The Portland daily press., 1894-12-19
THE MAN LEWIS.
Some Interesting Points in Regard to
His Past Career.

He Has evidently Figured in Massachus-
etts as James WEIGH and in the Town of
Buxton James Ellis is Known Who is
Believed to be Lewis.
The developments in regard to the Coburn
murder We're not startling Tuesday. NO
material facts were added to the statement
made by the PRESS Tuesday morning to
the effect that Ed. GRAHAM had made
clean breast of it and told how tho murder
had been committed by James Lewis. The
details of Graffam's testimony are still
carefully guarded; and it is not definitely
known whether GRAHAM is an accessory or
not.
One important fact was esdivulged by
Deputy Sheriff Chute, however. This fact
is in regard 10 the identity of James Lewis.
On last Friday, after the murder had taken
place Thursday, Mr.. Chute searched Lewis's
room at the Coburn house. There he found
a letter written by Lewis, evidently, several
days before, but not sent. This letter was
as follows:
Gorhani, December s, '94.
Mr.. F. T. Mailman, So. Natick, Mass:
Dear Sir:-Please oblge me by sending
the bag left at your house to address given
below.
".
JAMES WEIGH.
add. j. Lewis, Gorham, Me-. via American
Express Co.
Lewis was asked why he had used an as
sumed name. He replied that his real name
was James Lewis WEIGH, and that he had
gone by that name in South America. But
when he came to ship for the North he
dropped the name WEIGH because he thought
it would prejudice shipmasteTs against him.
"Have you not been in trouble before?'
asked MI. Chute. At this question Lewis
admitted.that he had been arrested once IL
South America.
The correspondent of the PRESS at Bar
Mills sends word that Lewis is believed
there to be James Ellis, young man who
first came to the house of Jonathan Lewis
in that town about fifteen years ago. Being
caught stealing he went away; but is said
to have come back last summer, and at that
time adopted the name of Lewis.
Lewis says that the Callinan to whom he
wrote at South Natick. is a brother-in-law.
Tuesday night the PRESS made an effort
to look up Callinan at South Natick.
Was known at South Natick.
Boston, Mass, December 1S.-Patrlck F.
Mailman of South Natick, to whom letter.
IOuuu III d6Wid IOOLu GU 1olAo 0AAAhSt
was addressed, states he knows James Lewis
Walsh, was bern at sSussexvale. Sussex
county, N. B. He was 2S years old. feet
inches in height and would weigh lao
pounds, and the general description is the
same as the description Of Lewis. Walsh
had lived in Paraguay. South America.
about ten years, having gone there on
man-of-war. He taught school for the
Indians and spoke several languages, and
was an excellent scholar. He also worked
in a country store and had met E. d. Win
slow of Boston. under the name of Lowe.
While in the South, Walsh also owned
ranch of one hundred leagues. Last May ne
arrived in Portland, Me-, where he received
his discharge papers, having worked his
passage. He visited South Natick in July
and remained with sister until her death.
When he left in October, he said he was 60
ing to Bangor. Me. Nothing has been heard
from him since until last week, when the
following letter was eoeived:
Gorham, December 10. 81.
Mr.. P. S. H0llinan:
Dear !Sir-Please send my bag to my. adj
dress by first opportunity. Ask Mary
ours JANE. JAMES L. WALSH.
Address: James Walsh. Office American
Express Co., Portland. Me.
Across the corner of this letter was writ
ten, ''send by American Express by Bailey"
The bag is common meal sack marked H.
G. and Co.. land contains only the clothes of
Walsh. HOLMAN had it ready to send Sun
day morning, but seeing by the Sunday
paper that Lewis was connected with the
Gorham murder he Kept it. HOLMAN thinks
that ne has worked for Coburn before.
When Walsh. or Lewis, came to Natick he
bought a common sailors knife, which is
still in Hollinan's care. Walsh is described
as a quiet. easy-going fellow without much
temper.
In order to confirm some Of the points
made by the testimony the authorities
deemed it necessary Tuesday to exhume the
body of the murdered man and take there
from the stomach and intestines. Drs.
Charles D. Smith and John E. Thompson of
this city. and Drs. Straw and Redlon of
Gorham. oficiated at this autopsy. 1t is I'M
derstood that the portions of:the body taken
will be examined to settle the time that had
elapsed between the eating of supper and
the murder. The head WAS not taken and
will not figure in the trial.
The inquest will be resumed again at Cor
ham this forauOon