Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE CAIN MURDER TRIAL.


RocKLAxp, Oct. s. In Cain murder trial
today the state offered to prove the effect OF
each rain since the eth of August on the
stream where the body was found, bat it was
excluded.
VIM Seavey testified TO crossing the stream,
abou, twenty feet below where the body was
found. the week previous TO its discovery and
did not see or smell it.
Three bows testified to bathing in the
stream in that vicinity between the day OF
Willie Gains death and the discovery Of the
body, some of them quite near, and within
sight Of the spot where the body was found,
and did not see or smell it.
Mrs. Ellen Cain, mother of Willie, testi-
fed that he had two ten cent pieces and five
v hen he left home and identified. as his,
little pocket book which was found in the
pond; she also described his clothing, etc.
VIM. Grisnalle testified to finding. in the
pond, after the disappearance, a brass handled
knife which corresponded to the description
Of the one Willie Cain owned.
Drs. j. Is Walker and w. A. Banks, who
made the second post norton on Willie Gam
testified to the condition Of the body; both
stated that body having been drowned three
weeks before found, lain in water
and foated to the place where
found, and having been partly exposed
to the sun and air. would, in their
opinion, have presented very different ap-
pearance. The exposed parts would ordina-
rily become maggoty in a very few days, and
should have expected the soft parts to have
been attacked BY crows, etc. DIR. Banks
testified TO have found lime by microscopic
tests in a lock of hair. DR.. Hitchcock, who
did not view the body. upon hypothetical
question, expressed an agreement with the
preceding Witnesses.
Caleb Hodgdon, jailer at Wiscasset, cor
witness Montgomery as to the
statements of Richards. On cross-examina-
ton, he said that the Gross boy had fits or
spasms while in Jail, and that Detective
Wiggin said that both boys were alone before
the interview with Montgomery.
j. A. Mcguire testified to being on the
road crossing Barrett's farm on the Sunday
two weeks before the body was found, and
having his attention attracted by a very
strong olor, like the smell of decaying flesh.
Some witnesses also testified to seeing the
mother of Gross and the father of Richards
al, 10 no nod
was missing After some further testimony
on minor points, the prosecution stopped.
Mr.. Staples opened for the defence. allud-
ing in strong terms to the
tender years and humble circumstances Of
the clients and to the intimidations practced
upon them. rope had been put around
the neck of Gross by the citizens of Rock
port, and Richards was intimitated and
threatened with death if he did not confess
on the evening of Willie Gains disappear
ance. ut the pond, and also when the citizens
had failed to find the body in one part of the
pond. they would intimidate the boys until
they induced them to name a new place. As
none of these confessions were true, they
should show that it was impossible for Rich
show Willie was not at the pond that after
noon. The pond was searched most thorough
and if the body was there it must have beer
found. 1t was not strange that Willie went
to Goose river, because his father was work
ing in that vicinity. In the pocket OF Willie's
coat was paper collar, the condition of
which shows that it could not have been
under water IN the pond. Will also show
the pocket book to have been in another boy 3
possession at the time of Willie's death that
Willie could not swim, and undoubtedly he
was water enough to float the body. There
was no hole in the pants would have been
if the body had been hooked up, and the lime
in the clothes can be accounted for. The
whole case of the prosecution hangs on con-
fe.siors by intimidations, which proved will
rule them out.
Mrs Susan F.. Richards. mother of the
older prisoner testified: That on the day of
willies disappearance, her son Bert went
away at IL o'clock. and came home and ate
his dinner at 8; fell asleep while reading
after dinner. and remained till four when he
went with the witness mother to his aunts
and stayed till ), from their he went to get
some medicine and returned at o'clock The
witness testified to the men coming for Bert
twice and what was said. He was told he
would be sent to prison if he didn't tell
Oaths were freely used Witness went to
the pond, and there heard someone call to 1
boat to throw him overheard. She said she
gave Bert two two cent pieces and FIVE to
buy medicine, in the morning. Bert had three
knives in July, one brass handled one.
Witness thought Bert did not admit seeing
Willie at the pond till after he had been
On cross-examination, witness admitted
that before the coroner's inquest she testified
that she dill not hear any threats at the pond,
also that she asked Bert on the way home
why he didn't tell her the Cain boy was
drowed. and he said, "what would be the
use oft
The Steamer City OF RicAmoaA F1oateA.
RocKLASp, Oct. 6. The principal leaks
N the sfsamer Civ of Richmond ha wing hcon