The Portland daily press., 1891-05-21

eral other tracks were seen scattered along
occasionally, on the road to Springvale. Be-
er, there were SO steps In one place. then 1c0
In hollow, then 80. then 35, all being be-
Ing between Jellison's bridge and Buffers
corner. There were II below Buffers cor
ner. BY this time IL was nearly IL O'Clock,
and there was considerable travel on the
road that obliterated all further tracks. The
last tracks were not over three-quarters Of a
mile from Cummings house. Witness saw
Cummings walk on one or two occasions
since the hre, and noticed that he t0ed In
with both feet.
The cross-examination of Mr.. Abbott was
resumed after the noon recess. He said
that In some Of the tracks which were on
harder ground indlstinet points OF three
brads could be seen on the back part OF the
left heel. He said that the different lines OF
tracks crossed the road once or twice, and
contradicted DIR. Bragdon's testimony that
they were continuous and unbr0ken line.
he also noted some very slight differences In
measurements where the sand had run into
the prints.
They went to Cummings house to see
Della Gerry. Cummings came to the door,
who said that Della was In church. Pray
kept out OF sight while witness was making
inquiries. They then went over to the
church and when the service was over took
Della into the wagon. George and Della
took a ride lasting about half an hour AT
ter driving about for some time they went
back to Springvale and left Della. Mr.. Edg-
erly started TO inquire in regard to certain
conversation between George Pray and Cum
mings at that time but was stopped by the
court. who asked Il he proposed to open up
the past OF the dead man. Mr.. Edgerly
branched of to the rubber boot question and
went into 1t at considerable length. and also
the question OF the smoking habits Of the
Prays. Mr.. Abbott agreed with the other
witnesses that they smoked very little.
On redirect, witness said that when he went
to Cummings house after Della Cummings
appeared to be very nervous and asked him
three times at least whom he should tell
Della called. On re-cr0ss, witness said that
Cummings nervousness appeared In his
manner OF talking, and also In violent
trembling, which was also noticeable when
they came back again.
George A. Bragdon followed Mr.. Abbott.
He confirmed Mrs. Henderson's testimony
In regard to the large doors being shut when
the fire broke out. He was one OF the party
that went track hunting and confirmed the
testimony OF previous witnesses on that
point.
Adolphe Lorette of Springvale, a weaver
In the cotton mill, was the next witness. He
and two other men went fishing Saturday
night. The other men left Springvale with
In about six weeks OF the fire, and their
present whereabouts is unknown. They
mills, and remained there fishing until long
after O'Clock. As they were going back sf-
ter their horse, they saw the fire. They
then started along toward Shapleigh, and
met man OF about middle height and Of
stout build. He was apparently about mid
die age: He was looking down and walking
fast. As the three men approached him the
man turned into the bushes near well on
the right side OF the road. Witness never
saw the stranger again. lie did not know
Sylvester Cummings. The man he saw had
short chin whiskers, and appeared to be Of
light camDlaYInn. He efnOnad a Ittfla a q ha
walked. On cross. examination, witness said
he wore dark coat and soft hat The man
turned aside and hid himself as soon as he
saw witness and the others coming. Mr..
length by Mr.. Edgerly, but proved fully
competent to take care of himself.
George w. Pray, one Of the plaintiffs, came
to the stand next. He testified that he was
married on the8th day Of the present month
Sylvester Cummings. The deed OF land
from Charles to George W. Gray, objected to
bv MIR. Edgerly in the morning, was present
ed to the witness and identified as one that
was given him some six years ago by his
father. He said that under that conveyance
he had since occupied the farm. He testified
at length concerning the value Of the proper
ty burned, belonging to his father. He also
corroborated the testimony of other witness
es concerning the arrangement of the barn,
ana the nre; concerning the tracks In the
Discovered tracks near Trafton's Sunday,
10 company with Perley Abbott, DIR. Brag.
don and George Bragd0n. We examined
them ana found them peculiar in that they
toed In and appeared to have been l0~aa- ny
rubber boots. We measured them and
counted them In a number of different places
and followed them within a half mile OF
Springvale. Saturday before the fire came
nome at about dark. l embarrassed out OF
doors. Father put the horse In the barn.
held the lantern which never left my hands
We were not In the barn hve minutes. I
have known Della since April, 1870. Decora-
tlon day took dinner at Cummings. |
called there frequently. About July 3rd,
Cummings, who knew of my attentions,
called me out In Graham's store at Spring
vale and said, l am surprised George at
what have heard. 1t Is more than / can
bear You must let this matter drop. 1
can't part with Della. She has been here a
long time. We can still be friendly but you
must work this off. | have had lots OF
trouble in my life, but this Is the greatest.
1t completely breaks me up'' Another time
he asked me II fathers buildings were in
sured. l said no. lie also asked shout the
way into the barn, repeatedly during the
summer. He talked the same way with me
eight days before the fire. At the last inter-
view he said, George you must stay away
from my house. l shan't stand 1t any longer
II Is killing me. 1t grinds me TO the hearts
core, and unless something different takes
place something Of a terrible nature will
happen. am not a man to be trified
with"
the cross examination of Mr.. PRAY was
begun at tve-thirty and was not completed
when court adjourned. Della Pray nee
Gerry, will be called this morning.