Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-23
DR.. WEED.
Second Day Of His Trial
For ALLEGED Completely in the
Peter Bennet Robbery.
4 Crowded Court Room Listens to the
Evidence.
Old Peter Bennett Tells the Story OF
the Robbery.



BANGOR, Aug. %.
Next in interest and excitement to the
Stain-Cromwell case comes that of the fam
oas Peter Bennett robbery, for completely in
which DIR. Weed, a leading physician of
Newport, is now on trial. Weed from the
arsf has maintained calm and digniied de-
meanor and strongly protested his inno-
cence. A number of the leading lawyers of
the Penobscot bar have been engaged to con-
duct his defense and make a strong fight for
their client. The court house is crowded, a
large number of visitors being from outside.
Mrs. Weed and daughter are attending the
trial. DR.. Weed has many warm friends
who insist that he will be able to prove AN
alibi. They assert that he has always been
one of the most esteemed citizens of New
port and that the attempt to connect him
with the Peter Bennett robbery is deliber-
ate and wicked plot TO ruin an innocent man.
On the other hand it is understood that both
Whitney and Foster. the men who have con-
fessed to this crime, have declared that
Weed was with them on the night of the
robbery, that it was he who first concocted
the plan for deprivng Bennett of his wealth,
and that he secured the largest part of the
Doodle. The progress of the trial will be
watched with deep interest.
Continuing his argument today, County
Attorney Appleton said that the sole and sin
gle object of the trip of Clarence Whitney
and James Foster from New York to Maine
was to commit robbery upon plan formu-
lated by the respondent and agreed upon be-
tween him and Clarence Whitney. They
had no legitimate object for visit to Maine
at that time. Saturday, the very day that
Clarence Whitney wired DR.. Weed from Ex-
eter, N. H., the latter found it convenient
to pay visit to the home of the man whom
he intended the very same night to rob and
murder. They intended to commit the crime
on the very same night, but as the train was
approaching Newport Whitney met some
body who knew him, and the plans were |
therefore changed. He knew that it would |
not do for him to be seen around there at the |
time of robbery when he did not even re-
port at his home. So he boldly stepped from
the train when reaching Newport and went to |
his home like any ordinary passenger. But
Foster got off on the opposite side of the
train and went into wood shed where he
was to wait for his copartner in this crime, !
and Whitney did come and found him, stop |
ping on his way at DR.. Weeds Office. The !
doctor was not there, but slate was out on |
the side of the office, on which Whitney |
wrote the cabalistic words, Gal & Co."
Then he went out and found Foster, and to- |
gether they went to DIR. Weeds office, which |
thau hrill
ped at the door and the doctor opened it, |
telling those men to hush as they stepped in |
side the door. The other caller in Weeds |
office left and then the two New Workers en- |
tered and set there with the doctor discuss
ing this infamous crime. Whitney finally |
went home to stop all night. Weed also dis
appeared while Foster remained in the doc |
tors office sleeping upon lounge and COW |
cred with a buffalo Overcoat belonging to
Weed. The next morning the doctor
brought Foster lunch and then left him. |
When the three robbers reached Benefits
house they saw him come out and frighten
away his barking dog. This excited the sus
pcon of Foster and Whitney, for they had
been told by this humane ply sician that he
had given Peter Bennett something which
would quiet him so far that no barking of
dog in the dead watches of the night would
disturb him. But Whitney made detour
of the premises and finally the parties en-
tered the Bennett buildings through the slid
ing door of the barn, which is never locked,
and then pa sed into the house. There the
robbery was committed and DR. Weed helped
to carry out the big trunk into the orchard,
where it was found the next morning. The
middle sized trunk was found near the New
port town line, and then upon the side of the
railroad was the smaller trunk. Still
farther along towards Newport, show
ing of course the direction of the
fight was ten dollar bill with blood upon
it, Upon this railroad track that night the
three men ritied that trunk and then after
proceeding short distance further, Foster
and Whitney babe Weed good by and started
upon their retreat in direction of Newport
Pond. The last thing Whitney said was,
doc, be sure and get my bag | left near
| telegraph pole at t he end of the road for
it contains that letter You wrote to me
at New York" He did not get that bag
and very near that telegraph pole was
found strap exactly like that
| found at the Bennett house.
Among 9th er things which the party did
there that night in Weeds office was the
making of masks to conceal their faces.
Then Foster wore cap that night which he
borrowed from Dr. Weed and when he was
| arrested in Rumford the same cap was upon
his head. We shall see that cap and shall
see how it fits DR.. Weed. After the robbery
that night messenger was se1t to Dr. Weeds
house to get him to come to Benuetts
and aid in binding up the wounds of the
! injured man, but DR.. Weed was not at
home So DIR. Harvey was engaged and he
started pest-haste for the Bennett house. We
shall satisfy you that this robbery was
planned and plotted by DIR. Weed, that he
was the whole brains of this conspiracy
We shall satisfy you not only by the partici-
pants themselves but by collateral, indepen-
J dent and trustworthy testimony that DIR.
Weed was there and aided in the committal
of that crime The burden of proof is upon
the government aud that burden the govern
ment cheerfully assumes.
| The examination of witnesses followed the
County Attorneys remarks.
| by Associated Press.
The trial of DR.. Geo. +. Weed for COM
plicity in the robbery of Peter Bennett. was
continued in the supreme court this morn
ing.
County Attorney Appleton occupied about
an hour in closing his opening argument.
He detailed the circumstances of the crime
and said that the government would have a
witness who saw the three men on the rail-
road track the night they started to commit
the robbery.
The first witness examined for the gov
ernmeut was Thomas W. Baldwin, a civil
engineer of Bangor, who introduced and ex-
planned the plan of the Rennett premises and
dwelling.
Then Peter Bennett himself took the stand
and occupied the time up to the adjournment
of the court in telling the story of the bur
glary even to minute details.