Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-26
PRAWDA TRIAL.
Government Testimony Shows
Badly for the Defendant.
Strong Circumstantial Web Being
Woven About Prisoner.
Probable That Prawda will Go on Stand In
Own Deienc,.

Own Deienc,.
PORTLAND, Jan. 25.-The Pfawda muir.
der trial was resumed in the Cumberland
superior court, Thursday morning. The
jury and counsel spent all of Wednesday
afternoon in the rain inspecting the Prawda
house in Yarmouth, the scene of the mur-
der. From the large number of witnesses
present Thursday morning it can easily be
seen that the trial is to be hard-fought
conte st on each eide.
The first witness was DR.. II. C. Hanson
Of Yarmouth. He was called at 10 Din-
utes before 8 o'clock, Nov. 25. to attend
Mrs. Meyer. He found her badly wounded
in the face and her jaw shattered. He
dressed the wound. Pus began to form on
the second day.
The wound was the direct cause of her
death for the autopsy showed that part, of
the wound were badly decomposed while all
the vital organs were in normal condi-
ton.
Witness was given long cross-exsmina-
ton by Mr.. Chase for the purpose Of fixing
the exact time " hen he was called and when
he started for Pfawda's house. He was
closely questioned as to the txact placs
where the bullet entered the face and wher.
it came out.
Mr.. Chase faced the jury and the witness
pointed cut the exact position on Mr.
Chase's face which corresponds to the place
sbere the bullet went into Mrs. Meyer.
ia and where it came out.
DR.. II. II. Burbank of Yarmouth, wat
called and told Of his observation of Mrs
Meyers wound and the treatment of it
He corroborated the testimony of DR.. Han
son.
DR.. S. II. Weeks of Portland, testified
that he was present at the autopsy. All the
vital org ms were found in healthy condi-
ton and death was caused by blood poison
ing from the wound. Witness was given
cross examination of considerable length
With view to getting the exact location Of
The wound. He said that hernia could not
lave contributed towards the death of Mrs.
Meyer.
DR.. J. f. Thompson of Portland, testi-
fed that he made the autopsy. His state
nents were in exact accord with those
,f Dr.. wseKs He Testified positively
that the wound caused the death of Mrs
Meyer.
In the afternoon Almon A. Strout, who
lives about 10 rods from Prawdas house,
heard a gunshot on on the evening of the
murder. He testified that Prawda is gun
aer and keeps dogs. Witness was at Praw-
da's house the next day and was told by
Prawda that he was in the outbuilding wher
he heard the shot Prawda thought the
imp had exploded. On cross examination
the witness said it was common thing to
hear shots at night, for often the boys used
to be out shooting skunks.
Mrs. George Moxcey testified that she
heard a shot, being in Strouts house, and
she was not surprised, as it was a common
thing to hear gunshots.
Abraham Giroux testified that on the
avening of the murder, Prawda came to
him for help, saying the old lady had been
hot or a lamp had exploded. Prawda asked
Giroux to 60 for the doctor while he went
back home. Witness was at Prswdas house
twice that night and saw the bullet hole in
the window. The first time he was there
Prawda was absent. The witness was at
Prawda's house week before the murder,
and Pfawda said the house was cold and he
had to keep three fires goiug. Witness said
he ought to burn coal. Mrs. Prawda said
her mother thought coal cost too much and
the old lady knew they would furnish wood
and Mrs. Prawda said: "If we buy coal
.he will burn out of it, and she
nas got more dollars than We
have cents" Prawda told his wife
to shut up. In cross-examination
witness said that Prawda was greatly ex-
cited when he came after him the night OF
the murder. Prawda was crying and Stun
bed on the piazza. Witness could hardly
under stand Prawda's broken English.
Mrs. Sarah A. Giroux, wife of the pre-
vious witness told about the same story as
her husband.
Mrs. Blanche Moxcey, who lives next
house to the Prawda house, testified that
she was at the house of her mother, Mrs.
Giroux, on the night of the shooting. She
saw Prawda when he came for help. Prawda
told her that he at first thought the shot was
outside the house, and then that it was in
side, then he heard grosn and found the
old lady was shot. She could hardly un-
ierstand Prawda, though at other times she
could understand him well.
Miss Bernie Giroux, a school girl, con-
firmed the previous witnesses as to Prawdas
appearance on the night of the shooting.
She remembered hearing Prawda say that
the old lady had been shot through the win
dow and illustrating by putting his hand to
his face.
At this point court Adjourned. Appear
ances indicate that two more days will De
occupied by the government testimony, As
every point is beng fought and cross-exam-
nations occupy much time. 1t 10 under
stood that Prawda will be put on the stand
A the first witness for the deferce.