Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-01
IN OWN BEHALF.
Augustus Prawda Denies the
Charge Of Murder.
Both He and His Wife Are Put on the
Witness Stand.
They Made Good Impression on Jury, es.
pfcial.y the Prisoner.

poRrLAyD, Jan. 3l.-Testimony for th'
defence is now being heard in the Prawd'
murder trial.
Eugene f. Freeman of Yarmouth testi
fed Tuesday afternoon, that about three
years ago he bought of Pfawds breech
loading shot gun, 10 gauge. With the gur
he bought also IL gauge shells. That CUR
witoes, has possessed ever since, and
p,ssessed on the 18th Of last Novem
Der. when he had it in an open chamber OF
his house. SO
Joseph A Manley, section foreman OF the
Grand Trunk at Yarmouth, fesiiatd thal
Prayda worked as usual Nov. rs until nall
past four o'clock.
Civil Engineer f. c. Jordan of Portland
was called as an exper: civil engineer and
also as an expert in the use OF firearms
Tie testified to visiting the Prawda house
and gave re asons for believing that the
nearest point from which the shot could
have been fired was % feet from the house.
George II. Pierce of Portland testified
that he had been target shooter Tor ~
wears, but rs cross examination brought out
that he bad paid attention to bullets, etc.,
as recreation and not as business, ne
was objected to as an expert.
Wednesday morning George IL. Pierce
testified that in his opinion person stand
inp 30 feet from the house could not shoe!
in the face person shading on the large
bood-stain in the room where Mrs. Meyer
was shot. There was a long examination
OF this witness with regard to the method OF
loading shotguns.
DR.. Hanson was rec ,lled by the defence
and testified that it Was 10 minutes before
when he left his house to go to Prawda
on the night of the shooting.
When Mrs. Prawda was called to the
stand there was more interest than at any
time during the trial. She was much
affected and talked rapidly and with broken
voice. She told about her mother living
with them since she married Prawca. On
the day of the sh oo,ing Prawda came from
his work and sawed wood before supper and
split wood after. She was baking pies.
Prawda sal he was goipg to bed and then
went out to the out-building. A few min-
utes later there was an explosion. Prawda
rushed to tie door and asked
what was the matter. She heard
her mother give loud g;oan. She
said, Something has happened to mother"
Then they went up stairs and found her
standing in the door. She said the lamp
had exploded and the chimney we..t off like
shot. They got her on the bed and
Pfawda went for doctor. When he came
back he found the lamp and chimney on
the floor and said neither was broken.
Then he looked and found hole on the
walt. Later they found the hole in the
II hor OF
and gave it to her, saying there was $40
in it. She said Matt, I'm going to die.
He said, mo, mother" She said, 81 want
sou to be a good boy to Annie. She has
had trouble ever since she was old enough
to know what trouble WAS"
In the afternoon Mrs. Pfawda was still
on the stand. She testified that she kept
going down stairs to see If The doctor was
coming and was attending to her mother in
the meanwhile. She had often seen one
bullet in Prawdas box. which had been
there ever since she married him. Prawda
had always owned gun, but never had but
one. Before her mother gave her thu bag
of money she did not know she had any
money.
In the cross-examinstinn by Attorney
General Pow crs, she said the dog was one
year old and usually slept in the barn. She
reatlirmed her statement that cloth was
pinned on the curtain because il was too
short and because it was cold. Witness
was asked If her husband was at home all
the time after the shooting. except when he
was gone after doctor. and she said yes.
Several witnesses we're recalled for short
limitations. Mrs. Mickey, whose hus-
bands gun is alleged to have been stolen
By Prawda, testified. on cross examination
by the xttorrey general, that after the
shooting. Prawda, with trembling lips,
followed her from the room and said:
eMrs. Moxcy. we have always been good
friends. I have said to your husband,
don't you suppose your wife took the
gum"
WITNESS replied emph tically that sh,
did not take the gun. This caused con-
siderable comment in the cour, room and i
regarded rs damaging bit of evidence tina,
Prawda really stole the gun.
Prasda himself was now put on the stand
lie appeared calm and talked in broker
English in low tone that couli be und'r
stood with difficulty. He said he is a Ger
man and has been here five years. He has
worked NJ various places. He Fought s
farm at Yarmouth, giving mortgage o.
$500 for it.
On the nigh. Of the shooting came hons
from work as usual. After supper went to
an outbuilding ard heard an explo
sion. He then told sdbstan'i III,
the same story as his wife
He was questioned at grea. length US to hi
movements after III, showing, of lis goir
to Gerow's, his return to his house. his ac
tious there, his going to Carriers, his meet
ing with the expressman, his conversation
with others.
All this had been detailed by other wit
p.sses dozen times during the trial an,
Pfswia's story was the same except that
was fuller. He made good appearance
on the STAND and helped his case with th
sury. but the cross-examination will b
searching and that win not be reached be
fore tomorrow. He was still on the stan
when court adjourned.