Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-23
MAINE DISPATCHES.
THE CLINTON POISONING CASE
Verdict Of the Coroner's Jury.-A Re-
view of the Evidence
{ Special 10 the Kennebec Journal.

stid poi7oh WAS placch III WHISKY drank Dl
said Beale by his son Charles, with the in
tention of causing said Beale's death. Coro
ner Carver Immediately issued warrant TO
Charles Beales arrest, and he was taken t,
WatervilIe on the evening train. This morn
ing he was arraigned before Judge Stewar
of the municipal court, Hall & Philbrook ap
pearing as his attorneys He waived exami
nation and was held to await the ac
t'n of the grand jury at the April term o
court. Deputy Sheriff Hill conveyed him t.
the Augusta jail on the morning train.
BY the testimony taken before the coro
ner's jury it appeared that Mr.. Beale abou
three O'Clock on the lith instant, the day o
his death, went into the cellar of his store
took pint bottle of whiskey from barrel
containing large number of similar bottles
took moderate drink and set the bottle int,
a glass jar standing near the center of tn,
cellar. He then went up stairs, and afte
remaining in the store about fifteen minutes
went out stating that he intended to visit hi
ice house, about a quarter of mile away
He did not complain of feeling i'll before hi,
departure. After his departure his sor
! George. who was accustomed to steal drink
and took a drink from the bottle his father
had drank from, partially filling up the bottle
With water to make good the amount he
drank. He went up stairs and soon begar
/ L.. a h,.,
! less than a minnie his head began to twitcl
from side to side and his legs were drawn uI
with the cramp. some one in the store adj
vised him to go home at once and his broth
er who happened to be just across the street
with u team was summoned and he was
| placed in the sleigh. just then man came
running up to the store stating that Mr.
Beac was very sick at home with the cramI
and that Dr. t. 7. Tash of Fairfield anc
several of the neighborS were tending
him. 1t Immediately flashed upor
/ George that something was the mat
ter with the whisky that both had
drank, at the same time remembering thai
it had tasted bitter TO him. When Georg,
was carried into the house his father was in
his death spasm. DIR. fash then devoted
his attention to the sou and succeeded in
saving his life. The doctor states that he
had taken enough strychnine to kill dozen
men 1t was very fortunate for him that
/ barrel, twenty minutes had elapsed from the
time he drank the poisoned " hiskey until he
wa> under the doctors care.
! The bare announcement of Mr.. Beale
death seemed to convince the community
that Charles was the cause of it. There was
some ground for this belief. 1t appears thai
he was reckless and of disposition that
caused him 10 be stunned by other young
men of his age. 1t was well known that he
and his father had frequently had trouble
He would only work when he chose and that
was not often He frequently made dis
respectful remarks about his father and
seemed not 10 care who heard him Thcii
frequent disagreements eliminated about ten
davs before Mr. Beale's death in the mos
violent quarrel of all. Charles was discharg
ed from his employment about the store ant
told to seek employment elsewhere. Hi:
father also gave directions to his other CLERK
not to permit Charles to 90 behind the
counters. or anywhere else about the store
where he would have an opportunity to stea
AS he had been in the habit of helping him
self to ANYTHING he wanted about the prem
ises Notwithstanding his fathers orders hi
continued to loaf around the store. whenever
his father happened to he absent.
One damaging piece of evidence agains
him was this He went into the store a few
ldavs ago in his fathers absence and sa
down hy the stove beside Mr. Dickson
clerk In few moments he looked up an'
said. Say how do you think George and
would get along running the business II tbs
oll man should die suddenly; don't yo'
think we should manage it as we'll a. h'
could" Dickson replied that he though
they would run it into the ground. 1t fire
auentlv appeared in the testimony that h'
had many times expressed the opinion tina
his father would soon die suddenly. He wa
Jealous of his brother for the reason that HI
seemed to be trusted by his father and EN-
Moved about the store. while he, Charles
was compelled to seek rougher work outside
Another damaging piece of evidence
AGAINST him was the fact that for ten day
mast he has refrained 10 steal the whiskey II
the cellar when opportunity Offered, althoug
previously it was his almost daily habit
His appearance before the jury was no
favorable to a theory of his innocence. HI
renlics were frequently evasive and hi
statements were often contradicted by sever
3;.;,terr.tsd witnesses. The conclusio
WAS forced upon the jury that he was guilt
,f his fathers death or that he had guilt
K; owlelgc of how his death was procured
I, ,lil 10, appear that Mr.. Beal had any eu
en,ies. hu, ALL including his business ri'ai'
snake of him in the highest terms lie ha
in his employment large number or men
the surrounding country who were engage
in Getting out hoop poles and smaller iumbe
and among this classs of people his loss wi
be severely felt His one failing was
love for liquor, and several times within II
mast wear. but not before, he has been know
. to drink to excess.
The government is on the track OF oth'
evidence which is likely 10 prove very dah
I aging to Charles. 1t has been proSt
8 bv Prof. Robinson's analysis that there WI
large quantity of strychnine in the bottl
:, aud small quantity in the stomach OF u
% murdered man.