Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-02
Afternoon Session

Mr.. Barker contained his argument for the
de fense and came to another branch of the
case the Stain gang, aud denied that there
was any such band of men. He held that
all the secret places in Stains house were
accounted for. John Harvey was arraigned,
ms record reviewed and his confession pro-
uounced Incredible Mr.. Barker next paid
his respects to Charles +. Stain. He said :
i lbc story he told is true, every word of 1t,
he must be the most unnatural monster on
this green earth, II false, ms otfeuse is be-
yOnu my comprehension. The speaker re-
gar,.ed Billy ScOtt ~ myth. and gave young
stains testimony searching review. showing
a large number of irregularities, ana
the difference between his story at Dexter and
the evidence at the tnai, he having made
MANY changes. The evidence that young
Stain was not at home in the year 1887. was
regarded as important. Here quite sensa-
-tion was caused by statement by Mr.. Bar
ker. lie said that the counsel for the gov
erumcnt had been imposed upon in connec-
ton with the shipments of teams on the rec
ords oi the steamer star of the East.
MIR Barker was applanded when he chal-
leuged the receipt of Nov. %. 1877. showing
that a team came ON the boat for b. c. San
born, asserting that it had been tampered
with by the enemies of Stain, who had done
the job in bunglng manner. This receipt
disposed OF, there 10 evidence by the
records OF team shipped on the steamer
for any party who m ght be stain, Turing the
months of July, August or November.
y recess WAS declared at o'clock. during
which Mrs. Cromwell was led out of the
court room in faiutng condition. she being
overcome by the long continued STRAIN of the
trial. Mr.. Barker resumming asserted that
Chds stain first accused his father of rob-
biug the Winthrop bank and finding that did
nit work. adopted the Dexter story He
claimed that Chas. never made confession
to his father in 1881. and to prove this the
testimony of Mr. White, the turnkey of the
Dedham jail was cited, when in lss3 Stain
told the turnkey that he had not seen his
son for over years. Wasn't it revenge?"
said MIR Barker, that urged Charles Stain
to pursue his father because he wouldn't
furnish money to keep his boy out of jail"
The witnesses for the defence we're re-
viewed AID the rebuttal evidence the coun-
sci referring pathetically to Mrs Cromwell
and her simple life of toll. He held that
STAN was not at home iu the summer of
lo.., and on the January folio eilg, array
ing evidence 10 Prove this. He laid very
much stress upon the stealing of Charles Ha-
mants horse on the night OF Feb, 2i, 1878,
aud the proof that Stain was at home the
iight before and the morning following,
Mr.. Barker also showed the importance of
Mr.. Stain's visit to Boston on Feb. 26, as
shown by his bills presented in court. He
said the government will parade the Stain
gang, but no proof has been presented of the
existence of any such gang. You Will be
urged lot TO believe the two prisoners. |
ask YOU to compare Mr.. Stain, who has been
convicted of crime but once, with John Har-
vey, the hardened criminal, and will not
Charles Stain, who has been in Maine prisons
six years out OF the past nine, more than Off
81, Cromwell: All that Cromwell replied
when Detective Bean pressed him to confess
was. Il can't tell anything" ''Could not the
keys found near Stains house have been
John Harvey'st" inquired the attorney.
Mr.. Barker closed at lis 7. NJ. with some
good advice to the jury, after talking nearly
SIX hours. in an able. logical and impressive
manner, and throughout he received the
closest attention from the. people in the room.
A few minutes later Attorney General
Baker opened the argument for the govern
meg.t in an effective manner. If once the
prisoners are acquitted of this crime, they
are forever acquitted, he said But on the
other hand should you bring in verdict of
,guity' the prisoners have their redress.
Now after all this stream of evidence has
been poured into this case. the time has at
last come hen the people are to be he ard
against crime. Now the time has arrived
wneG the people shall assert their right 10
protect their names from the criminals and
nler.Ierers. Mr.. Baker narrated the circum-
stances OF Mr.. Darron's death. He said thai
he died in the defence of the treasures OF
the Dexter Savings Bank that he died al
his post. died to defend the trust committed