The Portland daily press., 1881-10-11
THE RoCKPoRT TRAGEDY.
Trial of Gross and Richards for
Murder.
THE GROSS BOY TEsTIFIEs IN HIS
OWN BEHALF.

RocKIAND, Oct. 10.-In the Cain murder
trial TODAY Edward Freeman Gross, the young
or of the two prisoners, IL years of age was
called to the stand and examined at great
length. He testified to being at the pond with
Richards and others July 18th, corroborating
Richards. After dinner he went and picked
strawberries and then went where men were
moving with machine. Afterwards he went
down and saw them catching mackerel. He
saw his father, played awhile, then went fish
ing with his father at balf-past 6. He was at
the pond in the afternoon about O'Clock with
Charley Philbrook and Leavitt boy. Bert
Richards was not there then and did not see
Willie Cain that afternoon. He told the story
of being called up and taken to the pond and
confessed to the drowning through fear. He
told that they tarew him in by the lily pods;
told of being taken to Mrs. Haney, who said
they knocked him over the head in the woods
aud buried him between two knobs, and he
adopted her story. He told of being hung up
and being told that he had only ten minutes to
live. and he told how they pushed him off the
edge He said at Wiscasset Detective Wiggin
pretended to be his Counsel, and said if he
would tell the same story as at Rockport he
would clear him, and witness told the same
story After the body was found Wi gin told
witness to tell Bert Richards some of their
folks carried the body there. He had told the
money story, but it was not true because he
lid not see Willie Cain that afternoon. On
cross examination he said he told the County
Attorney that he told his father about the
drowning OF Willie Cain when out fishing in
the presence of his father who didn't denyit.
de had to tell them something to get rid of
Them Did not tell his father that in the boat.
At Mrs. Morey's house witness mother be-
sought him to tell her the truth, and he told
ner that Bert Richards pushed Willie over
board. This was before the rope was put on
my neck.
Jonathan Gross recalled. testified that Free
man did not tell him when fishing where he
mad been that afternoon nor did he ask him.
Jacob Richards recalled, testified he had no
conversation with Barley except as he stated.
After some testimony as To the width and
depth of the stream where the clothes lay, de-
tence stopped, and the State offered testimony
in rebuttal.
j. e. Moore testified he was present at Wis
casset Jail when D1tective Wiggin talked with
Gross Wiggir advised him to tell just what
was true. Gross said Bert pushed Willie
overheard; that Bert got twenty cents from
Willie and gave MIN Lbn w illness n6dFu w lg-
gin ask Bert Rich ards after The latter knew
the body was found elsewhere what be had to
say about drowning him at the pond. telling
uim if he had told anything through fear he
had better correct it, Bert said the last he
saw of the body it was at the pond. The boys
we're asked if they supposed their parents
moved the body, and Bert said he did not
know.
koxana Stinson swas not at Pigeon woods
when Bert Richards was there and never said
or heard any one say anything about sburning
at the stake.
Witnesses were called who saw Davis, who
found the body, on the day it was found under
circumstances TO discredit some portions OF has
statement.
DR.. A. It. Piper testified that Davis said he
was going to examine traps and said nothing
about ducks.
Thos b. Gross testified that Davis stated be-
fore the coroner's jury that the shirt when
found was spread out and only the arms fold
ed. Witness also said lsora Gross testified at
the inquest that she did tell her mother on re-
turn from the pond that the Cain boy was
pushed overheard, which was in contradiction
Of her testimony before the Court.
Mrs. Eliza Jones, who lives near the pond,
testified that Willie Cain came to her house
near noon Oh July 18th and brought a keg to her
boat. Witness was at the pond that night after
Bert Richards came ashore. His mother asked
him why he did not tell her about it, and he
replied, "What in hell did 1 want to tell you
for?"
William N. Higgins was at the place where
the clothes lay the morning after the body was
found and saw large fiat rock in the stream
which looked as if it would cover the spot
where the clothes had been. Had been in
swimming there and had not noticed the rock
in the stream before.
S. e. Shepherd testified that it was the 14th,
not the 18th, that the boys were taken to Pig
con woods, that when word was brought to his
office that day that The body was found there
freeman said, That's where we killed him
and left him under tree"
Two witnesses testified to seeing Bert Rich
ards and his father standing for halfsor thre
quarters of an hour by Carleton & Norwood's
store the evening of the 18th.
Albert Richard testified that he was at the
pond on the 18th and saw a trail as if soae-
hody had been dragged from the edge OF the
pond inland son distance.
Jailor Hodgdon testified to hearing CONVEX
sation between his wife and Freeman Gross
three weeks ago, aud that Freeman said Bert
Richards pushed Willie Cain overheard, and
that Willie came up once after he sank and
that he was drowned there.
The evidence is expected to be all out to-
morrow,