Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-12

see ~ WAkeneids camp, punn ned an
swefed IL saw NO one This vas given
only few days afsef Mr.. Dunn and his
wife had roved up the stream and when all
was fresh in his mind.
The elisencies Of the case had been such
that il vas necessary 10 connect Wakefield
with the crime and i; Was found necessary
to strengthen Dunn's story 20 as to make it
more damaging than that At the eoroner's
inquest.
Mr.. Spear showed eonclusivsly that there
vas no proof, even worthy Of civil cAse,
that Wakefield was on the platform. Es-
peciAlly - il was opposed BY the t~o posi-
tive statements of Wakefield and Silver
tina, the former had been up stairs all this
time.
The next point Mr.. Spear STACKED, re-
moving largely its damaging effect. was
that in regard to wskeheld's alleged state
nent that when Blenn was found s. or 81
would be found upon him belonging to the
defendant. Mr.. Spear read from Ryan
Bienns testimony at the inquest and showed
it WAS coupled with that OF brakes and
showed ssain ,hs, the alleged denial had
been misconstrued and that. on the latter
point, Wakefield had merely said that when
they found Charles they would find the
moaey the latter had won from him.
Mr.. Spear showed tina, this exactly coin
cides with that of the defendant. He said
the story of the 50 or 81 arose from nisun-
derstsnding talk abou, the three or four
games.
Mr. Spear showed that he had disproved
the three denisls, three vital points, and
that the case was broken down accordingly.
Mr.. Spear brought up another poin, upon
which the government had placed great
stress and that was that the condition Of the
camp showed terrible struggle and that
the governments counsel would make a
great point on this and say that Charles
Blenn was felled oy blow in the camp and
then plot vas entered into between Silver
and Wakefield and that the unconscious or
dead body was placed in the stream.
With their intelligence il this story is true
they knew the condition Of that camp va.
the only evidence that Blenn had been killed
for Wakefield had not scratch nor had his
clothes been ruilied.
Mr.. Spear then described the plot which
the government alleged and said i, was
worthy of the best novels, of the century,
bringing the pocket book. the straw hat. the
by Wakefield and pointed out its
righteousness. This was Mr. Spears clev-
crest point and made deep impression.
Consistency. thou art jewel" Thi.
is certainly not consistent for when they had
covered up every other point would they have
left the camp in this condition which was the
only evidence agalnss them. III this story
is true the frs, thing they wonld have done
would have beep to clean up the camp.
Ina strong and ringing speech Mr.. Spear
pointed on. the absurdi,y of the theory that
Blenn was clever enough to originate this
fantastic plot and not clever enough to
cover up the only evidence of the alleged
crime.
Mr.. Spear then asked whether the camp
was rot Just what would have been ex-
pected when two drunken men had been
carousng about. He took up each detail
of the disorder, showing tina. each was
merely what might have been expected.
Mr.. Spear told of the minute search by
the officers, especially by that experienced
and clever one, Mr.. HilIreth, who looked
everywhere even on the rounds OF the chair
but could not find the sign of a single blow.
Then Mr.. Spear brought ou. the chair
ard showed ,ha, Miss Morrison had said she
hail seen the rocker with the b,ck On when
both Chai Morrison and Wakefield had
sworn that the back had been gone for over
a vear, showing a ristske had been made.
The most nstural thing under The circum-
stances is that the drunken men should
have broken il ami have then thrown il in
to the ponA-
Mr.. Spear took up the testimony as to
the boat.
What mus. have been the exigencies of
the case that briggs man from Bowdoin-
ham who SAYS he stood on the wharf bridge
and saw several hundred yards away two
men standing up fishing and another man
living down. Is there the slightest connec-
ii IN with Sily.r and Wakefield. What
more ridiculous than that the alleged
criminals ha ! come up with the dead body
Of their victim on a stresm than can readily
be seen from every road and hillside.
Mr.. Spear then showed hor utterly remote
and unconnected stat men,s should not be al
lowed TO weigh against the defendants lib
erty but should be hurled from the ase by
any fair minded jury.
Then Mr.. Spear took up Mr. Gilby's tes-
timony and showed that man had taken a
drive withou, definite knowledge ~ to the
time from the start to finish than the time
he .pent on the road or here or there. He
asked the Jury merely to look back few
dsvs even and Try to remember just what
they were doing at . definite time. Mr..
Spear showed the unreliabili,y Of Mr.
Giiby's judgment Of the time and showed
this, there was nothing in il incompatible
with wakeHeld's story.
Mr.. Spear then brought out the point that
Gilby's, Dunn's and Silver's stores (especi-
ally Dunn's about having seen men right
arouni the bend eoincided spd showed
there was a possibility tha. Silver's story
uas true.
But the government will say where IL
that third man? He might have swan
ashore and have kept quiet since for fear o.
being involved in any trouble. don
saw this il true. IL merely
came into my mind just now in looking
over GiIby's testimony.
| Mr.. Spear made telling point by covering
his own nscktie and asking the jury whether
they could tell q thing about it although he
had worn i, every day for week. He then
showed the improbability Of Mr.. and Mrs
B Babcock's story of having recognized ths
necktie, alleged to be Bienn's. He attacked
the testimony most rounily, foreibly show
| ing its weakness.
The next point was the discovered hand
kercbief.
| A striking thing occurred OF
this panel the other day. Your nose,
| Mr.. Foreman, begsn to bleed and though
now fortunate for Eiaaf G. Wakefield II
[ hs.t ~Haa x.t, ~eP1 nf the cnmY