The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-01
The Stain Cromwell Trial.

ne stain Ur0mWell Irlal.
A session was held on Washngton's birthday.
after all. and interest in the trial continues UNI
abated. Evidence presented the 2ond tends TO
show that Stain was in the vicinity of Dexter
just before and on the morning of the Dexter
bank robbery. Other witnesses testified as to
the situation of Masonic hall. and the finding
of cracker crumbs and cigar ashes there after
the murder. Mrs. Flora p. Barron, widow of
John w. Barron gave evidence as follows:
last saw my husband alive on Feb. %. 1873.
when he left home He had been in his usual
health and had observed nothing unusual at
that time or previous relative to his health or
to his detriment. He said he was going to the
bank, and babe me good-by as usual, being in
his usual spirits He said he hoped to return
10y or 4 o'clock. | next saw him about s
O'clock in the evening, in the national banking
continued unconscious and died at ) As in the
morning. saw a bruiSe under his ri ght eye
and a confusion on the forehead. think.
At O'Clock Mr.. Giin opened for the defence.
He defined the law briefly and then went on to
review the case. The main evidence in the
governments case is the testimony of Charles
+. Stain and John Harvey. he continued. They
are the trunk, and other witnesses branches.
When they intended to convict by circumStan-
tiai evidence. they must prove every circum-
stance. Now. if you tear down the main prop.
the whole fabric falls. We have to 20 to Mass
r. stain is that of treacherou>, designing
villain. We will show you that there was never
a horse shipped on the Star of the East in July
or September by stain. and that every horse that
has gone on that steamer was given to his owner.
We will show to you that neither OF the trips in
July or November was made. and not by an
abb. We shall also prove by a reliable witness
from Massachusetts that David L. Stain pur
chased bill of goods on the 18th of February.
1878, from parties in Medteld: that Charles
tain not lHa1l fba
Of November. 1876. TO the 81 of January. 49,:
that he was in Augusta Jail during February.
March and April, 1871, while he swore twice
that he was never in that Jail; that John Har-
vey with knife attempted to take the life of
David l.. Stain. Mr.. Giln outlined the we'll
known suicide theory. and presented plan of
the Dexter Savings Bank 10 the jury. and held
that the wounds on BarronS head were made
by the pushing of the vault door against it by
the bank officers: that the only marks in the
coal dust We're the footprints of one man going
to and from the coal bin; that light and screw
driver were found IN the vault; that in the
drawer of the safe were two packages Of
money, so that if any men came in there for the
purpose of robbery they never touched it that
there was not thing taken from that bank ;
that Mr.. Barron. time and again, had fixed his
books and sometimes bridged them over to the
amount of $1,000. We will also produce a trial
balance, TO which two men placed their names.
and afterwards six figures on it were changed
by him. We shall further show that the figures
'.S2lS, 00U' on the books were altered to ''S2o22
600" and shall place five different witnesses on
the stand whom Cashier Barron credited with
money which they never deposited, and Charg-
ed with sums which they never drew. We
shall introduce another witness. who Went into
the savings bank Feb %, 1873, and found Mr..
Barron on his knees alone PRAYING. Mr.. Gillin
reviewed the evidence of the defence which
would be introduced to prove an alihi. They
would show that on the 18th of February. 1873.
a man went to Stains house to get a pair Of
boots tapped. and on the 21>t following they
were delivered and Stain took the pay for them:
that on the 22d of February these men We're in
their own houses with their own families.
They would introduce public record to show
that Cromwell took his little daughter to school
on the Doth of February in that year. and again
on the 18th, and would show the whereabouts
of the prisoner in August and November.
Friday the defence called witnesses to su>-
tain the suicide theory and to show probable
cause by irregularities i'll the books. Nothing
new was presented in either direction. Jos.
Abbott one of the trustees of the Dexter say
iDgs Bank. testified to signing the trial balance
Nov. }, 1871, and stated the sum was SO. $3.50
and that loans on collaterai> had been raised
$4,000 since by the eraslre of a cipher and by
substituting the figure ,. On cross eXamina-
ton Mr.. Baker elected from the witness that
he didn't know as the bank lost anything by
the change as corresponding change was
made on the opposite side.
Saturday further evidence was given for the
defence. mainly as TO the books of the bank and
the condition of Barron when found. This was
followed by evidence tending to show that
Stain could not have been in DeNterat the time
the crime was committed. Lizzie NJ. Moody
testified: 'Reside in South Belmont, Maine.
Have lived there eleven years next June. Liv-
Ell before that in Medfeld, Mass. Was the
second wife of Charles +. Stain. Was between
sixteen and seventeen years of age when was
married on the 18th day of October. 1876. Had
known him from boy, but had not seen Inn
for some years after he left school. Knew his
family. They We're living in cottage house
on the farm. The first night of my marriage
stopped at my mothers house. Next day went
over to Mr.. Stains. Lived with Stain As his
wife until the 81 day of December. when left
him. Left bis fathers house at that time.
John Harvey was An inmate of the house. so
help me heaven | knew hot of any gang Of men
in the habit of meeting at the house. Charles
=. Stain left MettieM about two weeks after
left Stains. Was in the habit of being at the
house frequently before left Medtield. Never
saw Charles or knew of his being about there
Returned to Medteld in November. 1877. Had
moved to Maine, Jan. 18th. 1876" Cross ex-
animation Pound Charles had another wife
and that was not n lawful wife. l was mar
ried again in June. 1877. Never applied to get
divorce Did not need any. Never had any
trouble with my husband about my relations
with David l.. Stan.'' Two witnesses who had
itNCu III -Hcuuctu teNllIlctl as ~ Stt1NS dDu
Cromwell, their evidence going to show that
the men We're in that place at the time of the
murder in Dexter. and that they were not such
bad men after all.
Monday Oliver Cromwell was put Oh tn
stand by the defence and testified that he had
not been in Maine since 1858. He knew how
to tie sailor knots and knew how to tie square
knots such As were found on the gag in Bar
ron's mouth. Mrs. Cromwell supported her
husbands testimony. Tuesday large number
OF witnesses We're examined. some for the
defence and some for the prosecution. David
l.. Stain testified in his own behalf 1t is i'm
possible to determine now which way The ease
will turn.