The Portland daily press., 1895-10-25
GoWelPs and Nelson's Hearing Com.
menced Yesterday.
ALFRED EXCITED AND THRONGED
WITH SPECTATORS.
The States Evidence In-Lebanon Citizens
Largely Present-The Defense to Come
Some Sensational Developments Ex-


pected.
Alfred, October 24.-The hearing In the
Lebanon arson case was begun today,
after many postponements. There were a
large number of Lebanon people in at
tendance at the court room when Trial
Justice Drew called the case up at 10. 30.
For the state, seventeen witnesses were
summoned nearly all of them being
Lebanon people. The most remarkable
incident of the hearing was the testimony
OF Eddie Goodwin of Haverhill, formerly
of Lebanon. who when put Oh the stand
to give evidence against Gowell, declared
that Detective Hask ell and Sheriff Hurd
had compelled him to say that Gowell
had stated .sNelson would give it all
away to that id detective - Goodwin
denied on the stand that he ever heard
Gowell make that statement.
In opening the case for the state,
Lawyer Haley said it would be shown
that Nelson went about the town with a
petition against the removal Of the aims
house, and that he was interested to have
it stay at the Moody place, because it
tended to increase the value of his own
property. 1t would also be shown that
GoWell had said he never would move
from the Moody place; that Gowell was
out with a team on the night of the fire (;
that Gowell was in another place that
night from what he testified to, at the
trial of DR.. Webber, and that it was
utterly impossible for him to have been
where he said he was, at the last trial.
Lawyer Haley also said that the partial
confession made by Gowell to DR.. Webber
would be introduced as evidence. There
were witnesses ready to swear that
Gowell had said, "That id detective is
down there to Nelson's and Nelson will
give the whole thing away. +"
The counsel for the respondent ad-
mitted that tho town Of Lebanon owned
the almshouse and that the fire occurred
August 12.
John S. B. Jones, was the first witness
for the state. He was first selectman of
the town in 1894 On Monday, the day
wife called at the Moody place. 1 left
there at four O'Clock. and Gowell was
then locking the front door. 1t is possible
to pass right through to the barn from
the front of the house. The petition of
removal of the town buildings was re-
ferred to the selectment, and they decided
to take no action.
Z stOuto tbuNl 1dlllcl W. odflo WOlO
the next witnesses The latter is the
Lebanon mail carrier. The petition was
presented to him by Nelson. Gowell was
present. Nelson said Gowell will never
move did not sign the petition.
Hezekiah Webber testified II live a
half mile from the Jenpess house. On
the night of the fire, | was out after the
cows, which had strayed away, and when
in front of Jenness's house, heard Eugene
Gowell's voice. That was between eight
and nine O'Clock. I also heard a conver-
sation August 6. Horace Horne and
Gowell We're at dinner at the Moody
place. Horne said to Gowell, You must
move your furniture on Monday, and
have your family out, Wednesday. !
Gowell said, Il shall never move them. -
Noah B. Lord of Lebanon testified that
he heard Nelson say: 1'That Jenness
woman talks too much. If she doesn' t
close her mouth, we shall come pretty
near looking through bars.'
After dinner court came in again, and
Fred B. Roberts of Lerbanon was put on
the stand. He lives on the Bog road. He
testified that he heard team drive by his
house at two o'clock in the morning after
the fire, in the direction of the bog.
There is only one road into tho bog and
no one came back. He thought it was
Dr. Young, but three OF four weeks after,
the doctor declared that he did not go in
to the bog that night. Roberts followed
the tracks leading into the bog for
twenty-five rods
Enoch Sherman and Charles Woodman
were the next witnesses. Their testimony
was simply corroborative.
Eddie Goodwin was then called up. He
lived with Gowell in Lebanon, and after
ward lived with him in Haverhill. He
was one of the witnesses upon whom the
state relied, particularly and at noon
time today, he is said to have told
County Attorney Emmons, Deputy Good
win, and Sheriff Hurd that Gowell said,
"Nelson will give it all away to that id
detective" Goodwin had also made this
statement before. But when put on the
stand this afternoon he denied the truth
of the state ment. He admitted that he
had told that to Haskell and Hurd, but
he declared that they had compelled him
to say it. He became visibly confused in
his examination.
John Chamberlain and Enoch Sherman
were also called to the stand. The latter
testified that Nelson said that Gowell told
him, "He'd be id if he'd move if he
could help it,
Crespo's Views.