The Portland daily press., 1894-12-20

himself had fastened, but a few moments
before, when red-handed with the blood of
a murdered man.
He told Graffam that he thought Coburn
had lot of money, and gave that as his
motive, so GRAHAM said, Mr.. Coburn was
known to have sold COW recently for S2t.
Lewis might have seen that money when
given the So that he told about and it might
have cause him to believe that Mr.. Coburn
had received his legacy of $4,000 from his
aunt, or some part of 1t.
But to get money from the body of his
victim may not have been his whole object,
if the testimony of Joseph Coleman, the
other hired man can be relied upon, and
there seems to be very little doubt put upon
his words By anyone, as there is little evi-
dence that he could have known about the
murder, nor that he could bave committed
it. and as his manner and morality are such
as to inspire confidence while those of Lewis
are just the reverse. In his connection it
may be said that on that night, after the
murder, when the two men were inter-
viewed by nine newspaper men, the news
paper men all felt at the time and expressed
afterward the belief that James Lewis was
the guilty man.
chores after supper. he caring for the
horses and Coburn milking the cow. Then
he went over to the Lowell house, and as he
went by the window saw Lewis in the parlor
talking with Abner Lowell. He. himself.
went into the kitchen and stayed there. He
did not know wnen Lewis went out. He
was the first man after Lewis had an
nounced the murder to find the bloody axe
leaning against the wall close to the door.
He almost struck it with his lantern. Lewis
expressed surprise at seeing it.
He, Coleman, found Mrs. kimball Ey the
body, and she said that Mr.. Coburn had
been kicked to death by the cow.
Coleman states some facts which have
tendency to suggest that one motive that
Lewis might have had in committing the
murder, was to secure home. The reia-
tions between him and Coburn were some-
what strained. He was not competent
farmland, and Mr.. Coburn was dissatisfied
with him. He had been given some pretty
strong hints by Coburn that his going away
would be by no means unwelcome. On the
other hand. he had succeeded i'll worming
himself into the good graces of Mrs. KIM
ball. and she had been inclined to take his
part. With this condition existing. it is not
unlikely to have occurred to him that with
Coburn gone he would be likely to be re-
tanned in tn household, and perhaps even
tually get the practical control of things.
Graffam's connection with the case is not
clear yet. He was always very intimate
with Lewis, and frequently came to the
house and slept with him. It seems
probable that Lewis's confession to. him
was simply the narrative of the incident of
the event that he knew had happened.
The Lowell family were very unsatis-
factory witnesses. 1t was difficult to get
straightforward positive answer from any
of them. They didn't seem to know any
thing very definitely.
There was good deal of talk yesterday
in Gorham. among old men. as well as
younger, that this Coburn murder is the
first murder TO occur in the town since its
incorporation, 1856 years ago.
About forty years ago man named Plow-
man killed his wife in what was then Scar
boro, but since has become a part of Cor
ham. That was the only murder in Gorham.
SO it was said, and that at the time as in
Scarboro.
But Portland man, who used to live in
Gorham, says that within his remembrance
a school boy killed his cousin with sled
stake in front of the school house on the
same road upon which is the Coburn house.
That was only case of manslaughter, and
we understand that there was no trial or
conviction.
However. in West Gorham, a won al. was
found dead in water tank, and it was al
ways supposed that she was murdered.
That street on which is the Coburn house
has been the scene of many tragedies.
There were the cases of the school boy kill
ing his cousin and of this horrible murder.
In the house just below the Lowell h ouse. a
man was killed by a horse within few
years. In the second house below the
Lowell house man committed suicide, and
in the next house to the Coburn house a
Lad h.ra