The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-16
SPEAKING IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.
charles BeaI Gives His Version of
Several Suspicious circumstances.
He Denies that He was the Mysteri-
Gus Young Man
Who Asked the WaterviiIe Druggist
to Sell Him Strychnine.

to Sell Him Strycnntne.
AUGUSTA, April 14.-A large crowd was
in the court room when the Beal trial was
resumed this morning. Several witnesses
gave evidence mainly corroborative OF the
previous testimony.
Coroner L. D. Carver of Waterville, was
called to the stand. He saw Charles Beal in
the Kennebec drug store at Waterville, soon
after February 1. in the evening. He heard
Charles ask McManus, the proprietor, for
strychnine. McManus wouldn't sell it, to
him. Charles asked McManus what would
be a dose. He was told with a laugh that a
dose of strychnine was about the size of a
dose of epson salts. As Charle!sleft the store
he said "The old man will be surprised
when he gets dose of that"
On cross-examination Mr.. Carver said he
never heard people call for liquor under the
name of strychnine.
Mr.. McManus was next called He cor
roborated Mr.. Carver's testimony. Charles
remarked chat evening that ''the old man"
had been playing tricks on the boys and he
would teach him better, or words to that eff
feet.
Cross ss-examined-Char wore dark
coat and dark Imuffier that evening. The
witness did not sell him any strychnine and
never knew people to call for strychnine
when they meant whiskey. He was posltlve
that he had seen Charles in Browns hotel at
Clinton, and did not remember of ever meet
ing Charles on the train.
A recess was then taken, after which
George Beal was recalled to the stanq Dy
Judge Hall, counsel for the defendant.
George stated that County Attorney Carle,
ton had asked him if his opening was all
right. Witness told him it varied from the
truth in some particulars. Charles had sim
ply asked him if he had been drinking the
day he was sick.
Judge Whtehouse then recalled Messrs.
McManus and Carver and asked them II
Charles appeared intoxicated when he was
in the drug store and called for strychnlne.
Both testified that he appeared partially in
toxicated and his face was considerably
flushed.
Warren c. Philbrook, ESQ.,. of Waterville,
made the opening argument sfor the defence.
1t was brief but eloquent. He stated that
the defense would prove that Charles was
not at the drug store at the time mentioned
and that it was case OF mistaken identity.
Fourteen witnesses for the defense were
sworn, after which the court adjourned.
Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session extra seats, chairs
and stools had to be brought in, and the
space inside the bar was filled with people,
many ladies being present. At the opening
of the court the government wanted to re-
open the case, but the counsel for the de-
fense objected The judge finally decided in
favor of the Attorney General.
L. D. Carver, recalled by the government,
testified that after the young man had gone
from the drug store he inquired from Nc
Manus who it was, and the reply was,
Charles Beale, son of G. c. Beale Of Clin-
ton" "At the inquest" said the witness, "a
peculiar expression came upon the face OF
Charles Beal, and / was reminded at once of
the face I.saw in the store, and the whole
scene flashed upon me at once"
Cross-examination-'I had no talk with
any member of the bar whereby l could
identify this party. | did tell Anson NJ.
Goddard of Augusta, the reason why did
not bring the matter up before the inquest
was because / wanted to see McManus first
and see what he said about it, but did not
tell him It was because could not identify
the man."
Mr.. McManus, the apothecary, was re-
called by the government, and testified: "Af-
ter Charles left the drug store on the evening
in question, Mr. Carver asked me who it
was, and / informed him. | recognized the
man at that time"
Joshua Thompson, called by the defence,
testified that up to this time he had never
heard Of anything malicious in the character
of Charles.
Russell Reynolds of Unity testified that
Mr.. Beal invited him up stairs at the store
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the day he
died and treated him to drink of whskey
out of pint flask.
Charles W. McKing of Boston, testified
that he worked for the deceased. Was pres
ent and rubbed Mr.. Beale when he was dy-
ing. Heard the deceased say "Bub" and
the very first, but was when he died.
CHARLES t. BEALE, THE ACCUSED.
testified: Il am 81 years old. Father gave
me my time when was 20. and l went to
work for him for SO week and boarded,
doing the, chores and trucking. Inever was
employed as clerk in the store. was al
ways in the employ of father when at home.
have heard father tell me not to work any
more as he should hire some one to put in my
place. But the next morning he would say:
Charles, you. do this or do that, and nothing
charged ME and paid me off. We have had
little spats, but l never called it trouble
Father always got over it and so did l.
THE day father died / went to the store
about O'Clock in the morning and out the
back door,, and worked at the ice house;
went after some ice tools that father told me
he would get and hid not done so; think /
saw father home.at dinner and went in be-
fore him; we had discussion as to whether
two certain barrels of flour should be taken
from the store for two customers, or from
the storehouse to the depot; father said he
had no more work for me that day, and l
went ovel to the barber shop and spoke of
the flour to the barber. L told him If 1 had
suggested the store, father would have want
ed to take it from the storehouse. He al
ways wanted to be opposite. came out of
the barber shop and rode short distance
with man, and came down to the ice house
and worked till 2.30; then went to ride with
my colt.
''When l came back Wood came out from
and George were sick and had better come
back from the store. asked George what
allied him. Mr.. Dickey said he had been
smokiny cigarettes. He said father was sick
too, and the doctor was there too. / said.
George; what ails you that you are both sick
at onceY he made no reply. | said, Have
you been drinking anything?' He made no
reply. repeated it and he said NO. l
carried George into the house. When
we passed where father was / no
tlced SO many men rubbing him that
It scared me and only stayed minute with
George but stayed where father was. He
stuck one hand out and said: 'Oh, rub /
rubbed his hand guess minute and then
went out to look after my colt | had left
loose. | then went to George and stayed un-
til he was better.
II had no key to the store and never had.
knew when the whiskey came, and hauled
It from the depot and put it in the cellar
The first time ] ever took any whiskey from
the Darrell, took bottle and George bot
tle' 1t was one Sunday few days after i
came. George was in the habit of taking
friends down cellar to treat them. The last
ime was in the cellar previous to my
fathers death was the preceding week.
while he was at his mothers funeral. Father
tnnc In the hnhif nf toll linn Il