Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-03


Sinclair was the first man in the service
whom witness met on entering the service.
| They had run together two and one-haf or
three years on the same car and boarded at
the same hotel. He said he and Sinclair sat
at the same table at the same hotel. His
relations with Sinclair had been alwayspeas-
ant previous to June 8, except little matter
about the lamps about two years ago, which
he (witness) had nearly forgotten
He said he hadn't had an unpleasant word
with Hayes during the two years they had
been together. Sellon then stated his oceu-
patton after reaching the car on the night of
June O. He said, after changing his coat
for a long duck coat, he proceeded to sort
the mail at the letter case, and Hayes helped
him up to the time when the Bar Harbor
mail arrived.
He said he thought the ,me when Sin
clair arrived must have been about $50, but
did not see him.
Witness then stated what took place
before the time of the assault. He said he
took the registered mail and entered it on
his books. After that he heard Sinclair call
to Hayes to help him to take in the Bar
Harbor mail and that was the beginning of
the trouble. Sinclair grew angry when
Hayes did not start TO help him.
few minutes in order to hear two shorter
testimonies.
The proprietor of the Penobscot Exchange,
! Mr. johnson was then sworn and said he
knew Jere Sinclair, and that at 40 Jere
took "A rum punch. Said he was pleasant
| fellow and quiet about the hotel.
! Wm. IL. Lawrence cashier of the Ken
| duskeag National Bank of Bangor, was then
called. One year ago last July witness said
he Y as cashier at the Bangor postotfice. He
said he had known Sellon some time and
considered him a very gentlemanly, quiet
man Did not know Sinclair SO we'll.
Selon was then recalled.
! He said HAYES and Sinclair seemed to be
quarrelling about taking in the mail and
thai Hayes said that they all had their share
of work. Sinclair was talking in loud
tone of voice, and about the Watervile mail.
| Sinclair said he would not put off so much
mail at Watervile again without help, using
vulgar expression. Witness said he said
to Sinclair. "If it isn't your place to put off
the mail, whose is it," Sinclair answered
him in rough terms. Witness told him that
he was paid for that work and that he should
do it, calling him at the same time names.
Sinclair said, do you call me id
bastard?"
| Sinclair then struck him severe blow
over the heart, on which he said he lost his
balance and then Sinclair struck him again
on the forehead. Sellon sold he slipped and
fell foot or more on the small of his back.
From this point Sellons testimony was as
follows:
"All this time Sinclair was pounding me
over the head. | cried out, 'D-n you,
Jere, let me up; you are breaking my back.
Ny God, you are breaking my back let me
up Jere said, 'D-n you, I'll let you up
| was suffering intense pain all this time and
was in fear of being injured for life. With
my left hand had been trying to ward of
the blows and in my right hand had an
ordinary knife which | used in cutting the
mail packages open. then struck him with
this knife about where | thought his left arm
was. Then Jere relaxed his hold and got
up and walked down toward the letter rack.
Sinclair went toward the sink and after
bathing his head went and sat down near the
door. then threw off my cost and heard
Sinclair say, You have hurt me- an
swered, You have hurt my back | saw
HAYES and Whitehouse giving Jere some
thing thought was whiskey. | handed the
towel had for bathing my own head to Sim
clair. Sinclair was taken out of the car, |
don't know by whom. The car then start
ed"
Sellou then described more fully his posi-
ton when struggling with Sinclair He
said Il think if | had not used my knife |
should have been injured for life. did not
intend to intiiCt more than slight wound,
and did not know how serious 1t was did
not know that it was mortal wound.
was in a dazed and somewhat stupefied con-
dition and had not noticed how much blood
there was. The second wound might have
been made by lamp near the shelf. The
reason didn't mention this quarrel was be-
cause both Sinclair and myself might lose
our positions if it ached the ears of the
government. | did hesitate some before
sending the telegram to Snclairs brother,
and set out to tell the whole story to Jud-
kins"
The witness here was very much affected,
and for moments could hardly speak. Chok-
ing with sobs he said
II wish to God had given myself up and
never commenced to fabricate. | wish |
had had strength of character enough to tell
my story in a straightforward way in the
first place. The first time | did tell it cor
ractly was after my arrest to Marshal Whit
ney The Monday following the tragedy
was examined by physician in the marshals
office, was suffering pain in my back and
had a soreness in my breast. DIR. Hunt
next saw me at the cell in Jail and prescribed
for me- remained here in Bangor before
going home until Saturday. After reaching
home WAS in the same condition, and, with
mental excitement, was pretty well used up.
| suffer some yet from the effect of the as
sault. NV doctor at home made examlna-
tions and discovered injuries of quite a seri-
Gus nature.
The cross examination was commenced by
1 Attorney Appleton.
| Witness said he had drunk lightly in the
! forenoon of June 9. He said the knife he
used was moderately sharp, and after the
assault he threw it from the car, but cannot
tell exactly where The quarrel between
Hayes and Sinclair was a wrangle of words
only. There were no blows.
! This afternoon proceedings were resumed
promptly at 30. DIR. George B. Cogswell
of North Easton, Mass, testified Have
been Sellons family physician for some u
years. Was called to attend him on his re-
turn to this city. He was laboring under some
excitement; complained of soreness in the
back and chest. Examined his back he was
injured some there, and also in the chest.
Attended him every day for week. | was
postmaster at North Easton. and had an op-
portunity to see him as postal clerk and in
other ways very often. knew him
to be peacable and quiet man,
Never knew him to he in any trouble.
Transfer Clerk Lawry testified: Was trans
fer clerk at the depot on the night of the
crime. Went through the postal car about
Is minutes before O'Clock. Took the Bal
Harbor mail to the car at 7.+5. Heard Sin
clair and Hayes talking angrily about taking
the mail in. Heard no mention of the
Waterville mail. Left them at the side dool
when | went away. Sinclair was calling of
the mail and Hayes was piling it. Heard NJ
mention of Sellons name. l left at 1853
and there were still eight or ten sacks to b.
piled up. Went back to the car before the
train left and dropped some letters in th'