The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-25
WEED THE VICTIM OF JAIL BIRDS
Mr.. crosby's Opening In Behalf az
the Newport Doctor.
he Claims that Sensational Reports
Have PreJudiced the Case.
The Defendant Was Drunk, but Not
Guilty Of tho Robbery.

BANGOR, Aug. 24.-The court room was
packed to overhowing this morning. at the
Weed trial, and the testimony commenced al
an early hour.
Edward L. NOVEL;, Of Exeter, ". a., tele-
graph operator for the Boston & Maine at
that point, was the first witness. He testI-
fed that he sent the despatch to DIR. Weed,
at Newport. at noon on Dec. Sd last.
Everett @. Wardwell Of Newport, testified
to seeing Clarence Whitney leaving the steps
Of DR.. Weeds Office on the afternoon preced-
ing the robbery.
George w. Slmmonds Of Etna, a section
man on the Maine Central, testified 10 the
u.hnuitng .he ing oi Peter Benefits small trunk on
the track the morning after the robbery.
Mrs: whitney, mother OF Clarence Whit
ney, testlhed to his coming there on the
night before the robbery, and also that he
was tnere the next day and that she put up
noon before the robbery.
James A. Foster, who was associated IN
the crime, next took the stand and detailed
the whole story Of his connection with the
robbery, as has already been given In the pa
parz.- Gin cross examination he stated that
DIS real name was Thomas Kelley, and he
did saloon business with Fred L0wther, at
ll17 Second Avenue, New York city. He
had never before. been engaged In criminal
WOAA VI any hAuas VI AoouCidkcu Will
nails No other points were brought out, but
the witness drew plan Of DR.. Weeds Office
as ne remembered 1t from being In Newport
that day.
Thomas W. Baldwin Of Bangor, civil en-
glneer, TOOK the stand, and produced plans
similar to that Of Foster.
The court here adjourned until noon
ms afternoon, Hon. Josiah Crosby made
the opening argument for the defence. He
claimed that his case had been preiudiced bv
SENSATIONAL Tpnnrfa in the
sald IL was true that Whitney and Foster
committed the Bennett robbery, but that Dr.
Weed was not with them, and that letters
nad never passed between Whitney and
Weed: He claimed that the whole story Of
Weeds connection with the robbery mas
been Invented by Whitney and Foster since
they have been In jail, and their object was
to have some one whom they could swear had
stolen the money, as they were unable to
produce It, He said that DIR. Weed was at
home when man called for him on the
night of the Bennett robbery, but was intox-
icated, and his wife had decided to say TO
callers that ne was away. Three Witnesses
would testify they were In the doctors office
the night before the robbery, and that neil
ther Whitney nor Foster were there that
night.
This was the substance Of the opening, and
then DIR. Weed, the respondent, was called.
He testified that he was 46 years old. and
had been practicing physician In Newport
for fifteen years. He never saw Foster until
he was arrested, but was introduced TO Whit
ney year ago last May when the latter was
on visit to Newport He had a slight ac-
quaintance with him, but the subject Of Ben
nett's money was never mentioned but once.
When he first knew Whitney the latter once
asked about Bennett, and how wealthy be
was supposed to be. Witness never knew Of
any scheme to rob Bennett, and never wrote
or received letter from Whitney. He was
home all the day and the evening Of the day
before the robbery. In the evening, j. ID.
Carson, Mr.. Tuck and j. II. Frye OF New
port, were there. He did not see Whitney
or Foster
Here the court adjourned until morning.