The Portland daily press., 1888-01-16
Testimony Given Before the Coro-
ner's jury.

We have received copy OF the testimony
given by all the witnesses in the Stacks mur-
der case and present to our readers that Of
the doctors and of Thomas Stacks, the most
important witness;
The first witness was DR.. John Swan. who testi-
fed that he was called by David Stacks Thursday
night at half past ten o'clock. He found Mrs.
back unconscious. She had punctured wound
over the right eye, and her face was covered with
wtS hr until one coeE She ded
the next forenoon at half past eleven. The post
mortem disclosed fracture OF the skull, begin
ming under the confused wound, running back
ward and downward TO the ear. The skull was
also fractured so that II inclosed circular piece
en- into several fragments Death ensued from in
jury TO the brain. The doctor testified that when
he arrived at the house the dog met him and
barked furiOusly; he spoke and called to him
and the dog walked Into the house with him.
Mrs. Stacks was partly conscious while witness
was there, and he asked her II she knew how she
was hurt or who hurt her. and she said no. She
also said her head ached. She talked some more,
but not distinctly; In fact when in health she did
not talk plainly, but with a rich brogue. The
doctor thoght the fractures could not have been
made by the one blow that made the punctured
wound, but must have been the result Of blow
in the temporal region. He said he could run
probe from the wound back under the scalp 20
spot over the ear, but not through the skull. The
brain brain was examined thoroughly and no trace Of a
DIR. Albert f. Murch was present. and made the
post mortem, He testified TO the fracture and
that no bullet was found. He said the blow was
so heavy that 1t crushed the roof Of the orbit over
the right eye. The wound was such that 1t might
that was shown him belonging to Mr.. Stacks.
Thomas Stacks testdd: live at Cumberland
Mills; have lived there thirty two years next
have been in this country forty-two years next
April; l used TO work In the paper mills, but
have not worked there for fifteen years. My wife
was about the house Thursday; she wasn't in her
usual health. think that was the day she fell
of the platform Of the clothes reel and lamed her
side; she didn't do much work during the day,
but David's wife did the work. did not go TO
bed that night until about O'Clock my wife did
not go to bed; wanted her TO, but she said she
her would put the pillows at the other end of the
bed, so she could sleep on her other side but she
SAID she would stay on the lounge; then went
into my room and said my prayers; always say
my prayers; went ON my knees in front Of my
went to sleep and don't know how long IT
was, but In the neighborhood of an hour or so, /
woke up and saw the shape OF a man go out of my
bedroom door. spoke and said, "Who are you
said whether II was "shut up" but something
short, and put my hand under my pillow, took
the revolver had there, cooked it at the same
time and fired at him. am pretty lame, but /
got up as fast as could and went out the door
and he was some place below the gate when l
the brook when fired the third shot My SON
ran out barefooted, nothing on but his night.
clothes, and asked what was the matter. told
at him. '.Give it to me-" says he, land will go
after him." 1t was pretty dark; / think there
wa was no moonlight; think not. The last saw Of
the hog pen have there. / suppose he was run
ming. but l couldn't tell for my eyesight is poor
him and we went back and went in. didn't
know mother was hurt then and he didn't know
Il. He went In and saw herin pool Of blood ,and
he said. my God, my God mother Is killed" L
couldn't speak at all. was so upset when saw
her, and told him to 60 quick for DR.. Swan and
could get out Of bed She was in her own room
when we came back into the house, but came out
as quick as she got her clothes on. l think David
called her. He said, GOOD God get up, mother
Is killed" She came out before David lgot back
from the doctors.
am not accustomed to the use of liquor /
take drink, but don't drink to any excess. My
son got quart Of rum but don't think drank
wine glass full or half full and then took 1t with
boiling water and sugar. / believe drank three
liquor to have any effect on me. Liquor never
makes me cross; 1t causes me 70 talk and be
pleasant and jolly: think my wife was present
when my son and drank the rum and she might
have taken some.
Ihave Scotch shepherd dog about year old
he is very sharp watch dog and we have to keep
he will bark at him, but when Tom Pratt, my SON
inlaw comes In he don't bark. suppose the dog
sleeps IN the dining room or kitchen. don't re-
member where he was when / went to bed.
never minded whether he makes disturbance
when strangers came into the house or no. but
outdoors he would make an alarm If any one
came.
There was kerosene lamp left on the dining
room table and put piece Of thick paper before
It to shade the light from my wifes eyes. can't
describe the man saw. l couldn't tell whether
he NaS nigger or a white man. His back was
turned towards me as was going out l can't |
say whether he was thick set anu heavy or not.
had a coat on / can't tell whether his clothes
were dark or light, but they looked dark to me.
don't know whether he had hat on or not, but
most likely he did.
When first awoke didn't know how long /
had been asleep. knew the man wasn't Tom
Pratt because he would have spoken to me when
/ spoke to him. was lying on my left side. l
reached under my pillow with my left hand, got
the revolver and cooked IL with my left hand. l
had no cross words with my wife that day. She
might have talked to me about drinking saying L
better not be drinking that stuff L never struck
my wife. / never raised my hand against her for
forty wears. nor She to me