Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-29
TRIED FOR MANsLAUGHTER.
Fred Pressey, Chas. Sawyer, Mel Straw.
and John Sawyer ArTaisned for the
Killing of Frank Brown-They
Plead Not Guilty.
ELLwoRrH. Me. Oct. IS.

ELLwoRTH. Ne. Oct 2s.
Fred Pressey. Chas. Sawyer, Mel Straw.
John Sawyer, jr. indicted this term for man
slaughter in killing Frank Brown, at Castine.
Oct 8, were arrigned this morning and plead
ed not guilty. Owing to the illness of George
Macomber, included in the same indictment,
he was not arraigned. but the bail continued
from day to day. H. A. Trip appeared for
the respondents and asked for separate trial
for Fred Pressey on the ground that there
might necessarily be little inconsistency,
the line arguments respecting his case and
the others.
The court said, the respondents all being
indicted as principles, he could perceive no
good reason why they should not all be tried
together and did not feel warranted in grant
ing separate trials. The jury were then
impanelled, there being but one challenge.
The court cautioned the jury that they must
not converse with anyone respecting the case
and recommended they should refrain from
conversing about it among themselves until
whose case had been committed. At the
coming in of the court in the afternoon,
County Attorney Warren opened the case for
the government, detailing briefly the circum-
stances of the shooting, outlining the testi-
mony on the part of the State. DIR. J. ii.
Sylvester of Castine, was the first witness.
He testified to seeing some of the respon-
dents on the street on the evening of the
shooting, together in such a manner as to
attract his attention. About 9.l5 he was
called on by Geo. Macomber, Fred Pressey
came few minutes later, to go 10 Brown,
whom they said had been shot. Witness
stated the condition in which he found ie
injured man, the nature and extent of the
wound in the hip and as to the amputation of
the limb. Witness testified that Brown asked
him if he was going to die. As soon as he
discovered the condition of the main artery
of the leg. laceration of the muscles, the ex-
tensiyely fractured condition of the bones and
made an examination of the pulse, he told
him he thought be would. He asked Brown
if he knew who shot him, and Brown replied
he did not. Brown died soon after from
extensive bleeding and the shock.
Chas. Sawyer, the next witness, testified
to being upon the street with the respondents
and others. He went with them to the orchard,
near which the shooting occurred. He knew
there was a plan an foot to frighten Brown,
had heard il talked of in the crowd. He had
heard the discharge of guns and that he ran.
Soon afterwards he heard some one say
Brown was shot. Witness testified some one
said, $50 for a team,' and he Immediately
started, and some one else for doctor
Sewall PerkiEs and Saml. Hutchns testi-
fed they were on the street with the respon.
dents on the evening of the shooting. The
former stated he was at the orchard withBrown
and heard a report of shots in the orchard, He
heard Brown say he was going to catch that
fellow, that he ran 30 or 40 feet that he beard
scuffle and shot and Immediately after
Brown groan, and the latter testifying he was
farther down the street at the time the shoot
ing occurred. This closed the testimony for
the prosecution and Trip opened the de-
fence.