The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-08
Maine Matters.

suspected of completely in the affair. It's COM
mon talk that he was with Whitney and Foster
and certain others playing poker in Weeds
office Sunday afternoon. He was never will
ing to say where he was that night and could not
be found until next day. DR.. Harvey dressed
Mr.. Benefits wounds. but DR.. Weed saw the
old man the neXt day and was interviewed by
several reporters about the case.
ss'rhe fact that Mr.. Bennett claims to have lost
S30,O0G and is sure of it. while Whitney and
Foster claim to have taken only $40 900, has led
to the belief that Others We're connected with
the robbery. aud got some of the money. The
statement of Mr.. Bennett that he believed some
of his money was in circulation in Newport
shortly after the robbery. also pointed to the
same fact. and ii would appear now as if some
disagreement about the division of the Spois
had exposed the affair more fully and led to the
arrest of DIR. Weed
DR.. Weed has been Il resident of Newport
for fifteen wears more. lie is n well read
physician and at times has had large practice.
Some ten years ago he also had drug store in
Newport. But the too free of Intoxicating
liquors had the effect TO deprive him OF his bus
mess in the store and his practice as a physi-
clan, and he was about As low down As he
could be, when by an incident in which his
little daughter was prominent figure, he was
led 10 sign the pledge, and try to lead Il better
life. His affairs AT once commenced TO lnl-
prove; he was encouraged by his friends and
the public generally. and for some time
the President of the Reform Club. and active
in; reform work. Later however, it is said
that he relapsed to some extent into his Old
habits, though for some time past he has been
quite steady.
Whitney is said to have made known the
secret of the robbery when he followed FoS
ters'suit i'll pleading guilty. Weed is said to
have written him several letters regarding the
affair which are now i'll the officers hands. they
say. and will be produced at the trial. He says
hose ,t H., L
the money from Whitney's sack. burning the
latter and throwing the iron frame into New
port Pond. The officers claim to have found
the frame since.
DR.. Weed of Newport, was arragned before
the Bangor municipal court SATURDAY. after
noon, charged with completely in the robbery
of Peter Bennett of Plymouth. Mr. White APP
peared in the absence of County Attorney APP
pleton. for the government. and the defendant
represented by Mr. LaIghton. Mr.. W hite
stated the governments charge, and said that
Foster and Whitney We're present to testify
against the prisoner. Peter Bennett was the
first witness and he rehearsed the story of the
robbery. Foster was then called who, while
making his public confession told the part that
lar. Weed played. As Foster gave his name.
the opposing counsel endeayored to force him
to disclose his real name: he refused. His
story is in substance as follows: He met Whit
ney i'll New York. was invited to Join him ana
and DR.. Weed in robbing Bennett; came t
Newport and remained concealed i'll Weed
office till the night of the robbery: the ,av be
fore the robbery Weed gave Bennett an opiate
TO take at night; twas powerful drug: spent
the rest of the day in maxim. arrangements
Continuing, he said that he and Weed went to
Benefits together and Whitney rode down on
IA train and jumped OFT at crossing: that they
arrlNed at the house and entered through the
barn and woodshed; that Weed guarded Patten
while he and Whitney did the job. The parti-
culars have been published. Foster further
said that when the trunk was opened Weed
took the small trunk. he the box of papers. and
Whitney Il roll of bills: that they divided their
booty: that Weed went home and they fled
across the pond. Weed was not at home. it
will be remembered. when Benefits friends
went after him. Foster told Il good story
The government produced no other evidence.
Weeds counsel made no defence. The Judge
ordered Weed to Jail without bail to appear at
the August term of the criminal court.
a Newport special to the Kenuebec Journal
says the sentiment there row seems to he very
general that it is plot deeply laid by Whitney
and Foster to drag in a third party aS the
principal in>tgator of the robbery and thus
claim the leniency of the law in their own sen
tence. Unless letters written by Weed, and
which the prosecution claim to have in their
possession, can be produced, it is thought the
doctor will be yndcated and Il suit Of false i'm
prisonment entered against Peter Bennett The
fact that Weed lad every opportunity to es-
cape, even after the confession by Whitnev and
Foster, and neglected to do so, callS es consitl-
cIapie comment as 10 MS probable quit
and number of citizens claim to have
been in Weeds office and to have passed into
the back room on the Sunday when Foster
states he was hidden there and say it was inn
possible for him to have been there without be-
ing discovered. Other flaws in Fosters te>ti-
mony are pointed out and the people are
anNlouSly awaiting the trial before settling u,-
ON Weeds guilt. Ii is understood that Hon.
Llewellyn Powers will conduct the defense
THE STAIN-CRONWEII TRIAL ENDED. 4 WEIR
DICT OF MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
Feb 2Sth, the tenth day of the trial, MAIN
tanned the interest and excitement The testi-
mony on this day strengthened the conviction
that stain and Cromwell are Barron's murder
ers. Detective Bean narrated Cromwell'S CON
fession to him. and on the whole it was
great day for the prosecution. Only two wit
nesses We're examined Thursday morning. and
then L. A. Barker, Esq, began the argument
for the defence. making very able speech.
and closing at 515 p. NJ. Attorney General
Baker then began his argument but had not
finished when the court adjourned. Mr.. Baker
closed Friday afternoon. The Wing says:
Ills argument was nearly eight hours in
length and was listened to with GREATNESS at
tentioh. 1t was one of the finest arguments
ever delivered to a jury in Penobscot county.
being logical. able. eloquent and impas stoned,
and, at its close, he received the hearty CON
gratulations of 4 large number of the members
of the bar and Others
Chief Justice Peters charged the jury Satur-
day. His charge was very able one. covering
the law and facts in the case. The jury retired
at ll.30 Two or three times during the even
ing the jury sent word to the Judge that they
could not agree, but he sent back word each
time to remain longer. At Ills p. NJ. having
been out eleven hours and three-quarters. the
jury raped on the door of the room. and upon
the officer in charge opening ii they announced
that they had agreed upon verdict. Word
was at once sent to Chief Justice Peters, the
court house bell was runS and quickly the
court room was filled with citizens, many
ladies being among the number to hear the
verdict which should decide the guilt or inno-
eenee Of David l.. stain and Oliver Cromwell
of the charge of numbering John Wilson Bar
ron.
Chief Justice Peters was soon the bench.
Attorney General Baker and County Attorney
Appleton were in their seats. as We're also
Messrs. Barker and Giliin, counsel for the
prisoners. The prisoners We're brought into
court andas they entered. for the first time dur
ing twelve days of the trial change was ob>erv-
able IN the face of stain, but as he took his seat
in the prisoners box, evidently bya powerful.
eNertion of his tremendous will, the old, stolit.
imperturbable look returned. The anxious
look on the face of Cromwell, which he has
worn almost through the trial. was there more
intensified if anything. The Chief Justice sent
for the jury, who came III and took their places,
amid death-like quiet. Clerk Sweet called the
roll and each man responded to his name. The
verdict was: Guilty of murder in the second
degree.
When the verdict was rendered the audience
who closely watched the faces of the prisoners
could see no look upon the face of Stain except
the cold, steady stare at the jury which he has
continually kept up, although those sitting
nearest him declared that they could detect Il
swallowing by which he kept down the feelings
that evidently tried to come to the surface
Cromwell at once burst into tears, and thus they
were remanded to their cells. In reply to the
question of a reporter whether they lad any,
thing they wanted to say both relied by a mega
tive shake of the head.
Monday Attorneys Barker and Gillen filed
motion for new trial for Stain and Cromwell,
alleging that the verdict was against law and
evidence. No claims on the ground of new
evidence were made, but it is well understood
that the prisoners counsel will open up the
matter and make their AS strong as posi-
BILE in their argument before the full bench of
Judges.
GOVERNOR COBURNS LEGACIES.
The decision of Judge Haskell in the will of
the late Governor Coburn declares that the leg
acies to the Maine Insane Hospital, Maine State
College and Colby University should be paid at
once in full! by the executors; also the legacy
to Bloomfield Academy and to the town of
SkOwhegan for the benefit of the poor Two
hundred thousand dollars were hequeathed to
the American Baptist Home Missionary Society
and $50 900 to Wesleyan Seminary one half the
100000 to be applied to freedmen's schools,
other than Wesleyan Seminary. The Judge
decides that the Missionary Society take the