The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-25
GILMAN IN COURT.
Hearing In the Case of the East Cor
inth Robbery and Fire.
The JewelIer Appears Nervous-some
Of the Things Which He Said Be-
fore the Fire-His Confession Of
Completely with New YORK crooks
Admitted as Evidence

BANGOR, July 24.-The examination Of
Charles S. Gilman, charged with burning
and Iobbing his store and causing the great
fire at East Corintb, commenced in the Mu-
nicipal Court in this city this morning, be-
fore Judge Brett. An immense crowd was
present. County Attorney Bailey appeared
for the State, and Col. Jasper Hutchings for
the respondent Gilman was very nervous
and agitated. He plead not guilty when the
warrant was read.
Joseph e. Merritt, machinist and.lock-
smith, was called He testified to examining
the door of Gilman's safe. 1t had been bored
both from the outside and inside. but he
could not tell whether the same sized drill
was used or not He thought the hole inside
was smaller than the other. The small piece
of iron that holds the safe bolts in place
when locked, had been bent so it was not
able to perform its duty. Witness did not
think it possible to do this with Apiece of
iron sent through the hole, but it must have
been done from the inside. and in some other
way. The bend was 3-16ths of an inch, but
sufficient to prevent the iron from perform
ing its duty.
There was long examination to show on
the part of the defence that the door was
barred wholly from the outside. Various
tools were used to show that the inside hole
was smooth and continuous. The cross
examination ended in the witness holding to
his original opinion that the boring was
done from the inside as we'll as from the out
sde He would not swear positively to it..
David Fletcher of East Corinth next testi-
fed. He said the fire was first discovered in
nj NJ
Philbrick's. Witness tried to extinguish the
flames when they caught the drug store. but
was unsuccessful.
Frank Riley testified that he owned the
store in which the fire was first discovered,
and in the rear was shed which extended
nearly to the drug store, used as store
house. He had not been in It for three
months, but he thought it was locked with a
paddock. Was not positive, however. On
the night of the fire he went home at 9
when l reached the fire. witness contin-
ued, "the flames seemed to be equally diyid-
ed between my store and the drug store"
DR.. c. S. Philbrick of East Corinth testi-
fed as follows: ~ am half owner of the
drug store, and Gilman, who occupied part
safe was purchased two years ago, aud Gil
man, being third owner, had access to it;
and as my clerk also had access to my pri-
vate drawer. The side double doors can
only De Openeu py neauS oI q KEY. lWO
keys came with the safe, and Gilman had
two !others made. On, the night of the
fire l was in Kenduskeag on business,
but returned at o'clock and went to the
store and wrote letter. Mr.. and Mrs. Gil
man were both there at the time"
Here the examination rested until after
noon.
In the hearing this afternoon, DR.. Phil
brick testified that Gilman urged him the
evening before the fire to take the money
home which he had intended to leave in the
safe at the store, that the prisoner himself
took all his valuable watches home, and that
after the fire was discovered, Gilman met the
witness and told him that the safe had been
drilled and robbed. On the Tuesday follow
ing the fire, Gilman told the witness that he
should commit suicide if accused Of setting
the fire, and asked if the guilty parties could
be arrested in Canada. Both Gilman and
his wife were much excited during the con-
verSatiOn. Gilman had frequently expressed
presentment before the fire that something
would happen to the store or to the village.
The witness attended Gilman after ne was
rescued from Little Pushaw pond, but moth
ing in his physical condition indicated insan-
Jonathan Kicker, of Bangor, insurance
agent, testified to receiving Gilman's applica-
tion for $1,000 insurance about the first of
July, and accepting the risk.
George III. Macomber, of Augusta, insur-
ance agent, who went to Corinth to adjust
Gilman's loss and to whom Gilman made
sworn statement that he was the acc0mplice
of New York sparties who planned and exc
cuted the burglary and fire, was next called,
and testified to the confession as previously
published.
Col Hutchings, for the defence, made a
strong fight to have the evidence excluded on
the grould that the confession was extorted
from the prisoner contrary to law. Judge
Brett admitted it and it made deep i'm
preston.
The court adjourneds to $50 tomorrow
morning. The case will probably be con-
cluded in the forenoon.