The Portland daily press., 1893-04-14
BIDDEFORD'S SENSATION.
Larceny, Contempt Of Court and Per-
jury Mixed Up In 1t.
QUEER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
CASE OF ,TEMPLETON.

He Is Accused of Attempting to Rob a
Trunk in Hotel-The Porter, who
Owns the Trunk, Is Apparently Liar
and Has Been Arrested-Templeton
Who Is Cool One, Understood to
Claim He Was Looking for Drink.
Especial to the Press.1
BIDDEFoRD, April 13.-This city has
sensation. Last week young man Civ
ing the name of Robert Templeton and
claiming to belong in Boston, was ar
rested accused of attempting to commit
a larceny in the Biddeford House. Tenn
pleton was well llsupplied with money and
retained counsel. The second chapter of
the sensation was furnished when ex-
Judge Hamilton went away and returned
with handsome young woman, Temple
toms wife, who had come to her unlucky
husbands assistance. Chapter the third
was furnished by yesterdays episode in
the Municipal court when Mr.. Hamilton
objected to proceeding to trial on new
warrant prepared by the court, and had
some heated remarks with the Judge
during which the lawyer, according to
reports in the local papers, was several
times told to 'shut up.'' The lawyer
did not ''shut up'' until the court had
imposed fine of $5 for contempt This
morning Mr.. Hamilton pulled out his
money and paid his fine and the trial
then proceeded. Before the days sess-
ion was over, the large crowd in attend
ance had another sensation.
City Solicitor Read opened the case for
the state. He introduced evidence to
show that Templeton arrived at the Bid
deford House Thursday evening of last
week. That the next morning early he
was seen trying to unlock room and
was afterwards discovered by chamber
girl in the porter's bedroom searching
through the porter's trunk. Templeton's
subsequent flight and capture and his
throwing away of a big bunch of keys
were also proven.
This afternoon, Daniel Buckley, the
Biddeford House porter, was pnt
to having seen Templeton trying
to enter one room, and to afterwards
seeing him in another room. He claimed
that he had watch and 5000 in his
trunk, but it was mot disturbed. He
claimed that the watch was given him
by his sister, who is now in Australia.
but who he claimed was once in Bidde-
ford for few hours. He said the watch
was worth 800. He stated that since he
had come SO near to being robbed he
had given 500 of his money to his
brother-in-law for safe keeping.
Messrs. Hamilton and Lezotte, Temple
toms counsel thought Buckley's story
might not hold water and determined to
summons Buckley's sister and her hus-
band and put them on the stand without
knowing to what they would testify. A
deputy sheriff hustled around and got
them as soon as possible.
As soon as the state had closed it's
case Buckley's sister was put upon the
stand by the defence. She testified that
the sister whom Buckley said had given
him the watch a year ago in this city,
was never in this country at ali, but
went to Australia three years ago from
the old country.
The court ordered City Marshal Cote
to take charge of Buckley, and he will
undoubtedly be held for perjury. Buck
: -ley's brother-in-law did not appear until
after court had adjourned, but in the
presence of witnesses he made the state
ment that Buckley did not give him the
800 to keep, as claimed. 1t was after
wards learned that Buckley bought the
watch at an auction sale.
1t is understood that Templeton's de-
fence tomorrow will be novel, to say
the least. He will claim that the porter
had got liquor for him several times, and
that when he was found in the porter's
room he was simply waiting for him to
come back from similar errand. He
will claim that he thought perhaps the
porter might have got the liquor in his
trunk and was simply looking there for
it when seen by the chamber girl. His
flight from the hotel will be the hardest
thing for him to explain.
Templeton is cool one and seems to
enjoy the trial. 1t is thought that he
will tell first-class story tomorrow and
make a good witness.