The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-09-01
sELLoNIN COURT.
He Is Greatly Affected by the Open
ing of the Counsel.

BANGOR, Aug. 31.-The trial of A. G. Sell
Ion for manslaughter, which was begun in
Bangor yesterday, was resumed this fore
noon in the Supreme Court. County Attor-
ney Appleton occupied thirty minutes in his
opening. He defined manslaughter accord
ing to the statutes. and then went over the
facts in the case. He said the law compelled
the prisoner to show that he was in danger
of his life to justify the crime. There was
no question as to how Sinclair came to his
death, the only question being as to
whether Sellon was justified in the act. The
jury were to weigh the testimony and settle
that point beyond reasonable doubt Mr.
Appleton proceeded to define a reasonable
doubt.
DIR. e. f. Sanger was the first witness. He
examined Sinclair's wound, which was 22
inches deep. The main artery was cut, and
the wound was fatal one but would not
necessarily cause death at once, as the bleed
ing might be checked by the movement of
the arms or muscles.
Daniel Stubs testified to taking Sinclair
to the depot on the mail cart.
S. Lyman Hayes, the mail clerk, was called
and testified to the quarreling over handling
the mails, and the row which followed be-
tween Sellon and Sinclair. He said he saw
Sinclair bending Sellon back over the table,
and went TO the door for assistance to stop
the row, when he turned and saw Sinclair
coming towards him. He met him at the
sink, and then went out for assistance. Sin
clair said he felt faint, and sat down ON the
mail sacks. He reviewed the facts of the
removal Of the body and the arrest at Au-
gusta. His story was about as has been
told.
l.. c. Southland, Selon's lawyer, reviewed
the testimony of the witnesses in cross-ex-
animation, and at 1 O'Clock the court ad-
n I
Sellon was affected to tears at one stage of
the attorneys opening
This afternoon, Clark Hayes testified that
he was afraid to be alone with Sellon after
the crime, as the latter was excited and he
didn't know what he might do.
Officer Breen testified that when he arrest
ed Sellon in Augusta the latter said Jerry
Sinclair died from hemorrhage. When in
formed that Jerry had been stabbed, he said
some of the Italians who were about Bangor
might have done it while attempting to steal
mail matter.
Conductors Judkin and Whitehouse testi-
fed to being called into the car and remov-
Ing, the body of Sinclair. Whitehouse and
ing at the lungs. Judkins asked Hayes what
were the particulars of the affair, and the
latter referred him to Sellon, SAYING he knew
all about it. When the train reached Etna
Judkins asked Sellon to send despatch to
Sinclair's brother, informing him of his
death. which he did, adding 'cause, hemor-
rhage."
Lawyer Soutbard opened for the defence.
reviewing the cause and all the circum-
stances, and claimed to be able to show that
the killing was justifable. He made strong
appeal to the sympathies Of the jury, which
greatly affected Sellon.
Rufus E. Evans was called by the defence,
and testified to the peaceful character of
SellOn.
Engineer Foss also testified to the good
character of Sellon, and said Sinclair was
apt to get passionately aroused. He also tes-
uned III that the latter had taken several drinks
OF liquor few hours before the crime.