The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-10
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE RoCKPoRT TRAGEDY.
Trial of Gross and Richards for
Murder.
ONE OF THE ACCUSED ON THE STAND

RocKLAND, Oct S.-The Cain murder trial,
continued to-day, the court room being crowded
with spectators.
Mrs Lizzie Prince testified that she was at
the house of Mrs. Bagley, young Richards
aunt, July r. and that Bert came there at
about halfspast to saw wood.
Israel D. Manning testified that on the night
of July % there were one or two showers. 1t
also raiDed ia showers most of the 25th, and
again the night of that day. From the 18th to
the 3Oth it was foggy.
Granville Upham testified: While driving
from Camden to Rockport last spring boy on
the road asked him to give him ride; took
him IL; be said his name was Willie Cain;
brought him to Robert Gains house.
Ambrose Gushnee testified that he was at
the place where the body was found Would
Judge the paper collar had not been under
water any length of time; should judge the
water had been twenty inches to two feet
higher than it was that day.
A. R. Dunton testified that he saw where
the clothes lay. What clover and red top
there was, was entirely dead, but the weeds
and wild grass had grown up several inches,
grass growing outside of the spot, but looked
as though it had been cropped by cattle in
places. Examined the grass specially, because
one man said it had been killed by pickle. l
contradicted, because pickle kills everything
and these other grasses had grown. Examined
the stream; should judge the water had re-
Gently been Is or Is inches higher. 1t rained
in torrents, with terrific thunder and light
ming, the night of July Goth.
Ralph B. Richards, the older OF the two
prisoners, who will be 10 the 3Oth of the pres
emit moth, testified at great length. He said
he was home the forenoon Of the 18th of July.
Little past noon be went to Lily Pond with
Freeman Gross, Hall Hill and Eddie Went
worth; all went in swimming; remained about
fifteen minutes; came out and went across the
pond for blueberries; stayed about half an
hour; came back and all went in swimming
again; turned the punt over TO dive from; re-
manned twenty or twenty-five minutes; then
dressed and went to the store; then went to
sister Angelette's, then to store and then
home Got home about o'clock. Got dinner
and went to aunts and sawed wood; stayed
about an hour; got home again about half-past
5. Went to the store for medicine and tried to
find father to get it. Found him at the store;
didn't find the man who sold medicine Went
to sisters and stayed fifteen minutes; went to
the store again and then home; carried home
some butter father procured; got home aboIt z
O'Clock. After little while went for Dr.
Ross. Went to bed about O'Clock. Freeman
came back from the pond with him; was at the
pond only once that day.
Witness then described being called up, and
was asked if he had seen Willie Cain, and
- hi, l1aI
out the second time, much as other witnesses
had done, only that he frequently failed to re-
member details. The witness said he was much
frightened. He was told he had lied about
Willie; that he knew where he was, and had
got to ogn it. There was talk about locking
him up, tarring and featheriDg him, etc. Wit
ness didn't know but they would kill him, and
thought that if he told they would let him CO.
He told them Willie fell off the boat and was
drowned outside of the lily patch, When he
was out in the boat to show them the place, he
heard them on shore call out TO sling him over
board if he did not tell. At four o'clock he
was allowed TO go home, but was taken again
about a. M, and brought to Shepherds office
with Freeman Gross. Shepherd told him he
might as well tell the whole story, as he would
be obliged to do it. Told the same story as at
the pond. Was taken to the pond to point
again David Talbot told them to fasten the
grapple to witness, sink him and drag him
over the pond, and drown him. Afterwards
ne was tAk6u I'd see MIS-. t1du6y, WHO uau
dreamed about Willie Cain, aud who told wit
ness he didn't drown him, but buried him in
the woods; that he hit MIN over the head with
a club and slung him into a hole. Witness
then confessed TO this story, and went and
pointed out an old muddy hole where they hid
Willie's body. Did this because he was scared.
One woman told him they we're going to burn
him at the state. Witness said at Wiscasset
jail Detective Wiggin said he would be the
prisoners counsel, and said if the witness
would tell the same story as at Rockport he
would clear hun, which was why he told that
story theu. Corroborated the knife and money
story as told by his mother.
On cross examination he didn't remember
that Wiggin told him at the Jail that if he
would tell the whole truth it might be the
means of clearing him, or that if he had told
any story through fear he might now tell the
truth He didn see Willie Cain the after
noon of the twelfth. Had told the story that
Gross and witness went out in the boat and
Willie was on STORE tossing up money. Free
man aid disagreed IN our stories as to what be
came of the money. Mother asked me on the
way home why didn't tell her about it, aud
said what would be tue good of it. Have
never said struck Willie with paddle. When
Montgomery told me of the body 0eing found,
Freeman whispered to me that he guessed our
folks had carried him up there, and said
"What do you want to get our folks into
scrane for?" Have never told any one push
ed Willie from the boat or drowned him.
Don't remember / told o Bren a prisoner at
the jail, about Willie splashing water over me.