Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-01-30
LEWIS TESTIFIES.
Denies in Toto Charge Of Muir
dering Byron Coburn.
Makes Bad Showing in Attorney Gen.
eral Powers Hands.
Memory Becomes Bad and Can Only Say Il
Don't Remember"

Portland, Jan. 29-The feature of the
Lewis murder trial, today, was the put
ting on the stand of the prisoner. Lewis
told the details of his previous life, and
of incidents of his life at Coburn's up to
the night of the murder.
He told of how on the night of the
murder he and Graffam talked about buy
ing the schooner Grace Webster for $1,000.
Lewis denied that anything was said
about getting the money from Coburn.
He then told how he went over to Coburn s
and found that Coburn was gone. Mrs
kimball wanted him to go and look for
Coburn.
He went out and inspected the barn,
but saw no light. Told Mrs Kimball so.
After awhile she wanted him to go out
and into the barn, to make a further
search for Coburn. He opened the barn
door and found a lantern. He carried
the lantern to the house, and Mrs. Kim
ball shen went to search.
They found the body of Coburn. Wit
ness said he thought the old man had
killed himself. He examined his head
and saw the wounds. Thought the COW
had kicked him and said so. Mrs. Kim
ball was much excited. She tried to pick
up the hat but witness told her not to
touch anything until the authorities came.
Lewis went over to Lowell's, took a
mouthful of water, and asked them all to
come over as witnesses. Coleman said
something in jest, but Lewis answered: :
"No, am not jesting, l am serious. p"
Gratfam said nothing.
They went over and Mrs. kimball said:
"It looks like murder" " and witness said,
Murder has been committed here
Mrs. Kimball said: "Oh, if had only
come out with him, but if Ihad perhaps
| should have been dead, too Lewis
made no reply.
As Lewis and Graffam started to drive
to the village for assistance, Coleman
said: Here is bloody axe Graffam
said he saw the axe.
Witness denied in toto the conversation
related by Graffam, and said that he
made no confession of guilt to Graffam at
the store, after they had found DR..
Straw Someone said that the cow had
kicked Coburn, and witness said it was
murder.
Then followed a long questioning
as to conversations with various people,
after the witness was arrested. He
told the officer that GRAHAM and
Mrs. Kimball could not account for
their time any better than he could.
Witness read in Portland paper at the
Jail that Graffam had accused him of the
murder, and this was why he asked
Deputy Sheriff Chute about it, Witness
said he had taught school in Paraguay
and owned land there. When the ques-
ton was put to him if he murdered Co
burn, he answered in firm voice,
Il did not. "
ATTORNEY General Powers gave scorch-
ing cross examination under which Lewis
made bad appearance. He was much
confused and continually answered Il
don't know and Il don't remember. y
Asked if when he had the conversation
with Tallman Lowell about poisoning
Coburn's cider he thought Lowell was
Joking, he answered 81 don't remember. "
Question after question was asked as to
what he told the reporters and he evaded
all queries by failure to remember.
Asked how far the lantern was from the
axe when he found the former, he said
about a foot. Mr. Powers pressed him
very hard and sarcastically from point to
point.
He could not say why he did not light
the lantern when he found it. He said
he last used the axe to drive wedge and
had not seen it since then until the mur-
der. When he and Graffam drove to the
village they talked about who could have
done the deed.
The evidence is all in and the argu-
ments will be made, tomorrow.