The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-22


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James Lewis. After visiting several
stores they went down to Commercial
street, and aboard the old schooner
Grace Webster, and then aboard the
schooner BENZ. G. Cromwell. An arrange
ment was proposed whereby witness and
Lewis should ship on the latter vessel.
Lewis was to give definite answer to
the captain as to the proposal.
Witness rode home with Lewis They
had the big horse "Dick," and an ex-
press wagon. They left for home about
| or 3. 80 D. M. He ate his supper alone
when he got home After supper he did
the chores and set down in the sitting
| room. His father was there before
James Lewis came in. He was there
| when Lewis went out. He then wentsin
to the kitchen. His father and sister An
ME and Coleman and the children were
there.
After he went into the kitchen it
might have been ten or twenty minutes
before Lewis came in. After he came
| in Lewis said, in addition to previous
testimony, that Coburn had been !s,1 kicked
| in the head by a. horse and killed.
| After Lewis came into the sitting
room they talked about ships, and he
said he wouldn't go in the Benz. Crom-
we'll, but would go in the Charles Trick
ey. He thought that his father came
in to the sitting room before Lewis did.
Lewis was in the sitting room from As
minutes TO an hour The lamp kinder
dimmed down." and Lewis was reading,
and he said he guessed he'd go home
and go tosbed since he felt sleepy. When
witness went into the kitchen didn't
think GRAHAM was there, but thought
he came in very soon after.
DEPUTY SHERIFF PARKER'S TES-
TIMONY.
Gardner NJ. Parker testified as to his
learning of the murder and going to the
Coburn house, with Constable Libby.
AS he arrived at the barn he found sever
al men examining a bloody axe II
took possession of he axe, about 10
o'clock the next forenoon. He took it
home. The next Monday he took it over
to the Masonic Hall, to the coroaer's in
quest. He had the axe with him, and
produced it. 1t was laid upon the re-
corders' desk. He obtained the hat and
the pocketbook from Sheriff Chute, aud
had them with him. He produced them
and also the lantern.
Lewis betrayed no sign of emotion
when the bluoo-stained axe was held up
anu ldlu upon tL6 ucShs Dub LOW .lCCt
from him.
Cross-examined: Witness had no doubt
that the axe before him was the axe he
saw at the Coburn place.
"Can you swear it's the axe?"
II have no doubt or it,"
L" But you can't swear to it?"
"Well, you can call that swearing to
it or not just as you're mind to-"
He couldn't swear that the hat present
was the hat he saw at the Cnburn place,
but it looked like it.
He took charge of Lewis about 10
o'clock. Witness did not sleep that
night.
At this point the prisoner had brief
talk with his counsel, and the witness
was dismissed.
County Attorney True said that he
had one more witness who was not pres
ent, and desired to wait till this morn
lag. The court was adjourned till 10
O'Clock this forenoon.
a NOTES.
When the bloody axe was shown in
court the only remaining woman, flor the
witnesses had gone out, couldn't stand
it, and made straight for the door.
During the hearing, Lewis's manner
was that of man who either has ex-
traordinary control of himself, or who
does not fully realize the seriousness of
his situation. He sat there with con-
fident expression, chewing to bacco. and
apparently not at all concern ed, and not
dispieased with the notoriety and prom
inence of his position. He chewed to-
bacco, or something, all the time. He
frequently took pains to write state
ments which ne would push over TO his
counsel, and held paper and PENCIL in
his hand most of the time. He wrote
very rapidly and legibly, and seemed to
find some satisfaction in doing it.
He could even smile broadly, as if
with mirth, when the audience laughed
al statements of witnesses. though how
either an innocent or guilty man in his
position could laugh at all, it is difficult
to comprehend. During one of the in
termissions in the forenoon,a man named
Leavitt, from Buxton, where Lewis for
merly lived, greeted him. They talked
and laughed together, and shook hands
at parting.
OF course it is di ticult to imagine just
how guilty or innocent person would
feel, or express feeling in his position.
Only one who has. been there can know.
Yet. that Lewis is Il remarkable per-
sonality there can be no doubt. The ex-
traordinary statements OF his to Consta-
BILE Libby on the night of the murder,
that foolish statement to Mrs. Klmball |
in tine tie-up. and his general intelli-
gence and ability in some directions. and
decided deficiency in others, indicate
that be is of very peculiar mental
m makeup, to say the least.
Mrs Kimballs testimony reflected |
much credit upon her, as woman who |
has force of character and is straightfor- |
ward by nature.
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