The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-10
GODFREY'S TRIAL BEGINS.
The Alleged Robber Of Town Treas.
urer Shout in Court.
DEFENCE TO BE FOUGHT FOR ALL
IT'S WORTH.

Strong Array of Evidence Presented by the
Prosecution-Mr. strout is Quite Positive
That He Identifies Godfrey as His AssaiI-
ant-Detective Newbegin Tells His Dra-
matte Story.
Especial to the Press.l
ALFRED, June 9.-The county court is
the great entertainment of the town of
Alfred and adjacent towns in York coun-
ty. To witness its proceedings the citi-
zens of Alfred turn out as do Portlanders
to the entertainments of the Stockbridge
course. In the audiences that crowd the
court room ladies predominate often, es-
pecially in the trials of famous cases,
The young men attend with the young
ladies and occasionally one may detect a
bridal couple who have made the county
court one of the places of interest in the
itinerary of their tour.
More than usual interest is excited by
the trial of Benjamin Clark Godfrey, who
is charged with the robbing of Town
Treasurer Strout, of Limington, on the
The story of the able work done by Dep
uty Sheriff S. d. Plummer and Detective
Newbegin has gone abroad over the
country, and much interest results. God
frey has secured for his counsel Frank
M. Higgins, of Limerick, one of the best
fighting lawyers in the State; while the
State is represented by the cool and able
young County Attorney of York, Walter
Z. Perkins, of Cornish, and by Col. H. FL.
Burbank, of Soco, one of the keenest and
ablest veterans of the York bar. God
frey himself is cool and determined, as is
shown by his bearing in the dock; and
the Strout connections are clear, e xplicit
and mistaken in their testimony.
So altogether it is starting out as
pretty specimen of a well-fought battle.
The getting of
was the first important act in the trial
this forenoon; and court room
full of attentive spectators at once fixed
their eyes on Clerk of Courts Hewey as
he began to draw the lots from the box.
Charles Small, of Limington, was first
called, and was excused as he said he
had formed an opinion.
l.
called, and after being closely questioned
by Mr.. Higgins, was accepted. Phillip
| Gilpatrick, of Limington, and r. L. NJ.
Grant of Saco, were challenged by the
| defence and rejected; and Arthur Kicker
and Irving W. Mason, of Biddeford, were
rejected on challenge by the State. The
| remainder of the jurors were accepted as
| follows
| Frank Russell, of Alfred; Perley G.. Edge
comb, OF Hollis; Willis A. Davis, Of Newfe1d
Charles CHI les F. M9ulton Sanford appleton H Tap
| Nathaniel Gile, OF Waterborough; Benj F. Col,
man, of Dennebunkport; John ". Tibbetts, OF
Berwick; Francis Chadbourne, of Sanford
| John G. Small, of Cornish. Mr.. Mudgett was
| chosen foreman.
| Before the opening of the testimony
Mr.. Higgins objected to the appearance
| OF Col. Burbank as assistant of the
county attorney. But Judge Libbey
said that the County Attorney, being i'll,
had requested assistance and he (the
Judge) had consented to the appearance
of Col. Burbank.
Mr.. Higgins said he had been informed
that Colonel Burbank was retained by
private parties, and was to receive his
recompense from them.
The judge said he knew only the coun-
ty attorneys request for assistance.
Colonel Burbank here stated that he
knew no man or interest in the case ex-
cept the county attorney.
Mr.. Higgins-Have not the selectmen
of the town of Limington consulted
! you?
Colonel Burbank-No, sir.
Judge Libbey-As to the county attor-
ney, | am certain that he has not been
well for several days.
Mr.. Higgins will not question his
disability.
County Attorney Perkins
opened the case for the government with
a general and lucid description of the
Strout homestead of Limington, the
| plan of the house and barn, and the loca
tion of the door near which the prostrate
form of the town treasurer had beer
found. He then declared that the gov
ernment would show that track in the
soft earth near the barn bore the impress
of boot, which impress corresponded
in dimension with the impress of God
frey's boot. The government also prom
ised to show that Godfrey
had expressed some concern t6
know if Mr.. Strout could recognize the
assailant; and that Godfrey had been ir
possession of considerable sum Of
money after the assault.
The face of the prisoner was, in this
portion of the County Attorneys adj
dress, a study. Godfrey was evidently
surprised and anxious at some of the
developments. AS Mr.. Perkins went OF
to tell how Deputy Sheriff Plummer anc
Detective Newbegin had fooled him, {;
look of WEAKNESS overspread Godfrey's
e. I,o L. Il IL -