Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-09
MRS. GETCHELL
Makes a Very Good Appear
ance on the Witness Stand.
She Denies Much, Explains Some,
and Doesn't Remember Much.
She sohs When Asked 10 Recount the Death
Bed Scene.

Getchel case draws near Mrs. Getchell
is not yet through the ordeal of cross-exsm-
ination, but he defence says it will have but
very little evidence to follow her, and that
it will not occupy more than 20 minutes
1t is impossible to guess at the amount of
testimony which will be put on in rebuttal,
but it is hoped that the jury will get the
case by Friday, at the latest.
The prisoners composure, which has
lasted throughout the trial thus far, gave
way to sobs when on the direct examina-
ton, Tuesday. The scene was an impres.
i've one.
The examination of Laforest Trask was
continued Tuesday morning.
| He stated that he DIDN'T know to whom
he spoke about the occurrence between
Damren and Miss Smith.
| Denied telling Herbert Gilmore he didn't
know why he should go back on them.
| Odd you tell Mr.. Gilmore after you
got home that you didn't want the people i'll
Sidney to know you were at Ocean Poin,
and wanted to know what his wife " oulc
tell about it?
+; A.-No, sir. Never said no such thing
| Q.-When was it you were walked down
the railroad track on that time?
| Alt was in 1891. Was sure it was
1891.
Q-You're accustomed to lay out dead
bodies:
| A.-Have done so.
| Odd you tell Lindl.y Wyman the
night Getchell was laid out that our hand
trembled so you couldn't shave him?
A.-Didn't remember. Might have said
| so.
! Q.-When did it first occur to you that
Henry Getchell died of poison?
| A.-Don't know. -Four or five weeks
after he died. Didn't think of it at the time
Q-Why did you tell Lindley Wyman
about Henry drinking terribly and you
| would show him some of the liquor?
A.-Didnt know as he told Wyman so.
Q-You sat up with Mrs. Getchell two
nights at Ambrose Getchelrs?
A.-Didn't say So. Was there himself.
Q.-You didn't lie on the lounge that
night Edgar Lincoln was there?
A.-No, sir.
Q-You didn't lie down across the foot
o f Abbe Keene's bed but beside her?
A.-Yes, sir.
Q-No reason why Mrs. Getchell might
not have lain down there as we'll as you?
A.-Not that know of.
Witness RENE mbered of speaking to Miss
Blaisdell about Henry's dying of heart
trouble.
Q-Were you strawberrying with Mrs
Getchell when Mabel Wyman came across
you?
A.-No sir. Admitted he was in a straw
berry field with her alone five or six years
ago.
Witness stated that Henry, the Sunday
before he died told him the jug of cider he
was bringing past the Quaker meeting house
was from the new cask at Ambrcse's, the
cask from Which witness uncle drank Just
"efore he died. Henry drank of it but
witness wouldn't. That was sill the reason
he had for saying he didn't doubt but wha,
thew would find poi,on in his body.
Q.-Were you at Anna Aliens at Togus
with Mrs, Getchell?
A Don't RENE mber that was.
O. Do you deny telling Mr.. Wyman that
Emma told you about Henry's defying God
10 come ction with his dy ing suddenly?
A.-Wouldn't deny it.
Remembersd that George and Herbert
Trask were at Ocean Point when he was
there. Worked on the Lyon cottage the
second time be was down there.
Wasn't on the Ge,chell house steps Sat
urdsy morning. Dldnt stop his team.
Q.-Have you ever exp, rimented with
suychnin
A.-No, sir. Never tasted of it.
Q Did you tell Herbert Gilmore "If
You put a pin of strychnine in water it
will be very btter?'
A.-No. Think l told him I heard
strychnine was very bitter.
q You said Henry couldn't sharpen
sed-stake properly?
Ale couldn't.
Never asked Mr.. Williams for butter to
take down to Ocean Point.
Redirect-Q.-Do you undertake TO re
member what you said to Mr.. WymaD?
A.-Couldnt remember all Of it.
Q-Why didn't you drink the cider you
found in that jug down stsirs:
A.-DIan't darst to. Knew il come on;
of the same cssk his uncle was poisoned.
Q-What did Henry tell you about going
to Ocean Point and fin6ing his wife go ,e ?
Ale said he went down there and
found bis wife gone home.
Went down to Gardiner with Mrs. Getcb-
ell to carry some wool. Went from Au-
gusta on the electric car. He took the wool
to the carding mill. He went to see Chas.
Trask about buy ing horse.
Q.-What caused you first to think T. f
poison in Henry Geichell's body:
Al heard some of the folks talk that
be was poisoned.
Got nothing at Stewards on Mrs. Getch-
ellis credit. Had heard strychI inc was Bit
ter. Prior to Mr.. Getchell's death didn't
know stry ychnine was bitter. Prior to his
death had no iniimation from Mrs. Getchell
as to Mr.. Getchei.'s death.
Cross.
Q.-You knew that prior to Mr.. Getch-
ellis death he was drinking something so
dangerous ou declined to drink out of it
and warned him of the iron bound jug? 1
A.-Yss, sir.
q Yet it didn't occur to you notwith- /
standing Henry had been drinking heavily, |
it didn't occur to you that his death had any |
with that jug:
Continued on 9TH page.l