The Portland daily press., 1895-02-01
LEWIS GUILTY.
The Jury So Decided On, the First
Ballot.
They Were Out but 45 minutes-A Brief
Abstract of Judge Bonney's Long and
Able Charge.

They Were Out but 45 Minutes-A Brief
Abstract of Judge Bonney's Long and
Able Charge.
The Supreme Court room was not SO
crowded Thursday morning, as it has
been all the week, because the Gorham
murder trial was practically finished
Wednesday night, and it remained only
for Judge Bonney to explain TO the jury
the law in regard to murder trials in
general, and this one in particular, and
then for the jury to give their verdict.
There was large number of ladies pre-
sent. One court official of II years. ex-
perience says that there has been a larg-
er proportion of women present at this
trial than ever before in the II years.
Judge Bonney first explained to the
jury the law that governs murder cases
in general.
In regard to this case he said, first,
that there is no question as to the man
ner of the murder. The murderer was
lying in wait for his VICTIM and quickly
did the horrible deed of blood. The issue
is therefore, a simple one, involving
merely the question as to the identity of
the murderer. The grand jury has in
dicted the respondent, James Lewis, as
the man who committed the deed. In
support of this, two kinds of evidence
are offered, known as circumstantlal
evidence and confessions or admissions.
Judge Bonney then explained the differ
ent kinds of evidence. In addition to
the circumstances the state relies upon a
| Edward GRAHAM and Deputy Sheriff A.
| C.Chute. He declared that such con-
LESSONS, in order to be of value, must be
spontaneous.
Now, gentlemen, did Lewis confess to
GRAHAM? II he did. freely and vol
unfairly, it is strong piece of evidence
against him. He denies this. If ne knew
of Graffan's making these charges to
| the coroDer's jury, by reading of it in
| the newspapers, then his statement to
MIR. Chute would not be inconsistent
with innocence. 1t is for you to deter
mine whether confessions have been
made at all, and if SO what they are. 1t
/ is contended that Lewis had ample op-
portun1ty and that he had not. The ev-
| idence as to the exact time when differ
| emit things were done is necessarily very
unsatisfactory, but nevertheless the mat
ter of opportunity is controverted
| fact, and is for you to determine.
The respondent also claims a want of
motive. Was there any motive here? II
none can be found the probability of
guilt is lessened. The case does not
necessarily turn upon proof of motive,
for one may have existed of which no
one knows. OF knew. or could have
known. Byron G. Coburn was murdered;
of that there is no doubt, and his muir
derer had some motive, known or I'M
| known.
| If the respondent is guilty at all. he is
guilty of murder in the first degree. The
evidence must show not that some other
man might have one it, but that James
Lewis beyond any reasonable doubt. did
commit the crime. Ii the testimony
should raise in your minds a reasonable
doubt as to whether GRAHAM or some
other person committed it, then Lewis,
who is alone on trial, should have the
benefit of that doubt and be acquitted
But if his hand welded the axe, it mat
| tiers not whether GRAHAM or anyone else
assisted him, or was cognizant of it, if
he struck the fatal blows then he should
| be convicted, and his guilt is not less
ened by the fact that others might have
| been accessory.
The jury was out just as minutes, and
| then brought in verdict OF guilty, the
result of their first ballot.
| When Lewis heard the verdict he only
| took several hasty drinks of water and
appeared somewhat nervous. Afterward,
| at the Jail, there was nothing noticea
| bly, different in mis- appearance or man
ner than in the past few days. He has
| been very worried and anxious man
during the trial. Win he tainted in the
court room, though his face was flushed,
his hands we're cold as ice, and his hands
have been cold all the time. He has not
been sleeping well of late.
| There has been an expression on the
part of good many citizens, especially
along the water front, that the verdict
of the jury was wrong and that Graffam
! is the guilty man. One man offered to
| be one of twenty to give SIS each and
make up 500 for Lewis, in case he
sought new trial. The state is obliged
to pay all bills for this first trial, but
il Lewis should secure a new trial he
would have to pay his own bills. AS he
has no money this 800 would come
very handy.
GRAHAM is still IN custody. The states
officers will consider his case at their
leisure.
The work of County Attorney Charles
A, True in this case has been most ardu-
GUS and efficient, and has won the adj
miration of all those in a position to
know of it and Judge of it.
Attorney General Powers probably left
for his home in Houlton last night, and
will return next Monday to prepare for
the trial of DR.. Hughes, who is indicted
eor +I,a ,nurdar of Mary 4 Dunn IT. ;e