Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-17
TWO MEN HELD.
Investigating the Train-Wreck-
ing Case at Pittsfeld.
Thomas Gregg Of Portland and
George Brown of Boston Held
In $4,000 Each tor the Grand Jury
Report Of Hearing.

PITTsfIELD, July 16.-(Special. Geo.
Brown of Portland and Thomas Greggs of
Boston, were, today, each held by Trial
Justice Bowden for their appearance at
Skowhegan at the September term of court.
Bail was fixed in each case at $40 900,
which they were unable to furnish, and they
were committed. Mrs. Roemelt. an impor-
tant witness in the case, also goes to Nor
rilgewock Jail to await the action of the
grand jury, before which she is to testify
The entire forenoon was consumed in the
preliminary hearing, which was held at
Union hall, and a large number of wit
nesses were examined. Among the wit
nesses were several conductors brakemen
engineers and section men, also expert
shoemakers and officers.
1t was shown by the testimony of one of
the tramps, Mrs. Roemett, who came in
company with these men to Newport from
Etna, that they were gone during the night
and returned to Newport, coming up the
track in the direction from Pittsfield, about
4 o'clock Saturday morning. The intended
wreckage took place about midnight.
1t was further shown taht the shoe tracks
beside the sleeper dragged beside the track
were identical impressions of shoes worn
by Brown and Greggs, the shoes both being
peculiar in shape and having mrks by
which the tracks in the mud and sand out
side the rails could be easily identified.
These tracks showed that two men dragged
the large sleeper to the track and placed
the same on the rails.
Tboy uoro al 90 hoard tO bo to1L n ftar
midnight, in their cells, eliminating them
selves. Officer Corey was stationed near
their cell and when they supposed there was
no one around, it was talked over and they
concluded the "jigger' had caused their de-
lection.
George Brown was identified as fellow
named Joe" of Rockland, who has been
in several hotels, among them the North
in Augusta, the Thorndike in Rockland
and also hotels in Bangor. His folks live
in Rockland, his stepfather being named
Gagnue. He is young fellow and has
been called hard character. Greggs has
served three years in prison and Brown has
been in reformatory.
The testimony was even more damaging
and of more serious nature than outlined
in yesterdays JOURNAL. Eight places
within four miles had distractions. The
spike produced was about nine inches in
length driven down between the joints OF
two rails, about half its length, and when
struck by the wheel bent over nearly
double.
The framework called the jigger was
broken into hundreds of pieces. Huge
sleepers were broken squarely in pieces
One large juniper sleeper, with a nine-inch
face, was carried quarter of a mile, aud
when the train stopped was found under tie
wheels of the third car from the engine,
all bruised and partially burned with the
friction with the wheel.
These two men we're put eff the train, the
day before, where they were found riding
on the trucks. Young Brown told the boss
section man that they intended to dump the
trainmen for putting them off and turning
the hose on them. These threats were
made the same afternoon of the attempted
wreckage.
| Witnesses who swore to the similarity OF
the shoes with the impressions of the nails
in the sand, were John S. Heali and w
ID. Farnham of Pittsfield, shoemaker OF
wide experience. This testimony was very
positive and plain.
| The case was conducted by County Attor-
ney Hovey for the State, and Brown and
Greggs managed their ow defence, telling
their stories, and with the permission of the
court, asking such questions as they de-
sired.
EFF. Webb, Esq, of Waterville, was in
attenda6ce on behalf of the railroad CON-
pany. but took no part in conducting the
examination. Detectives True and Hesld
were also present in addition to the local
officers. Much interest was shown in the
case as the large audience attested.
As shown by the evidence never was
there a more determined effort in this State
to wreck train, and that the train and pas
sengers escaped injury seems a miracle.
All concerned are positive that the right
parties have been secured and that they can
be convicted More evidence can be pro-
duced before the grand jury. and convic-
tons seem very probable.
Three other tramps, heretofore supposed
to be implicated and of dangerous ap-
pearance, were tried before Justice Bow
den for evsding payment of railroad fare,
and fined So. They were committed. All
the others held under arrest were released
and were seen at once hurrying for more
congenisl climate. The efforts put forth in
this mstter by the officers have been prompt
and efficient and in their vigilance the trav-
cling public can feel greater security.
detective True brought Brown to this
city on train No. s, this morning, and lodged