The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-10
THE HARRIS CASE.
The Proceedings of the second Day

for some time. 1T. f. Kirk of Boston iden
titled Hooper at first as young man he
thought called at be printing office where he
is employed in Boston, but was not sure of il
later. Mr.. Hooper was recalled and said that
he saw William e. Harris take one of the
Campbell envelopes from box in the desk in
the Office of j. W Harris s. Co. Frank G,
Emery, Assistant Postmaster, said he gave
some GO letters directed to box 796, to Deput y
Marshal Marble. Later, when recalled, he
explained the nature of the private marks
placed upon the letters By Mr.. Marble.
Deputy United States Marshal Marble tool,
the stand ard told the story OF the arrest of
Mr.. Harris, and of his visit to Boston in scare h
| eff Mr. Hooper, accused by Harris Of giving
him the key. With the story of the arrest the
readers of the PRESS are already familiar He
carried letter to Boston from Mr. Harris to
Mr.. Bragg, requesting Bragg to assist the Off
Ger in working up the case. Mr.. Bragg read
the letter, but said that he knew nothing
about the matter, and SO could render no as
sistance. Mr.. Strout objected to about every
| question asked, and saved corresponding
number Of exceptions and rulings.
William Chenery, Cashier at the post Office,
said that he let box 796 to a young man who
called himself "Thomas A. Campbell" L.
| Clifford Wade, city editor Of the PRESS, gave
| an account Of an interview he had with Mr.
| Harris, when the defendant said he did not
know the name Of the man who gave him the
key.
The Hon c. w Goddard took the stand
and gave the particulars of two interviews
with Mr.. Harris, at which he was present. Mr.
Harris declined to open the letters taken from
box 796 and said he had been requested not to
do SO. Following the testimony of Judge
Goddard Mr.. Lunt offered in evidence all the
letters taken from box 79s. Mr.. Strout retus-
ed even to look at them, and when they went
in saved exceptions with his usual care.
Mr.. Barry then opened for the respondents
making logical and cear-cut address. Mr.
Lunt in his opening really said all there was
to say about the legal aspects of the case and
Mr. Barry confined himself to the evidence to
be presented. He bore pretty hard on that
Maynard son of lis father, William E. Harris,
as well as on Mr. Arthur W. Hooper
who was in court, and took the lashing given
him by Mr. Berry with as much outward cool
ness as the old-time Democrats manifested
when Gov. Plaisted was defeated
Mr.. James W. Harris was the first witness
called by Mr.. Barry. His story of how he
came with the key to box 796 was as follows:
He sent his son William over to collect a bill
of Hooper when he returned Arthur was
with him. William said sFather Arthur
wants you to do an erraDd for him in Port
land Mr.. Harris asked what it was, and
Hooper replied, II want YOU to take the kew
OF my box in the Portland Post Office and get
my letters" Mr.. Harris then, as he says,
asked young Hooper how he came to have a
box in the Portland Post Office, and Hooner
replied 81 have little outside business there"
TIo Mt fIxy -,
his account of his arrest, but could not remem-
Der what he said to the reporters; had an i6ea
that he might have been cautioned not to talk
to them
After few questions Mr.. Lunt in cross-ex
animation asked Mr.. Hafriss 10 state what bus
mess he was engaged in about 1865. MIR. Har-
ris said he was coneernsdin "aHgift enterprise
and he identified one OF the circulars he then
sent out. ct was a long, naTIog badly printed
circular signed 81. NJ. Harris & Co, Boston,
Mass, and the scheme the firm claimed was''
duly authorized and licensed by the United
States Government) Other papers were pre-
sented to Mr. Harris and offered in evidence,
but Mr.. Strout objected, and the court reserv-
I'd ruling until after dinner.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The court decided to sustain the objection
taken by Mr.. Strout and Mr.. Lunt went for''
Mr.. Harris once more, but Harris is not a very
nervous individual, and neither Mr.. Lunt's
questions as to his married life, nor his vet
more pressing desire to have information fur
n1shed in regard to the experience Mr.. Harris
might have had with the courts OF the United
States were enough to move him in the least
Sons things he remembered we'll for example
that Mr. Bragg isn't a partner OF his, some
few other events had left dim recollection be-
hind them, but in most respects Mr.. Harris
seemed to have already forgotten the past. No
attorney will probably be able to wake more
than the faintest echoes in the halls Of memo
ry owned BY the gentleman who is known to
In. d1ao rrrld oof &c p ~
Luther M. Harris took the stand and, having
read paper given him by Mr.. Lunt, and hav-
ing acknowledged himself to be the Luther M.
Harris in said paper described, he was declar-
ed, because of a past conviction, disqualified to
act as witness.
WHAT MIR. BRAGG SAID.
Henry NJ. Bragg was called. Is acquainted
with James w Harris was never in the pro-
duce business with Harris; has been connected
with him in some stock speculations; went
West in 1876 and travelled to some extent over
the country. Then gave Harris power of attor-
ney to act for him in the collection OF rents
Is acquainted with William E. Harris and with
Arthur w Hooper. Had conversation with
Hooper prior to arrest; First time he ever
heard of box 746, the Bangor Commercial and
the Campbell matter, was when ne read of the
arrest of James w. Harris in the Boston Globe
Went at once to the store where j. w Harris
has an Office; met Mr.. Marble there: Marble
gave witness letter from Harris; Marble said
office box, and said he wanted to find the man
who gave him the key. Marble asked witness
if he knew anything about it. Witness said he
did MT. AT the suggestion Of MIR. Field who
was present. they all went up to his (Field's)
room in the Boston Post-ofiiee. The
witness was asked as to what took place there,
I'D to that question Mr.. Lunt objected Mr.
Strout argued that they had the right to ask
the question as showing where Mr.. Bragg OBJ
tanned his knowledge of the charge against
Arfh Hrnnpr WifOQcq Voc al To all
what was said about Hooper. He said some of
them said they were looking after Arthur
Hooper. Witness went to Hooper's stand.
Said TO Arthur, II understand there are setec-
| tives looking for you, and | think it would be
better for you not to be around here this after
noon" Hooper said there had already been q
| detective around Hooper declined to leave
! the stand without his fathers consent. Wit
ness did not offer to pay FL oper for bis time.
/ Has had conversation WITH Hooper since.
| Saw Hooper after bis return from Portland,
! having been indicted. Hooper said, "What
are they doing With you down to Portand?"
| l said, "Arthur, do you think had anything
! to do with this miserable business?p This was
! excluded Had conversation with Hooper at
the Merchants Exchange Hotel last Friday.
| Conversation ruled out,) Came to Portland
to see about securing bail for Mr. Harris.
| Came down three times before he was arrested.
| Did not know until he was told to stand up
| that he had been indicted Never had any
connection with either William 2 or James
| w. Harris in this business
The cross-exanination Of Mr.. Bragg did not
| develope much Of gausral interest.
Mr.. Baker of Bosom Ass promptly ruled
out or rather his evidence was.
Deputy Marshal Smith said that at the time
| OF his arrest Mr.. Harris said that Mr.. Bragg
was his partner, and his son William his
clerk.
Mr.. Harris was recalled and couldn't re-
member saying anything of the kind
j. G. Morse, and FL. w Brewer knew con-
siderable about Mr.. Bragg, but not much about
him for the past Is years.
The government rested
Mr.. Strout concluded to commence his clos
ing argument, and SO spoke for ten minutes
Adjourned.