The Portland daily press., 1888-03-03
SELF POSSESSED STAIN
Does Not Finch When Branded as
Murderer.
Cromwell Lcses Hope But SSH Pro-
tests his Innocence.
Attorney General Baker concludes
His Very Able Argument.

His Very Able Argument.
BANGOR. March 2.-When the stain trlai
opened this morning larger croWd thah
ever was pressing for seats, ana IN less IMAM
five minutes after the doors were swung
open every bit of space was occupied. AT
tornev General Baker was to conclude his
argument All knew it and were eager to
hear him. This was the eleventh day of the
great trial. and the closing day. The inter-
est was at the highest point and at no time
has there been greater doubt as to the re-
suit.
A number of distinguished men from diff
ferent parts Of the State were again inside
the bar this morn ing, as well as many Ban
gor ladies', some of whom have been constant
attendants. while.others were new comers'
There was little stir as Stain and Cromwell
were led in.
The principle prisoner, David L. Stain,
came in with his usual calm appearance.
His face indicated that he was unconcerned
while his whole bearing showed stolid dis
position. He stands five feet, eight inches
high. is snugly built with broad shoulders
and strong back. He looks as though he
might easily be the champion wrestler of
Medfield. He wore a black coat and vest;
had dark pants and Congress shoes. A
white collar was around his neck, and over
his shirt.bosom hung dark necktie, having
in the centre an imitation of big diamond.
From his left-hand, outside coat pocket, pro-
truded white handkerchief; his face was
II IL h;c hair ad
back on both sides and top,giving him rather
a fercer appearance than he otherwise would
have had. That moustache, about which so
much has been said, and which has taken
up many hours of this trial, was a light yell
low or blonde, slightly tinged With gray.
Oliver Cromwell came in nervous as usual,
and in appearance presented contrast to his
fellow-prisoner. When Mr.. Baker began
Cromwell fixed his eyes on him and appear
ed to take the deepest interest in all he was
saying.
In beginning this morning the attorney
general stated that matter OF very great
Importance had arisen, referring to the b. T.
Sanborn receipt. He said he had examined
it last night and compared it with three let
ters written by David L. Stain, and in view
of the extraordinary charge of forgery made
by the opposing counsel, he wished to intro
duce the letters into the case as evidence, al
lowing the opposing counsel to question their
witness in regard to them. He charged that
the opposing counsel had been obliged to
raise this bugbear of forgery.
Mr.. Gillin. of the defence making an ex-
PLANTATION of their action in regard to the re-
ceipt which they had not seen until Mr..
Blanchard took the stand, said that they
also had a new and important witness whose
testimony would be much more important
than any which had yet been introduced by
the defence
The court ruled that no more evidence
could be introduced, but Mr.. Baker might
put in tile letters if the counsel FOR the de-
fence agreed.
Mr.. Barker of the defence, was willing
that Attorney General Baker should name
the letter in the receipt and three letters
which were similar, and he did so.
Mr. Bakers Argument.
Mr.. Baker then continued his argument by
stating that the government must first prove
that John Barron was murdered.and that the
prisoners at the bar were the murderers.
The defence had attempted to demonstrate
the suicide theory, and that Mr.. Barron was
a defaulter. Five cases had been presented
by the defence, where the dead Barron was
charged with crediting money when no such
transaction ever occurred. Yet the bank
never lost cent by this transaction. The
dead cashier took away from the balance, but
afterwards made a restoration He is dead
now, and has no opportunity to explain.
Will you sweep away his lifelong character
of integrity in the community against the
miserable evidence of falsifying his account?
Seven hundred dollars is the only. sum
which the bank dares ask for from the es-
tate of Mr.. Barron. Do you believe he COM
mitted suicide for 500? Was he bankrupt
in resources? Did not citizens of well known
integrity testify that he could borrow almost
any sum he wanted in Dexter? Did not Mr..
Barron's estate net $4,000? Yet you say
that Mr.. Barron committed suicide Tor 500,
which he could have had at any moment.
Mr. Baker ridiculed the physical possibili-
ty that Barron killed himself in the way he
did. He denied that any screw driver or
lamp was in the vault when Barron was
found, and he called especial attention to the
loose coil of rope discovered on Mr.. Barrons
chest and beard, which it was physically i'm
possible for the cashier to place there. The
wounds found on Mr.. Barron were such as
were made by slung shot, not by the safe
door; and the theory that narcotics were
used was preposterous.
At t10.45 Mr.. Baker closed his argument on
the suicide branch OF the case and passed to
that portion of the declaration that Mr. Bar
ron was murdered He outlined the manner in
which the robbers struck Barron down, gag
ged and handcuffed him, and placed him in
the vault, fleeing under the protection OF the
night after rifling the money drawer. Stains
record the secret places in his house, and
CromwelPs criminal career were examined,
and the existence of the Stain gang and the
Connection con Of Harvey and Bell With it were
demonstrated. This cracking of the Dexter
bank, he said, was right in the line of the
gangs business. The trips of Stain and his
men to Dexter in the summer and fall of 1877
were the next subject Of comment, the iden-
tificatin by w. Parlin, of North Anson, and
Mr. Bowman, of the Farmers Hotel, of Au-
gusta being given special prominence
Here Mr.. Baker again called the attention
of the jury to the Il. 9. Sanborn receipt, as
serting that il was signed by David l.. Stain
when be received the team from the steamer
Star of the East on the 23d day of Noyem-
Der, 1877. He charged that the counsel for
the defence, when they discovered this
raised cry of forgery. 1t was argued from
the way-biil of the star of the East that the
b. c. Sanborn vehicle was double-seated
beach wagon. Calling attention to the re-
ceipt again, he declared it genuine because
it bore the signature of Mr. Reed, who was
the shipping clerk of the boat in 1877, and
who died five years ago. This receipt, in the
handwriting of Stain, as he claimed, was
sufficient to convict the prisoner. The rec
ord book of the Medheld engine company
was produced, and the signature of David H.
stain in ii was compared with the u. Y. san
born signature, and the counsel called the
jury's attention to the similarity between
the two The identilications at Carney
and by Mr. Bean Of Parlin Pond, were given
due consideration.
AT i o'clock the court adjourned till after
moor.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Baker resumed his argument, consld
ering the doings of the prisoners on the 22c
of February, when the tragedy occurred, ant
| following their fnal trip to Dexter He SPOKE
of Mrs. Miller's boarders who first appeared
at Bangor, on the 18th of February remain
ing until the following Monday, their myste
rious action and their valise which, whei
lifted, was heavy and with clank Of iron
Refertn nee was made to Mrs. Miller's remark
able Identification of Stain. The two Grim
inals were next met by Mr.. Fernald on th
morning of the 22d of February, driving int
Dexter with tall rangy horse. At abou
9 a. IN. they appeared on Spring street, me
Mr., Barron and followed him. The man.