and his
whiskers We're covered with froth. He looked
very pale; didn't recollect his trembling. He
remained in the chair ten minutes before they
took him into the Mayors Office he was car
RED in chair; ne couldn't stand on his feet.
Mrs Hall and Mr.. Skillings went into the
treasurer's office closed the window, picked up
the papers and locked up the safe. The papers
were scattered all over the floor inside the iron
railing; didn'tlsee any discoloration of the
floor.
CROSs-ExAMINED.
When was up stairs, heard no disturbance
below. Don't remember whether the court
was in session or not. Mr.. Field and Mr..
Mitchell were jurymen; should say the place
on the side of the head was a cash. There
was good deal of excitement, and 1 didn't
take special notice of the bruise. The cut
might have been received by one falling
against any object.
George H. Libby,
Of Portland, testified: On the night of Dec.
Both was in the City Clerks office: had re-
turned from tea. About 6.19 passed out of
the office and stopped the newsboy to get nv
paper; He said, .'Mr. Pennell is fallen' I
passed around and met Edward Fl. Wilson.
was lying inside the Office near the door, Two
men were coming down stairs. 1 went to the
police department Immediately to call help
MIR. Pennell was lying against the jamb of the
door upon his right side: When returned
Mr.. Pennell was sitting in chair. think
the window was open. Pennell's face was pale
and his forehead bruised. did not hear him
speak at that time; didn't notice any tremb-
ling; didn't examine his face. saw him af-
forwards in the Mayors office; he appeared
stupid and dazed.
CROSS EXAMINATION.
The iron door was swung back about As de-
grees. Wilson suggested that should 60 to
the police station. The window was raised Is
to "a inches; people were coming in to attend
the lecture at the time of the affair. told the
police .'the County Treasurer has been rob-
bed;" don't know what led me to this conclu-
sion talked with Mr.. Pennell in the Mayors
room. He said "they struck me; had quite
an amount in the safe." He didn't give the
amount Something was said about the pocket
book, but can't tell what it was. He spoke
about his ward s money, but can't ell the sub
stance of it. The ground outside was frozen
as hard as granite, and 1 coul,in't find any
tracks.
REDIRECT.
The lecture did not commence until eight:
the doors were open, however, before six
o'clock; don't remember what suggested to me
the idea of violence.
VIM. H. Stillings.
of Portland, testified: Was janitor in 1874 of
the county buildings. On the evening of Dec.
30, 1874, was in the Clerk of Courts office;
when Miss Hall and myself stepped out of the
office it was just Cos o'clock. heard door
open; saw two men at Pennell's office door and
two men were coming down stairs. / went in
to Mr.. Pencils office, closed window, which
was up three feet, and turned on the gas.
crowd was around Mr.. Pennell; passed towel
and some water and then went for hack. As
Pennell sat in the chair saw the side of his
head was discolored and whiskers red and
white. He was pale and appeared very much
excited. When returned we took him in the
hack and carried him home.
The urinal down the back stairs was sort of
common property During the evening I
went down into cellar; the door was not lock-
ed; the door leading, from the basement into
the area at the back of the building was un-
locked; the fence opposite the window was
torn partially down; several boards were off.
There is an entrance through to the street by
the side of the church; the wind was very
violent and cold; there were pair of wooden
shutters directly under the treasnrer's window.
1t was five feet from the window sill to the
top Of the shutter and seven feet from there to
the ground. Next morning found sand on
top of the shutter and marks upon the brick
work above. 1t appeared as though some one
had stepped upon it.
AFTERNOON SESSION,
CROSS EXAMINATION OF sT1LLlNGs.
1t was common for the door leading into the
basement from the corridor to be unlocked.