The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-26
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.1

ESPECIAL TO THE PRESSsJ
Alfred, Me-, October 25.-The second
days session of the hearing in the case
against Eugene Gowell and James
Nelson, accused of burning the Lebanon
poor farm buildings in the summer of
1894, was lively one, the hearing of the
evidence being diversified by the numer-
Gus animated titus between cousel. There
was quite an array of legal gentlemen
present. Geo. F. Haley, ESQ.,, appeared
with County Attorney Emmons, and
James A. Edgerly, ESQ.,, who with his
partner, VIM. Fl. Matthews, Esq, repre-
sented Gowell, /. Easked about all the
witnesses if they had retained Mr.. Haley.
Mr.. Edgerly's efforts to find out who
pays Mr.. Haley were not crowned with
| success.
The defence introduced no witnesses of
their own but called to the stand
Detective Haskell, Sheriff Hurd and
Deputy Sheriff Goodwin, goyernm ent
witnesses. The attempt of the defence to
show that the desire for justice was not
the sole cause of the prosecution lead to
the asking of many questions to which
Mr.. Haley and Mr.. Emmons objected on
the ground that they were not relevant
and it was this that caused much of the
animation which marked the proceed
| ings.
| Detective Haskell, big man, who
speaks with drawl and evinces con-
siderable fondness for repartee, made a
| uoa5 Jool oF ocvania1lv han
| he told how he had performed as scrook
| under cover" and s'the murderer of
Barron The detective SO frequently
told Lawyer Edgerly to get down to busi-
| ness and that he had answered that
question before, that Justice Drew finally
| interferred.
At noon, the defence waived further
examination and Justice Drew according
| ly bound the respondents over in the sum
of $1,000, each, to appear before the grand
| jury at the January term. Both gave
| bonds.
The first witness of the day was DR..
| Webber, who has been tried and acquitted
on the same charge.
DR.. Webber was called to the stand by
the state as soon as the hearing was re-
sumed and the few minutes he occupied
| in giving his testimony were interesting.
The doctor was cool and spoke with con-
siderable emphasis when he answered in
the negative, certain questions asked by
| Mr. Edgerly on the cross examination.
Dr. Webber testified that some time be-
fore the fire, he had talked with Gowell
about the petition for town meeting to
see if the town would not vote to retain
the old poor farm. Webber said that he
told Gowell it was useless to try to get
the town to refuse to accept the new
farm ~ told him." said Webber, THAT
the old farm was
NOT FIT FOR HOGS"
Gowell replied that he would never
move to the Moody buildings and added
that it was pity they would not burn.
DR.. Webber testified to seeing Gowell after
the fire. Gowell then told him that he
was nearly crazy aud that he knew who
set the fire. DR.. Webber said that Gowell
asked his aid and told him if he did what
he could to help Gowell, he would be we'll
paid for it. "Later,'' said the doctor,
ssI met Gowell and he said that he had
talked with Mr.. Ryan. the detective, and
had no statement to make"
Mr.. Edgerly then began his cross-ex-
animation. His questions came quick
| and fast In reply, Webber denied that
he had employed George E. Haley to ap-
| pear in this case; that he did not know
anybody who had employed Mr.. Haley !;
| that he had not requested anybody to do
| so; that he had never employed Mr..
Haskell, the detective but had met him
| least fail in Lebanon and several times
since and had driven him about for two
days since the arrest of these defendants; /;
| that he had not discussed this matter to
any extent with sheriff Hurd, although
they had mentioned it,
"Did you not send parties to inquire
whether you were to be indicted for per-
| iury?" asked Mr.. Edgerly.
| stNo, sir;'' emphatically said the doctor.
| Richard b. Goodwin, of Lebanon, a
deputy sheriff was called by the defence
and during his examination Mr.. Edgerly
stated what would be the line Of the
defence. Mr.. Goodwin was asked many
questions about conversations he had
held with his townsmen after the fire.
He testified among other things that he
had talked with Daniel W. Davis about
| ia. Davis testified yesterday that he had
not talked with Goodwin. Mr.. Goodwin
said he had asked Sheriff Small to notify
him if Nelson was arrested. And Small
had done so. After series of questions
as to with whom the witness had talked,
Mr.. Edgerly said: "You don't seem to
have talked much about this matter"