Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-04
END OF THE CHADB0URBE TRIAL.


upon the poor stricken dumb boy that they
might screen themselves and thus go unpun-
i.hed; that if there was any sympathy to De
exercised here, it should go out to him ana
not to those that planned the deed. and USED
him a. an unwilling instrument TO aid them
in il. accomplishment, and prepared the
public mind to believe that the dumb boy
was the party solely guilty. lie described the
threats made by the respondents against
Watson, the effect Of blood found on the
ear Of BENJAMIN, the blood stains found on
the clothing: argning that the accumulation
Of blood on both legs of the drawers, with
but slight accumulation on the overails,
show ed that they were worn by the same
| person. The position of the cut on the rlght
leg of the drawers did not correspond with
| the locality of the wound on the right leg OF
the mute; that the signs of the mute pre-
yious TO the murder, so far as they could De
interpreted and understood, implicated his
father and brother in the deed. He urged
| upon the jury the importance of punishment
of the crime Of this secret character, and
argued that if the respondents were to go
free upon the overwhelming testimony
against them presented by the government,
we might bid adieu to the enforcement OF law
for the protection of life. and surrender
to the knife of the assassin. He declared
| that it was an absolute impossbility for the
mute 10 commit the crime alone, and argued
that he had accomplces; that the mute knew
no master except the respondents; that he
was subject to their dictation and control;
that there was bitter feud existing between
Watson and the respondents; that they had a
motive for committing the crime, while the
most friendly feelings existed between the
deceased and the mute, who had no motive;
that the medical testimony was conclusive in
classes of the wounds on the body of Watson
and that two knifes were used; that dirk
knife was found in the possession of Chad
bourne's family, the existance of which they
denied was used with the jack knife owned
bv the mute that the contradictory and i'm
probable accounts given by the respondents
were for the purpose of averting
suspicion from themselves. Mr.. Cleaves
plea was most able one in behalf of the
defenceless, and those who desired to live in
security and under the protection of the law.
Judge Symonds delivered a most able and
impartial charge, occupying nearly two hours.
The jury then retired and at o'clock re-
turned a verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree, as to both respondents. County
Attorney Peaks, by reason of the severe
labors of the trial, is confined to his house
with sickness. Ever since the crime was
discovered Mr.. Peaks has been interchangeable
in his efforts to discover the perpetrators. and
deserves much credit for his success. The
ability exhibited by Attorney Gen. Cleaves
during the trial, has caused many common
datory remarks. This case has occupied
eleven days, and being the first case
of the kind every tried in this
county, has excited great interest.
Review Of the Case.
PORTLAND, Oct. ;.
Although the murder was of a comparatively
recent date, June Goth, yet brief recapitu-
lation of the facts will not prove uninterest-
ing. On the night of June 10Th. Alvin I.
Watson. a man about thirty years of age,
| living alone about three miles from Parkman
Corner, Piscataquis county, was found muir
dered in his yard, with more than forty stabs
| in different parts of his body. 1t appeared
that Watson went to his home on the night
of the murder about o'clock in the even
| ing and retired. 1t is supposed that the muir
derer entered the house about midnight, and
that Watson was awakened by noise and
was attacked while passing into an adjoining
room. 1t also appears that Watson succeed
ing in reaching window, called for help, as
blood Was discovered on the window sill
and khis cries were heard. He received
| fifty-two cuts in all, some twenty of which
were struck to the hilt of the knife, any OF
which would have caused his death. The
victim WAS dragged outside and then left as
| light was seen in a neighboring house. and
the body Was found early Monday morning.
Samuel Byron Chadbourne, a deaf mute, Is
years old, confessed the crime and his knife
was found in his pocket covered with blood.
u
1t appears that there had been trouble be.
tween Watson and the Chadbourne family fol-
some years. 1t being claimed that Watson
was too intimate with Wallace Chadbourne'
wife Wallace is brother of Byron. The
latter was arrested aad July ID had an exam
nation and was fully committed to the Ban
gor Jail for trial. Shortly after bloody clothes
and knife which were known to belong
to Wallace Chadbourne, the brother of Byron,
were found, and on the 26th of July Benja-
min Chadbourne, the father. and Wallace
were arrested and had an examination, when
il was claimed by the government that the
wounds on watson's body were inflicted by
two different instruments. Wallace told con.
fiicting stories. and it vas proved that he and
Watson had had trouble. Blood was found
in the old mans whiskers and on one ear.
| Suicide With a Pistol.
BANGcR, Oct. 8. Benjamin X. Laird
l.