The Portland daily press., 1895-02-28
Opening Argument in the CoWan
Murder Trial.
TESTIMONY OF THE PHYSICIAN
WHO ATTENDED THE VICTIM.
Great Interest Is Felt in the Trial, and
the Court Room Was Crowded, Many
Ladies Being Present.
Especial to the PRESS. }

- ~~~-O'g
Bangor, Me-, February 27-The Cowan
murder trial began today in the Su-
preme court. The forenoon was occu-
pid in empanneling the jury. Venlres
were issued on Saturday last for 40 men
from Bangor, Oldtown. Orono, Orring-
ton and Brewer, and ont of these, twelve
men were selected to sit upon one of the
greatest murder trials ever held in Pc
nobscot county. Mrs. Cowan appeared
in court dressed very becomingly, in
black, and she attracted great attention.
After the completion of the jury and the
usual customary remarks by the judge,
an adjournment was made to this after
noon. Upon the reopening of the court,
the crowd rushed into the room and
quickly filled every seat Many ladies
were present.
County Attorney Bailey made the op-
eninR argument, and he dwelt at some
length upon the responsibility that rest
ed upon all concerned in the case, and
that unwilling as all were to undertake
it, it was a duty allotted to the state
He said that the charge was the highest
crime known to the law; deliberate
taking OF human life, and the deceased
in this case was child but 8 1-2 years
of age, son of Mr.. Cowan by his first
wife, who died when the child was about
two years old. The respondent came to
keep his house, and she had been prev
iously married. By her first husband
she had three children, all of whom she
had buried. Her first husband she had
buried, her second husband she had bur-
led, and in the spring Of '92 she married
Mr.. Cowan, and continued there ia the
relation OF wife and stepmother to this
son. A few months later their buildings
were burned, leaving them homeless.
He had some rough buildings on another
part of the lot, and these he fixed up as
temporary home. He had no insur-
ance. Mrs. Cowan, his wife, was not
quite satisfied with this way of living,
and so they broke up their home and
went to Gardiner to work.
In closing, the County A ttorney spoke
of the death of the boy, saying that
from all appearances arsenic was used in
poisoning him. He said he would not
make any further explanations, as the
testimony would disclose it.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Mrs. Lizzie Nutter of Stetson was the
first witness called, and she testified that
her husband was brother of Mrs. Cow
ans first husband. The boy was at her
house three weeks, beginning August 10,
1894, and ne appeared to be well as far
as she could see.
| John S. Nuero of Stetson testified that
he carried the boy from Stetson to the
Etna campground, where his stepmother,
| Mrs. COwan, was stopping.
| In the cross-examinationt the witness
said that the boy did not kiss his STEP
mother, but just said good morning.
He never saw Mrs. Cowan i'll treat the
| boy. He first heard that Mrs. Cowan
had murdered her son the next day after
| the deed.
Dr. Elmer E. Brown of Dixmont testi-
fed that he had heen practicing about
seven years. He was called to see the
boy on the 14th of Septem ber last, in the
afternoon. Mrs. Cowan told him that
the boy was taken sick at Etna, and she
thought that he had eaten some green
apples. The doctor said that when he
saw the boy he did not appear to be very
sick. He prescribed for him and left
directions in regard to giving the medi-
cine. Mrs. Cowan thought the boy was
sick, and the doctor WAS requested to
call the next day. The next morning
| the physician was again summoned, and
Mrs. Cowan told him that the boy had
passed a very bad night. He found that
| the m edicine had had no effect upon the
DOy, anu ne cnAHSSu IL, anu III leW
| hours he was more comfortable. While
there be had some conversation with
| Mrs. Cowan about her past life. She said
| that her first husband was medical
student, and that she had studied medi-
cine somewh hat, and she inquired of the
physician whether poisons did not lose
their strength if kept for a long time.
On another occasion DR.. Brown found
that the boy appeared to have symptoms
of poisoning, and he gave orders regard
ing the giving of the medicine, and left
the heuse. The next day, which was
Sunday, he heard that the child had
died.
The oross-examination of DR.. Brown
explained the makeup of the medicines
IN the prescriptions.