Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-22

ing into NV sisters bedroom. | made the
statement once that i; was in August tina; we
took the first trip in Maine. On reaching
Wateryille in the afternoon, on that trip,
we put up at the Continental hotel. We
left the hotol in the night and reached
Skowhessn at about O'Clock the next
morning, The gang did not tell me how
they went IA Dexter or returned. or what
they were doing there. did not think they
had a successful trip from what they said.
heard them talk about the second trip in
fathers parlor, the first of November. l
ne yer stated on the stand that the horse
Star" belonged to or was kept by my father.
have never said that it was on or about
the 23d of November that we started on the
second trip or that | drove right through
from Gardiner. We, instead put up at a
boarding house, for while. and obtained
some crackers and cheese in Augusta and
arrived at Waterville at 2 O'Clock, \. NJ.
We made stop at Fairfield and put up at
Fairfield House stable. We took lunch at
saloon and stopped in Pittsfield two or
three hours, stabling the horse just beyond
the town and eating crackers and cheese.
we drove thence TO Dexter direct, arriving
at $50 in the evening. On the way to Solon
stopped at house four miles out of Dex-
ter and got some supper and baited my horse.
had been TO Carney's before, having driven
through from Canada with father and George
Gleason when the old house was built. In
Jan. 1878 | went to Lewiston and drove a
team to North Belgrade where | placed it in
livery stable and notified him by letter
was arrested fer stealing the team, was
convicted and sentenced 10 three years in
State prison. got out of prison in Febru-
ary 1881, and soon afterwards went to faith
er's in Medfield and he then made his con-
fession. | may have said that Scott jumped
out of the window of the bank room.
will not s6e positive they told
me that Scott jumped out He
was in the building watching TO give
the alarm, if any one came. | went to Maine
after father confessed. | went TO Winthrop
and thence TO Auburn. where | was arrested
and served a term in jail In September,
1883, was arrested for selling goods under
false pretences, and got year in State Pris-
on. went to Canada after serving this
term, remaining there two years. Afterwards
returned TO Maine and lived at Skowhegan
and Norridgewock, and at the latter place |
was arrested for assault and battery on my
wife, for which served seven months in
Norridgewock Jail. told my story to John
Harvey III iNfot btIoIt went u Stt
father in Dedham Jail. | next related it to
my wife in Norridgewock Jail and afterwards
to Sheriff Mitchell. Mr.. Copeland and Mr..
Palmer of Dexter, and DIR. Barney, also. |
made written confession while in Jail and
gave it to Mr.. Mitchell. | was compelled to
tell the story was sick and Dr. Barney
had something on my mind and
aSE al mo xyh hA M
In reply related the story, While in this
State the ghost of Barron appeared to me
three different nights and said, at is /, be
not afraid only saw his head The
counsel pressed his question to ascertain
what the head looked like. Apparently
much effected, Stain asked to be excused.
Mr.. Barker continued, however, and the
witness again asked to let this question pass.
which the counsel agreed to. Continuing,
he said: | didn't make any further confes-
sion until met the reporter of the New York
World. | went to New York with him and
stopped at the Astor house, and there die
tated my story to stenographic reporter.
At times the witness somewhat con-
fused and mixed about the trips made into
Maine, and would think for moment or two
before giving an answer, but on the whole
his answers were made very promptly.
After two hours of cross examining young
Stain, Chas. L. Dodge of Medfeld, Mass, a
carpenter took the stand. He said that he
had known David l.. Stain II or Is years ::
that in September, 1875, he commenced
work on new house for him and completed
it in 1876; that at the suggestion of Stain
he built ON the second story near the chin
ney, and in the floor between the floor tim
bers, a secret recess, 20x1 l-2 inches, the APP
erture to which was closed by a board over
which the carpet came. Witness said that
Stain told him that he wanted this to keep
some private papers in; the opening to this
trap was to be found in a closet: it was Il
closet sheathed up in the secoud story which
could only be reached by lifting up the floor
boards in the attic, and making a hole
through the plastering. The witness said he
remembered Mr. Wheeler of Medfeld liv-
cry stable keeper who kept bay mare,
Flora; that Wheeler also had a horse with
a star in his forehead and thought the ami
NAL had one white hind foot.
Francis w. Bowman of Augusta testified
that he kept the Farmers Hotel in 1917 that
he had seeu the prisoners at the bar before
that he saw Cromwell at his hotsi on July
%, 1877, and that there were two others with
him. thought they had team consisting of a
bay horse and a two-seated beach wagon. He
further stated that he had little talk with
Cromwell that he had no doubt that he was
the same man whom he saw there. The wit
ness pointed him out from number before
him.
Cross Examined. He stated that he asked
Cromwell to register but he wouldn't
thought he also knew Mr.. Stain should say
that the party remained at his house for two
hours that it seemed as if he remembered
that Cromwell had little side whiskers when
there; that he went to the jail Saturday and
selected Cromwell from among the prisoners
and recognized him as the man at his house in
in July, 1877 having not seen him since.
Redirect-He thought that he saw Mr..
Stain at his hotel at the same time; that as
he could remember Cromwell was guest a,
his hotel at other times afterwards, during
that summer; that he couldn't tell sure when
but would swear that he saw him there more
than once.
Albert Hilton of Madison, Me-, testified
know Charles F. Stain who has testified
In the fall of 1877 | was employed at Car
ney's tending stable, and Stain came ther,
with a two-seated express wagon and bay
horse with ''star" on his forehead and
white right hind foot Stain staid there sev
en- DAYS and half. He called himsel
Frank Snow" He made trip to ParliI
/ Pond with Mr.. Carney's light buggy and hi
own horse. He called the horse, Star"
remember that he got letter just before h
/ left which was handed to him by Carney
and that this called him away at once. Stair
I came 10 Carney's from the direction o
Bingham and left on the Bingham road
7 Jonathan Bean. residing at the Forks o
the Kennebec testified In 1871 lived 3
Parlin Pond. saw Charles +, Stain at m
house. Nov. 1878 and he called himsel
Frank Snow. He drove a light bay hors
with star in his forehead and Carney
buggy. He stayed all night and drove OF
towards Carney's in the morning. 1t wa
the following winter that heard of the Dex
ter tragedy. Cross examination. Eight o
ten weeks ago | saw sheriff Mitchell an
Young Stain. In two minutes | recognize
him by his looks and voice. He told me hi
name was Stain. | replied that he calle
himself Frank Snow when at my hous
ten years ago. At first I told them it wa
nine years ago, but Mitchell reminde
me that it was ten and then | remembered.
Adjourned to 9 A. VI. Wednesday.