Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-09-26
SILVER TRIAL.
Van Blenn, Brother Of Dead
Man, on the Stand.
Nearly Whole Day Spent in His
Direct and Cross Examination.


0ther Evideaes Ter tAs Prsssestisa- -rAs
Events si The DAY.
The trial Of Silver for causing the death
Of Charles Blenn proceeded on Monday
morning, commencing shortly after 10
O'Clock.
The attendance showed marked increase
and standing room only WAS soon the
rule. The lsaies continued to show their
interest and were pressn, in large numbers.
1t was easy to contrss, the regular attend
ant frem the newcomer by the knowing air
the former wore and the keen interest with
which he followed the details of the case.
Turner, the first witness of the day, fur
nished the topic fer much talk by lis evil
deaf desire TO say nothing at all prejudicial
to the cause of Silver, who is a friend of
his.
During the greater part of the forenoon
Van Blenn, the dead mans brother, WAS on
the stand. Upon the cross examination he
and Attorney Heselton, who appears for the
respondent, had several brushes that caused
much laughter.
Mr.. Heselton and the attorney for the
prosecution constantly clashed over the
question of the admissibili,y of evidence
and the former had one exception noted.
after consultation with Hon. A. NJ. Spear.
The latter and his partner, c. l.. An
drews, Esq, who are to defend Wakefield,
are closely watching the progress of the
Silver trial. Mr.. Spear .its a, the
same desk as Mr.. leselton and the two
quite frequently consult. Mr.. Spear has
a large note book in which he keeps run
ming commentary upon the testimony.
County Attorney Carleton AMI F. Z.
Beane, ESQ.,, have buried all political dill
ferences and are working hard together for
the government. Mr.. Carleton conduc:e /
Turner's examination on Monday morning
and Mr. Beane that of Mr.. Van Blenn. The
two lawyers quite often brought temporary
quiet into the trial by stopping the exsmina-
ton of a witness to consult over further
line Of operation.
Cornelius W. Turner resumed the stand.
and bis examination was continued by the
government. He testified that Silver told
him in the shop Sunday night, after he got
home, that he was setting two men across
nd fha hna mt
tipped it over: that at that time when this
was said they were drinking whiskey.
Silver had drank three or four times.
remember testiiying before the grand jury,
and about the scar on Silvet's lip. re-
member that Silver showed that scar and
lifted lis hat and said there WAS one on hi
heal. lie did not say how he got il. and
don't think l ask.d Lin. did not testify
efore the grand jury that Silver told me
how he got it.
Cross-examined Would not say what it
was for a certainty that Silver drank.
Van Blenn was then called. Gave his
name as V. B. Blenn; is 81 years old
employed as second officer on steamer Ken
nebec; lives in Gardiner; has lived there
Is years. Has two brothers living, jams
and Ryan. Had another, Charles, who
would have been 2G in August. Latter was
Of light comple xion, weighed l63 three
months before he was lost. Charles was
about ) feet or 10 inches in height
Saw him last on the Thursday before he
went TO Mr.. Babcock's on Saturday, July
IL. Has not seen him alive since. GA
Wednesday, July 2G, saw hi; brother in
Horseshoe pond.
Arrived on Tuesday, July 25, in Garii
ner 3, o'clock. Made known that bis
brother was lost by his brother Ryan.
Reached the pond about . o'clock. Put up
horse at Babcock's. Neither Silver nor
Wakefield were there nor had he seen
them. Walked to Wingate camp, Poirt
Pleasant. Clearly defined path. Cove
or depression within seven or eight rods
Wingate camp. which depression is rod
or two across. Cluf Mack pointed on.
place where boat cspsizcd according to Sii
ver's story. Went prepared. Had three
srapuel., one large oae from police station.
another long one from George Cross and a
short one with long line. Also cotton
hook tied on a pole. Grappled through the
clay beginning where Mack sail Silver toll
hin, boat cspsized. Anchor and buoy were
placed by himself, under Silyer's personal
direction, toward Wakefield camp. 30 feet
6 inches away.
Sounded up and down stream and well
across pond. After witness had made
soundings he went to work, on uasdsy,
graphing. At buoy found Is feet Of water
and from 12 to &c feet all the way over TO
where he found body on the south eide of
pond.
Found eelgrass, all along the bottom. II
was a sold mass ithin six inches of sur
face. Like what he had seen around coral
reefs. Impossible 10 grapple. Place where
he thought he could walk ashore he fouHd
l2 feet of water upon sounding. After
'onversation went down 10 front OF the
camp. Sounded in front Of camp. Twenty
f We feet Of water there.
Question Was there any grass there on
the bottom?
Objections to the style of Mr.. Beane's
examinations were made by Mr. Hesel.on,
answered yes.
Silver came. On Tuesday went to Wake
field camp and Morrison's cam pat $50.
Who was at esmpf
No one. Went in with brother james.
Went in siie door. Did not see interior of
camp. Saw interior Of kitchen that dsv.
Saw main room Wednesday at 40. with
Officer H.lireth, Coroner Kilbreth,
Lawyer Andrews and others. Saw
dIslies; table set; broken dishes AMI
bottles on floor; broken chairs and whole
ones, and lor list Of articles. Table was
in back part of south room against portion
between kitchen. Beef steak, whole AMI
broken dishes were on it. Found pack Of
cards. Been in witness possession since.
Trey were on southeast corner of table.
Fish poles were on the side of the room.
Two rockers there (which witness de-
scribed.) One broken. Right aide gone.
four inches Of seat and siie gone aud legs
broken. Part Of breaks new. Still have
parts Of chair. Barrel was in south
east corner and another in southwest.
Bottles were apparently whiskey bottles
from sealed, original packages. Broken
tuniblers also on floor. Found long rake
or &C. atch feet long under table, ~ though
man sitting at corner by cards had been
dragged back. Found other heel marks.
Eve altogether. Were most apparently
made by heel. Were plainly visible. Saw
them IS feet away. Has the shoss which
we're found On his brother. Never COM
pared dent in foo. with heel Of the shoe.
Been in camp several times. First after
Wednesday, the ne1t Sunday. Camp had
been cleaned.
On Wednesday also found large birch
stick 3 by % inches near center