The Portland daily press., 1893-06-10


merciless cross-fire upon Mr.. Fleet pro-
ceeded. 1t was like drawing teeth. but
it came out at last that it was officer
Medley who brought the handless hatch
ct down from the Borden house to the
police station and gave it to the marshal.
1t had been in the custody of the marsh
al or some officer of the prosecution ever
since. After an inquiry as to time, Mr.
Fleet was permitted, to his evident great
relief, to escape from the stand,
All in all, it was the first exciting in
cident in the trial thus far, and strength.
ened materially the defence.
Handsome Captain Harrington.
Captain Phil Harrington, who followed,
has received his stripes since the arrest
of Lizzie Borden, jumping from patrol
man to the charge of station. The
captain is quite the Beau Brumuell of
the Fall River force in the extreme nice
ty of his attire. With his faultless white
tie and curling blonde moustache. he at
tracted the interest of the ladies' at once.
Nobody but the captain could SO
accurately describe a lady's dress as did
he the entire costume of Miss Lizzie
Borden that morning, to the cherry red
ribbon at the throat, the shirred front
below 1t, and the bell skirt. The natty
captain received the amused approval of
the ladies at once and even the sedate
trio on the judicial bench were unable to
suppress smile, Judge Dewey being
especial stress upon what Capt. Harring-
ton discovered in the kitchen fire that
morning-the roll of half burned paper
still retaining it's shape upon sheet of
fire as big as the palm of his hand.
There was an amusing little by-play
when the witness unwisely crossed
swords with the Governors sarcasm.
And there was good deal of excite
ment, suppose" remarked the attorney
dropping the matter to think of another
question.
80, no, saw no demonstration of it."
"Ah, suppose everybody was just as
cool, and calm, and collected as though
nothing had occurred?" said the Cover
nor, looking up quietly.
well, they were talking and walking
around"
''You didn't imagine, 7 suppose, that I
meant a riot, did you?''
The Captain subsidized.
But even SO sharp q man as Captain
Phil Harrington will get caught. Oh,
yes. How many times have the changes
been rung. in Fall River on
somebody she got her fathers slippers
when the old man had his boots on when
found. Now comes the captain. He is
perfectly familiar with congress boots.
They were not congress; they were high
laced boots. He was perfectly sure they
were not congress. Then up came the
deadly photograph, that agreeable pic
ture of the old mans corpse. And if
ever there were pair of congress boots,
old Mr.. Borden had them on. Again
there was laugh. 1t is as an American
Worth that the captain poses as bright
and particular star. When the governor
blandly asked would he kindly describe
that remarkable dress that Lizzie wore
that morning of the murder, Mr.. Har-3
rington was quick to accommodate him.
Ae put Lizzie into aplnk- wrapper tied
around the hips with bright cherry rib
bon and how delicately he touched up
the shirring of the waist in front.
What was your business, Mr.. Har-
rington, before you became a police
man?" came the dry query. Well, Cap
tain Harrington had been in the book
milliner nor dry goods man. Other
than as painter he had no interest in
colors, other than to admire them. Sand
SIR" said the governor, with his delic-
ious sarcasm, ''do you admire a bright
red ribbon, on pink wrapper2'' There
was an outburst of pretty feminine
laughter, and court and bar smiled too.
Captain Phil,s face showed both pink
and red, but he had no more to say on
colors.
The Days Session. s2ss
Officer Michael Mutually gave testi-
mony corroboratiye of his brother Off
GERS. With reference to the handleless
hatchet he said the broken part looked
clearer than the blade which appeared
to have had ashes wiped on it.
On cross examination he admitted that
he did not search the dresses and trunks
in the prisoners room the day of the
murders. AS to the hatchetsIfound in the
box, he said that none but the handleless
one was covered with ashes. He made
the sensation of the day by stating that
Officer Fleet found the broken handle
belonging to the handleless hatchet .at
the time he found the hatchetand replac-
ed it in the box with the blade.
s'Where is that piece?'
''I don't know was the reply.
''Was it part of the same handle?'
SIT looked like it.''
Then Governor Robinson called for
the piece and District Attorney Knowl-
ton said he had never heard of it. 1t
was brand new piece of evidence, and
the question is now who broke that
hatchet handle and when.
Then came a dramatic situation. Gov.
Robinson demanded Mr.. Fleets presence.
and II want this witness to remain.
Your Honor" he said. The two officers
were confronted. Such tableau is as
unusual as it is rare.
Mr.. Moody started a direct question
when Governor Robinson checked. II
have recalled this witness for purposes
of cross-examination."
Chief Justice Mason ruled that the
Governor might proceed. 3s
''Now, Mr.. Fleet, did you find anything
else besides this hatchet here9''
mo, sir, was the answer"
"You didn't find the handie?'
"No, SIR"
This direct contradiction of it's own
witness is the greatest setback the gov
arnmnnt has vat recaivnd +bo,,rb ,,aorl1,