Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-26

BANGOR, Aug. ~.
The crowds at the Gilman trial continue.
Saturday morning Charles f. Edmunds Of
East Corinth, whose store WAS burned and
who saved his safe, testified to having found
pint of powder in 1t which had been blown
in around the door.
Ralph Bracket of East Corinth, swore
that he saw Gilman buy pound Of powder
in the store of George +. Hill, a week before
the fire.
The rest of the time was occupied in hear
ing George A. Macomber of Augusta and
Deputy sheriff VIM. +. Reed of Bangor.
The detail of their testimony in regard to
Gilman's confession to them which was re-
ported at length at the time of the prelimi-
nary hearing was repeated
The government here closed its case.
The Defence.
In the afternoon Col. Hutchins. the re-
spondeDt's counsel, opened the case for the
defence He made an eloquent and logical
talk, and turned matters around In different
light, He said he would call the attention of
The jury to one point, that in the preliminary
bearing the prosecution claimed that the hole
which was drilled in the safe hal been bcred
from both sides, now they drop that alto
gether. The case already discloses, he said,
that the respondent was born and brought up
in Corinth. living there nearly all his life.
Up to the time of the fire there was never
question as to his integrity and honesty.
He bore an unimpea achab BILE character. Never
a breath of suspicion had fallen on him up
to that time. There was corre-
spondence with New York parties
which began about two years ago. He
will tell you how it began and why 1t began.
He had some means when he was married.
Povert Didn't Cause the Deed.
lie was not in such strAitened circumstances
NJ the prosecution would have you think.
lie was in debt about $500, and he will tell
you that his assets were enough to pay every
dollar of his indebtedness. He WAS not in
such straitened circumstances as to cause
him to burn his store for the sake of making
money out of the insurance. He did get the
dynamite, and he will tell you why, and his
father, a stone mason, will tell you there is
no reason why he should not have it. He
follow ed Gilman's movements on the night
of the fire. boy saw three persons going
away from the fire in the early stages of it,
and was attracted by their appearance and
the fact of their going away from it.
The first witness called was Gilmans clerk,
Miss Hutchinson who testified to being in
the store on the evening of the fire and put
ting the trays in the safe and locking the in
side door. She said there was nothing par
ticular on that evening to attract her stten
ton or to rouse her suspicious. She testi-
fed to blowing out all but two of the lights
In the store.
Mrs. Clement testified to hearing the alarm
and calling her boy.
Ora Clement her son, testified to going
out and going to house to get the key OF
the church to ring the bell. He saw no one
on the street except
Three Men With Grizzly Bsards
who were going away from the fire. Hew
calling fire, but they took no notice of him.
They were strangers to him.
Ira W. Davis, lawyer of Corintb, testi-
fled to Gilman's coming to him some time
ago to ask his advice about detective affair
which, however, he did not divulge at the
time.
Z. A. Gilman, the father of the respond
ent, testified to asking his son to order the
dynamite for him, as he had a job of blasting.
He also testified to asking his son to get some
powder for him. On cross s-e ysmination he
got little mxcd d, and said he got the powder
in June. when his son did not purchase it till
July I, and then he only got quarter of a
pound.
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