Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-18
SUPERIOR couRr.
Judge w. p. whitehouse. PRESIDING.


Z. A. SMALL, Sfenographer
MosDAr, Sept. II.
State VS.. James A. Getchell. Baker ans
Carleton for State; Heath and Tuell for re
sponient -.
part Of the forenoon was occupied BY
County Attorney Carleton in an able open
ing argument for the prosecution, the salien
points of which will appear later in the test
n1ony Of Witnesses.
At the afternoon session the court room
was FLIED with people, many being unable
TO ind seats. large number of ladies ere
among the audience, most Of them sitting
within the bar The oath was then admin
istered 10 the male witnesses for the prose
eution, fourteen in humber.
Mr.. Rodney d. Capen, civil engineer and
principal Of the Dirigo Business College wa
called TO the stand and testified that b.
rev the plan of the portion of the railroae
above Bridge Street where the ARRAY oc
CURED. He then explained to the jury the
plan, which rests on a stand directly in from,
Of them and was frequently referred to dur
ing the trial. Cross-eIamination was
waived.
Mrs. Hopkins, widow of the deceased, was
then called. During her testimony hush fei
over the whole room. She testified that SD.
vas married last February; her HUSBAND
worked in Aliens printing house, he was q
years old and weighed between 1870 and Ia
lbs; they took their meals at Mrs. Lawson's
On the 18th Of May he came home at 6.l5
aud they went to supper about 6.45. From
he boarding house they went to the resi-
lence Of Mrs. Hopkins. mother of the de.
ceased Mrs Hopkins lived in Bridg,
Block. They remained there ten minutes.
Witness then went TO the Augusta House,
her husband accompanying her as far as thu
Central House stable. When she came from,
the Augusta House, he rejoined her and to-
sether they went to their rooms at Mrs.
oturtevants, corner Of Church and Flagg
streets, arriving at 7.45. Deceased remained
with her till S.l5 when he left. He had moi
up to that time bought an evening paper
Witness noticed nothing unusual in Hopkins
appearance. She was notified of her hus
bands injury at Ills and went to him al
his fathers store, staying with him till HE
death about 30 Sunday morning. He did
not recognize her during this time. When
he left his wife he did not state what he was
going for Hopkins always purchased All
evening paper Saturday night, and usually
went for it himself.
Cross examinaton-W Witness was married
IN Boston, Feb. 2Sth, 1888, by Rev Mr..
Everett.
Mr.. w. F. Spear, member of the special
police of Augusta, was then called, and tes
uhed hat he was down street on the evening
II May l2th. 1t had been rainy day but h,
ddn't remember whether it ralned or not i'll
he evening. He met james A. Getchel
about 8 O'Clock at the corner near Mathew,
at store. Getchell said he had dumped
Dung Hopkins aud that he wanted Spear t,
axe Hopkins home Getchell came down
bridge street. He said that Hopkins was on
the railroad track, and witness Immediately
vent there. Gvtchvll said that if he went Vi
gain Hopkins would want to have NOR,
roublc. Getchell did not call witness one
side to speak TO him, and witness
never testified to that effect before the coro-
uer's jury. On being shown the testimony
he admitted that he had made such state
nenI, but that it was incorrect. Getchci
aid nothing more. Witness went up to tn,
Il. r. track and found Mr. Hopkins lying on
his face between the tracks. lie then point
ed out to the jury where the spot was on the
plan. The body was lying parallel to the
track with the head toward Bridge street
Witness carried no light but lit match
when he got to the BODY 1t was very dark
He turned him over and Hopkins immedi-
atcly turned back. He went back and met
Brennan and Dunton. They went up to the
body and remained there till witness got Pc.
liceman McKenney and his brother. Hop
kins father then came along ard they took
Hopkins into his fathers shop on Water
street.
On cross examination, witness testified that
he was at The place Sunday morning. AT
the spot there was pool of blood as big as
the bottom of a quart dish.
1t was in the same place where the body
was found. When found Hopkins didn't
have his overcoat on. but it was thrown over
4 -
put it under his head. He saw Brennan and
Dunton. the two boys at the end f a car on
the middle track north of Bridge street
Getchell came to the witness about nine
O'Clock but he couldn't tell the exact time
Getchell was not in his shirt sleeves. Hop
kins turned over on his side and face when
turned over ON his back by Spear. Brennan
and Dunton were about rod from Hopkins
when he saw them.
e-direct-Brennan and Dunton started
for the Marshal. The overcoat was put under
his head when witness first went back with
the boys 1t was thrown over his shoulders
only when he was first TO md.
Henry h. Hopkins, father of the deceased,
testified that he was notified of his sons in
jury about $50 O'Clock by Deputy Marshal
Mckinney and his brother. He fixed the
time because he was just shutting up shop
They went up by the old castle to the track
and found Spear alone; they had no light
but one was brought from the cid castle.
Hopkins was lying on his face, and his over
coat was about four feet north of him. Wit
ness took overcoat TO his store. Witness
stuhbed his toe on the hat of the deceased,
which with his umbrella lay on the track.
Mckinney and Spear carried the body down
by the old castle to the shop Witness sent
for DR.. Martin who came Immediately. The
clothes. hat a I'd umbrella of Hopkins have
been preserved just as they were taken up
and are now in valise in the
court. The night was very dark
aud wet. Young Hopkins face was covered
with black coal-dust and mud. There was a
pool of water near where he fell. He lived
till 4. 80 Sunday morning but was unconscious