The Portland daily press., 1886-03-05
the CONSPIRACY CASE.
Arraignment of Eben N. Perry and
Joseph 8, Williams.
Proceedings of the First Day of the
Hearing.

The case of Eben n Perry and Joseph S.
Williams, charged with consplrlng to secure
an Indictment by the grand jury against
Thomas C. Cooper of Knightville for poison
ing the COWS of Mr.. Weinburg of the same
place, was brought before Trial Justice Rob-
inson at Cape Elizabeth yesterday.
Wilbur F. Lunt appeared for the prosecu-
tion. and Josiah Fl. Drummond for the re-
spondents Mr.. Lunt occupied nearly an
hour in his opening argument. As one of the
hearers remarked if Lunt proves all he
charged against the respondents their fate
will be sad indeed.
Mrs. Cooper, wife of the complainant
was the first witness for the government.
She testified to Messrs. Perry and Will
liams coming to Cooper's place three differ
ent times. On the first and second visit they
found no potato, but on the third visit Will
liams went into the barn and claimed to find
green, like the potatoes found in Weinburg' s
pasture. While Williams was in the barn,
Perry went into the barn and talked with
witness in reference to some Irvine that he
said he.wanted to purchase.
Thomas c. Cooper testified that he never
at any time had about his premises any pota-
toes fixed with Paris green. He denied ever
having any Paris green in connection with
potatoes in any form.
Fred Card of Harpswell, who was employ
ed by Cooper at the time Weinburgs cows
were poisoned. testified that at one of his
calls at Cooper's house, Perry carried away
q potato that Card, at Perry's. request
brought ND from COoper'S cellar. Card said
he wrote in his memorandum book notes on
Perry's questions and actions on his first and
second visits to :Cooper's place. At the time
the potato was claimed to be found in Coop
pr'S harm Gard was not present.
E. F. Stafford testified that at the request
of Detective r. A. Davis he went to the
store of Perry d Flint, on Moulton street, In
this city, and entered into conversation with
Mr.. Perry in regard to the poisoning of
Weinburg's cows. Perry made the remark,
by Jove, lost that casev Perry told him
that he perry found the potato fixed with
Paris green in Cooper's stable, and that this
potato was fixed in the same way as were
those found in Weinburgs pasture. This
closed the testimony for the prosecution.
Eben n. Perry, one of the respondents,
took the stand. He made general denial of
the truth of the statements of the witnesses
for the prosecution. He denied having had
latter alleged. He denied that there was
ever any thought of a conspiracy against
Cooper between himself and Williams. He
said that on their third visit to Cooper's,
Williams went into the barn while he was
talking with Mrs. Cooper about twine AS
they were leaving the place he remarked to
Williams that they had been on "a wild
goose chase" or on 'sa Tom FOOLS Grand"
he didn't remember exactly which. Will
liams replied, Perhaps moi" and then told
found in the barn. Perry said he didn't see
the potato until they reached their Office in
Portland. The potato has been in Williams
possession ever since.
1t was now nearly 6 p. m. and the hearing
was adjourned to this morning at 10 o'clock,
to be held in Union Hail. Ferry Village.