Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-25
STRUGGLING
To Break the Tightly
Drawn Net Of the
Prosecution.
The Old Suicide Theory Worked
for all II was Eyer Worth.
Cromwell Reported TO be Willing
to Confess, But Restrained
by Counsel and by
Dave Stain.
The Jury Given Lessons in Mathematics
to Enable Them to Understand that
the Bank Lost Nothing
by Barron.
The Attorney General Discovers Many
LOOp-holeS in the Defense and En-
larseS Them into Most
Dangerous Breaches.
Special to the kennebec journal.

Special to the kennebec Journal
BASGoR, Feb. "A.
The appearance of the Newport prisoners
yesterday. and the surprise occasioned by
the unsuspectcd pleading OF Foster had
averted to very great extent, til attention
of the public from the present trial Yet as
the hour for the opening of the court APP
preached, much of the same interest was to
be seen by the crowds of spectators which
assembled as early as usual. Those ho
had followed the case closely knew that the
fun was about to commence and they were
not going to miss it.
Mrs. Cromwell ate square meal this
morning for the first time since she has
been in Bangor; her spirits were probably
lightened by Mr.. Gillcns statement to the
jury yesterday afternoon. Yet Cromwell
himself does not appear confident. The
moment he leaves the presence of his wife
his spirits seem to droup and he becomes
gloomy. The Journal man has good reason
for saying that Cromwell would like to
''squeal" were he not held back by his law
yer This has been suspected by some to be
the subject of SO much heated discussion be-
tween him and his wife. she urging him to
to make his case as easy possible, and he
setting forth the reasons why he cannot,
which are really threats of his counsel and
Stain Stain is not alone and the belief
is becoming general that there is a friend at
hand who will assist him in Furnishing the
man if he gives the business away; so as
much as Cromwell may want to disclose and
confess the part of the crime at least for
which he is responsible. But as it is the
slow proceedings of the court must be fol-
lowed
Mr.. Curtis of Dexter, the cashier of the
National Bank in that place, was the first
witness called by the defense, He testified
that at about ) o'clock in the afternoon of |
the 22nd of February, 1878, he went to the |
bank that he was in the bank about fifteen /
minutes; that when he came out he tried the |
door of the Savings Bank and found it lock- /
ed that he locked the outside door as he /
went outsonto the street and was the first to
come to the bank in the evening, and found /
it locked "a he had left it the before going;
that he passed into the bank room and went /
into the vault ON his side; that he heard .
some one breathing heavily and listened ;that
it sounded on the other side of the vault;
that he tried to move the door that separated I
him from the person, using about half his +
strength. Continuing, he described the tax
ing of Mr.. Barron out of the vault. He .
said that he didn't see any blood on Mr. Bar
ron's face and lips; that there was no coal /
dust on his clothes that DIR. Springal was
the only physician who attended him. At /
this point there was some sort of fracas in (
the hall way which caused disturbance. /
Judge Peters ordered that the people who /
were not in the court room should be put ont (
of the building The witness concluded /
that at the time of the robbery the signs of /
dust disturbance on the floor of the back /
room gave evidence of a severe struggle, but /
did not see any evidence of the falling of
body Witness said that the dust on the (
floor was sufficiently thick to show tracks (
Have you seen any person place himself in
the position in which Mr.. Barron was found"
asked Mr. Gilen. This was objected to bv /
the Attorney General and Mr.. Gilleu with
drew the question. The witness stated that [
he knew man could lock the outer door of +
the vault while standing inside, that he had
done so in his vault in the National Bank 7
we are talking about the Savings Bank,
said Appleton. The witness stated that it /
was not unusual to see men and even strang- /
ers standing in the doorway leading up to
the banks. Have you seen Mr.. Crowell /
lie down in the bank vault to show how he /
found Mr. Barron" | have not, replied Mr. !
Curtis. ON the cross-examnation by Mr.. /
Baker, the witness said that he had always
supposed that the Savings Bank was open to
IL, I,,. 1
for certainty that he found the outer door
opeu when he went there about ) O'Clock. /
but locked when he left at about quarter past
five that Mr.. Barron, Mr.. Brigham and
himself had the only legitimate keys to the
doors so that no other persons could have
got in through those doors after he locked
them. till his return that evening. He fur
ther stated they did not look at the Masonic
Hall entrance when hewent out that night.
and that he did not notice the door was open
until he saw the people going up into the
hall that his return that evening was for the
purpose of finding Mr. Rarron and that going
into the bank room he heard Mr.. Barrons
heavy breathing and as he neared the vault
was convinced that he must be in the vault.
believing that Mr. Barron was in there, did
you use violence in opening the door," No
did not use violence. but pushe, quite hari-
| didn thInk that Mr.. Baron lay a. II was
afterward found he did Did you not move
the door vi iih caution. hearing your friend
lying there groaning:" Il did not think
that he did grosn at first" Did you say
that there was no cut or cash or blood on his
face. - did not see any, but / did see
dent between his eyebrows on the forehead,
also a bruise on the side of his face | staid
with Mr.. Barron after he was brought out.
The marks were dIscOlored when saw them
did not take very particular view of
them Till at the inquest" You wouldn't
tell the jury that by your pushing the door
YOU could cause bruise on either side of
Mr.. Baron's head and dent in his forehead
Il think it could be done" | think that
moved the door about an inch Did YOU
notice the piece of enamel gone from the
false teeth as they lay on the fioor?7 Il did
not" - | never suspected that Mr.. Baron. had
not been murdered at the time. | afterward
accepted the suicide theory" Gotten up by
/ some detective or a bank officer since. you
( have endeavored 10 eradicate your first i'm
( pressions that You might believe the suicide
theory:" Il don't think have" You did