The Portland daily press., 1888-02-16
STAIN REMEMBERED
BY a Massachusetts Man, Who Says
He Saw Him
During the Day on Which Cashier
Barron was Murdered.
Evidence which Perhaps Will Liber-
ate the Prisoner In Bangor jail.

BosToN, Feb. 14-Until within a few days
no facts Of Importance bearing upon the case
of Stain and Cromwell, who will be tried at
Bangor this week for the murder OF Cashier
Barren of the Dexter Bank, have been
brought to light since their arrest six months
ago. Some highly important Ieyidence,
which tends to prove the innocence at least
OF Stain, the leader Of the so-called gang,
has just been discovered.
The witness who will testify that the old
man Stain was in Massachusetts, on the day
of the murder is James III. Fowler. well-to
do farmer and real estate dealer Of City
Mills, Franklin, Mass. The discovery that
he knew Stain was not in Dexter at the time
the crime was committed was made by Cora
Stain, the young daughter Of the man in
Jail. Stain wrote to her, detailing his doings
for the fatal day, and mentioning several
events that occurred. both before and after
he visited his traps for mink on the banks OF
the Charles river. Prompted by desire to
save her fathers life, she has searched for
two months, and at last her quest has been
rewarded.
James IA. Fowler, the all important wit
ness in the case, was found yesterday, by a
reporter, with little trouble. He owns
large farm at City Mills, most industrious
manufacturing suburb Of the town of Frank
lin. He is also engaged in the real estate
business. making specially OF purchasing
and selling farms. He Is man OF about 30
years, reserved, intelligent and in no wise
given tc assumption or exaggeratlon.
In reply to question as 10 Wnet1er ns a5 ne
had had a personal acquaintance with stain,
he said: "No; Inever saw him TO my POSI-
tive knowledge but once, and should ne now
stand before me don't think would know
him as Dave Stain. When he and Cromwell
were arrested for the murder last october,
was thunderstruck at the record OF the
crimes laid at the doors Of the gang, why,
just think Of it; /, living at the Mills, lew
miles from Medfeld, and did not know Oh
such a rascal. And, then, have been pretty
much all over the county driving every DAY.
NV business, too, brings me about every day
TO the centre of the town of Franklin, where
Stain worked at the cobbling shop for oyer q
wear for Mr.. Hawkes.. And yet didn't
know him and heard nothing about him."
"When did you think OF him seri0uslyY
"Well, naturally, had my attention called
to him when the papers published the story
of his arrest. OF course the sensation great
ly impressed the people up this way. stain
and CromwelPs names were upon the lips OF
everybody. / recalled the fact that | had
once met the man who was represented IN
the papers as the leader of one of the worst
gangs of rogues that ever infested the coun-
try. / remember the man Stain from very
curious episode that happened under my own
eyes, 1t was this: / had small lot OF sheep
to drive from Dedham to my farm at the
Mills. | remembered that it was in the fore
noon that myself and my colored boy, My
ers, were driving through Medheld, along
the main street. When we came to that part
of the road crossing the tracks OF the North
ern Division of the Old Colony Railroad,
there was trouble with the sheep. l was rid
ing behind in my buggy, and the sheep, as Is
usual in crossing railroad tracks at grade,
became timid and were inclined to scatter
from the road. There were ten sheep In the
little flock, and, noting what was nappenlng'
| drove up and got out to assist in prevent
ing the threatened panic. As l got to the
crossing the cOlored boy Myers and two 9TH
er men had so covered the flock that the
sheep were got over all right. Immediately
one Of the men, in o good-natured tone, be-
gan to banter tine colored boy. The man re-
marked about its being usual for every flock
of sheep to have black one, but that it was
very funny that there should be two black
fellows in my flock. The colored boy saw
the point, and f1aring up took 1t as an insult
to his color. The boy turned and threatened
to break the mans back and throw him over
the fence on the side of the road shovld he
say such thing again. The man smiled
pleasantly, and he and the colored boy con-
tinued ahead with the sheep, both apparent
ly continuing their joking. AS they went
along the other man who helped get the
sheep over commented on the threat OF the
little darkey, intimating that the man he
would throw over the fence was pretty
powerful man, and should he get grip on
the boy it would be all day with him. l
asked the speaker who the man was that
had joked the boy about the two black sheep
in the flock. He said why, that is Dave
Stain. No man wants to fool with him, for
he is the greatest wrestler in Medfeld.
Mr.. Fowler said that he had been visited
by Lewis A. Barker, Esq, Of Bangor, and
had promised to 60 to that city and appear
as a witness, if necessary. de remembered
the date of the occurrence through certain
entries in his diary for that year which he
had kept with great care. The entries are
as follows:
Feb. 20-went to Brighton. Bought 10 sheep.
Paid $40.
Feb 21-Got Kingsbury's pig. Paid So.
Feb. 22-Went to Dedham for sheep. Paid So
Feb. 2s-Bought 200 pounds middlings: Paid
$40.
Fowler has the confidence and respect Of
the community in which he lives. He says
he has not before stated his recollection of
the case through reluctance to become con-
nected with it.