The Portland daily press., 1894-05-03

"a About the Relations of Mrs. Getchell
and LaForest Trask-Getche1l'sss Father
Said to Have Expressed Fear of Being
Poisoned.
Augusta, May 2.-When court opened this
morning the prisoner appeared with her
little boy, and was as calm as ever. She
showed no apparent emotion during:the most
narrowing details or the most terrible
charges against her. Her aunt, Mrs. Towle,
and her eldest son were with her. Mr..
Wyman of Sidney, again resumed the stand.
He said that R. K. Stuart was trader ssand
kept also an apothecary store about five
miles from the Getchells, and sold strych-
nine. A year ago Mr.. Getche1 complained
of the size of Stuart's bill.
Cross-examination showed that Stuart was
dead at the time, the bill being presented
by his widow. Nothing was said by Mrs.
Getchen to the witness about drugs or
strychnine in the bill
The prisoner gave up her little boy to her
aunt and moved up close to her counsel
when Jacob G. Gordon took the stand. He
keeps the post office and small store about
three miles from the Getchen house. In
August last he had conversation with
Mrs. Getchell at the post office. Counsel
for the defense objected to witness stating
what the conversation was. The jury was
retired while the government explained
that the conversation was of an admissible
nature.
The judge ruled that the witness might
answer the question. He said that Mrs.
Getcheu asked witness to retain her letters
to be delivered to her, and did not wish her
husband to get them, because she was afraid
he'd be displeased. Therefore he retained
her letters after that; perhaps a half dozen.
Cross-examination showed that some of
her letters were postmarked at Augusta,
and one at Jefferson and Hallowen. Mrs.
Getchen was not in the habit of coming for
the mail. Couldn't say that any letters
came for Mrs. Getcheu postmarked Sidney.
At this point there was tackled on the
wall plan of the Getchell house and
premises.
William T. Getchell of Augusta, civil
engineer, testified that he made the plan in
the presence of the counsel for the respond
ent. 1t is story and half house with an
ell in the gable end of which is a window.
The two barns are fifty-two feet from the
house and are not connected. Witness
could see from the window portions of build
ings beyond the hill, mile away, and on
the hill objects as small as a man.
Cross-examination showed that Mr.. Heath
had asked witness to put on the plan the
well and the wood-road running down into
the swamp and woods, also that the orchard
was between the barns and the family
cemetery, and the sink spout ended on the
surface of the ground. The plan indicated
the buildings and premises to be those of a
prosperous farm. e--m
Eyeline r. Keen, wife of Andrew Keen,
testified that she lived half mile from the
Getchen home. Mrs. Getchell was at her
house week after the funeral. They were
in the kitchen, and Mrs. Getchell told
Ambrose Getchell, who was there, that she
was willing that her husbands body should
be taken up. She said she knew the diesease
he died of, that the stories floating about
were from the lower class of people, and no
attention should be paid to them. Mrs.
Getchen went to Augusta after she left the
house. Witness knew Laforest Trask. She was
at the Getchen house at a sewing bee year
ago last December. Trask was there; saw
him assist Mrs. Geuchell in the preparation
of the dinner.
Cross Examination showed that Trask was
there in the forenoon, left before dinner.
Harry Getchell was at home. Trask was
picking over cranberries. 1t was the only
time she ever saw him there, had only been
there in the last four years half dozen
times. Her husband is cousin to Trask.
Had been to Trask's house much oftener; he
lived with his mother; was married, but did
not live with his wife for the past four
years. In the conversation in her house
Ambrose Getchell said there was suspicion
of foul play, when he asked Mrs. Getcheu to
have the body taken up. Mrs GetcheH gave
her consent after he had talked with her.
She said in regard to Henry's disease, that
he needn't take her word but to ask DR..
Brickett about it. She also said that as she
knew what he died of there was no need to
take up the body.
Mrs. Ida Haskell was twenty years old and
had lived in Sidney all her life. Was at
campmeeting in Belgrade and saw Trask
and Mrs. Getchell there, two years ago last
fall and several falls before. She saw them
there in the evening at the depot. Saw them
go down the railroad together away from
the camp ground. Witness had worked at
Mrs. Getchell's a week, five or six years ago,
in April, MI. Trask was there every day
but one. Saw him and Mrs. Getchell go off
into a room together. He addressed her as
Emma, and she him as Laforest.
Cross-examination showed that the use of
proper names was also in the hearing of Mr..
Getchell Trask assisted Getchell in his
work They appeared to be friends. They did
not drink that she knew of. Trask and Mrs.
Getchell went into bedroom off the sitting
room Witness was then in the sitting room.
Mrs. Getchen asked Trask to go into the
room to fix the bedstead. Witness did not
then mistrust anything improper. They
closed the door, She couldn't remember
where the bed was, thought the door that
opened from the bed room into the parlor
was shut. Didn't know she was cleaning the
sitting room next to the bed room. The
second time they went into room up
stairs. leaving her in the kitchen. Mrs.
Getchell said 'sCome up stair a minute, 1
want to see you.' He said, ''Al right"
Heard them talking over the kitchen. We're
gone five or ten minutes.
Witness was not married when she went to
the campmeeting. Mrs. Getche1 was there
all the week She staid at Mrs. Trasks