Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-18
SILVER TRIAL.
Missing Witness Found and
Put on the Stand.
{. R. Clary Of Gardiner Tells How
Blenn Met His Death.
Silver Nithdraws Flea oi Not Guilty ant
Pleads NoIo ccntendere.

dent retracted his plea OF not guilty and
pleaded nolo contendere.
His counsel, Geo. w. Heselton, then
proceeded to introduce testimony in mitiga-
ton of sentence.
Daniel c. Rice of Hallowell testified that
on the day of Blenn's death he was at the
Potter camp above the Potter bridge, in
company with others, and left there to
come home about so P. NJ. In the neigh
borhood of o'clock, after the party hsd
been to dinner, he saw Charles Blinn. He
came up to the Potter camp after the key
of the Wingste camp. Before that, and
about o'clock, he saw Fred Babcock and
three or four other persons going up the
stream in boat. Did not see Babcock
after l saw Blenn. 1t will be remem-
bered that the Babcocks and other wit
nesses at the former trials testified that be-
fore going up the stream they saw Blcnn go
with The respondents down the stream from
the bridge and land near the Morrison
camp saw Babcock and bis party about
five minutes after | saw Blenn. Did not
see Babcock come back.
On cross examination he testified that he
had lived in Hallowell about Is years and
knew by the papers that the trials last fall
were going on. Told the story sometime
the latter part of the summer. We went
out there Saturday afternoon. Saw Blenn
at that time at Babcock's. Potters camp
was occupied Saturday and finding the Win
gate camp not occupied We took that unlil
o'clock and then went to the Potter camp.
Blenn got the key for US. He came to the
Potter camp for it.
C. A. HUFF testified that he res ded at
Loudon Hill and was at the Potter
camp with the last witness and at
the time in question. Was sitting
in the swing at the camp when Blenp
about o'clock. Shortly before that Bah
cock and his party went up stream. Saw
them in the stream opposite the camp.
Don't know that they got into the boat at
that camp. This was the middle camp of
three along there.
Edward Henderson of Fort Fairfield, for,
merry of Lewiston, testified that he was at
the camp with Rec and corroborated the las,
two witnesses.
John A. Spear and A. M. Spear were
called and testified that standing on the
lower bridge, one could see only about a
Il ird of the distance up to the Morrison
camp. TliJ is contradictory of SIN th
who testified at the last trial that he saw a
boat with three men in it in the stream not
far from the camp
Geo. F. Silver, the respondent, testified
that he was % years old. Had always
known Wakefield, by sight, but had very
liule TO do with hin until just before the
accident at the stream. Had always known
Blenn. Neverwas at Horseshoe pond be-
fore the Sunday in question. He had been
in tie hAbit of drinking perhaps two years.
Went to the camp with Wakeneld, taking a
quart of whiskey and one and one half
dozen bottles of beer. Sat around few
minutes, had some di inks of whiskey, and
much we drank. After dinner we sat down
and talked and drinked.
Some time after dinner Blenn came.
Don't remember of anythiag done in the
csmp while he vas there. The next
rememb, Wakefield said something about
going upstairs to bed, and be went | sup
pose. The next remember is getting into
a boat to set Blern across. 1t strikes me
there was third party there but l don't
know who it was. As remember him he
was quite stout, weighing perhaps $50 or
100 pounds, and looked TO me ike farmer.
Cannot say saw him com; the fret | re-
member it strikes me was with Blenn.
Don't think he had beard; am pretty
positive he did not.
The next remmember after getting into
the boat is of tipping over. | went under
water. When | came up l saw only the
boat, ard struck out for the shore. The
boat went over from same commotion from
Blepn. The witness corroborated the testi-
mony in the last trial as to his movements
but he claimed he could not recollect con-
versations.
Cross-examined-It told the Young lady
with whom | am keeping company, Miss
Foye, of the whole occurrence. | did not
tell her that Wakefield and Blinn played
cards for money, and that Wakefield got
mad because Blenn got the best of him, and
demanded bis money back. Did not tell
her Wakefield struck Blenn with a chair,
and that he eidn't get up, and ] thought he
was dead. Didn't tell her that | put my
ear down and listened to his breathing and
made up my mind he was dead. Dill not
tell her we took him out to dump him, but
saw somebody fishing on the bridge and
took him back to camp and pu. him in a
corner, and kept him covered till along 10
the afternoon. Did not tell h We then
took him out and dumped him DID not
tell il to any one, nor any part of it.
remember few things that took place AT
the camp, what l have told, and nothing
else. don't claim to know all I did there.
E. r. Clary was called By the respond
ent. Mr.. Clary is some over 60 years of
sge, and so deaf that the questions put to
him had TO be written and read by him
There is slso an impediment in his speech
which makes it difficult to understand
him. He testified that he lived in Farm
ingdale, on North street, and had lived
there three years. Before that ne had
lived in Gardiner 25 years. Ga the 18th of
July last he went to Brunswick and from
there TO Lewiston.
On July %, Sunday, he started for home.
When he had walked two miles he was