Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-18
.ook at the circumstances under wiica a

Look at the circumstances under wliicl IA
has been placed. His very footsteps hav
been watched. He was exposed for an hour
and half to the rigid cross questioning of
the able Attorney General He may have
taken candy and cigars from his fathers
store. l should hate to have candy jars and
apple trees testify against me when was un-
der twenty. You have heard the testimony,
the frivolous testimony, which was brought
upon this stand to swear down his reputa-
ton. Four Of them were of those, who on
the coroner's jury convicted him on just such
frivolous. infamous stories. The exigencies
of the Governments case required it. They
found towards the last of their case that the
chain of evidence. which they had been
weaving about him, was rope of sand. You
ought not to expect a saint brought up under
the circumstances which this boy was
At twenty-five minutes of ii recess was
taken.
Judge Hall, after recess took up the dis
cussion of the motive of property, which
was claimed might have actuated the boy to
do the deed. The testimony of Hall and San
born was alluded TO under this head. Also
he alluded to the remark of Charles Beal
when he asked the men after his fathers
death TO work for his mothers interest.
Why gentlemen, it is in proof here that the
boy knew that his fathers estate was in debt,
was insolvent, and yet he murdered him to
get possession of the property,
Now where are the other motives. Tell
me gentlemen, on your oaths. if these mo-
tiyes as presented were sufficient to convict
But it is said that he appeared Indifferent
after his fathers death. Was he not By his
fathers side when his father was diving.
Three witnesses have testified that he was
there, though the County Attorney told you
in his opening that the boy was not there.
He was there and his father stretched forth
his hand and said rub, rub and this parri-
eide, as he is charged, stood by his fathers
side and rubbed his limbs while he was dying
DIR. fash, probably the coolest man of all
then present, tells you that Charles was by
the side of his father.
Rev. Mr.. Thompson the minister had a
talk with Charles and tells you that in con-
versation about his fathers death the tears
rolled down his cheeks. Was this Indifference?
Have you been able to see any testimony in
this case that shows that this boy didn't act
as any boy might have done under similar
circumstances DIR. fash tells you that
Charles showed as much emotion as his
mother as much as George | would like to
know gentlemen, if you harbor the slightest
doubt but what the boy felt emotion about
his fathers death. Judge that boy as you
would wish your boy to be judged, as you
would yourself wish to be judged.
| now come to another piece of evidence.
We are now done with motives. The test- |
mony of Hall says that Charles said, There
are pack of id fools about and if they
would keep their mouths shut it would all blow
over" Let us look at it. 1t is easy to ex-
aggerate.
no on IN hat
hadn't got dose they would have thought |
the old man died of delirum tremens Dr. |
fash tells you that he first thought that Mr.. |
Beal had delirium tremens, and Charles said |
that the DR.. remarked that it would have
been thought delrium tremens if George |
hadn't been taken ill.,
| introduced witness here, a witness BY |
the name of Solomon Gilley, over whom the
Attorney General exhausted his wit in trying
to break him down. | heard of his story and
| put him upon the stand. Simply because
he was laborer, a man whose clothes were
the worse for wear could he not tell the
truth In such trial as this it seemed no
place to break witness down by such jests
about helping to hold the building up down
OH the corner They did not dare to bring
John c. Hall to deny the statements of Mr..
Gilley. Had Mr.. Hall been brought in and
denied Mr.. Gilley then there would have been
some call for the facetious remarks about
holding up a building etc. In the presence
Of this court affirm that Solomon Gilley ap-
peared to be telling the truth | say that
iilley's testimony does away with Halls. l
now come to an important point There was
no evidence put in to prove that the bottle in
which the strychnine was found had any
identifying mark to show that it came from
he cellar, or, that of the two bottles given
Prof. Robinson, which one came from the
cellar.
Mr. Hall here wished an adj ournment.
Throughout the forenoon the sympathy of
he audience for the prisoner was quite APP
parent. The court adjourned until 2.30 p NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.