The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-19
CHARGED WITH PERJURY.
The Bran Case Ended Suddenly
Yesterday
TO ENABLE DEFENCE TO PRODUCE
EVIDENCE AGAINST BROWN.

Yesterday-Declared He Saw Mats
Raise Axe Against the Captain-Gives
| Somewhat Contradictory Replies ON
Cross-Examination.
| Boston, Decem her 18.-Charles Brown,
or julius Leopold Westerber2, formerly
seaman on board the barkentine Herbert
Fuller, was on the stand today in the
Bran trial. He said Mate Bran had
once told him when he walked on the aft
house to go over the port side in future,
as the capatin slept on the starboar6
side. Witness never went there thereaf-
ter.
Brown told If a conversation he heard
between Bran and Second Mate Bam-
berg, in which Bran said: II want yeu
to do what I tell you; don't intend for
you to run me-" Tho second mate an
swered back. 81 don't want you to run
me, either.
| This was couple of days before the
murders. On the night OF the murder
witness saw Bran with the secolld mate
shortly after midnight. Bran had passed
up and down the deck and subsequently
was out of sight for long period Of
time.
| Early in the morning Brown heard
some noise and looking through the win
dow saw mans body on the floor of
the captains room, Cot was tipped
over.
Witness also saw Mate Bran in the
going in the direction of the captain g
head.
Witness was greatly frightened and
nearly numb. He watched the compan-
ion way and heard scream from Mrs.
NASH
Soon after he saw Bran on deck, be
having gone aft on the port side. He
passed bet xeen witness and pinnacle
and witness watched him closely for he
feared Bran would kill him. He saw
Bran look through the window of the
chart loom.
The vessel was moving eight miles an
hour. She was inclined to the wind,
and the witness had to keep the helm
moving all the time. There was a rope
to make the whe el fast when the vessel
was brought about. Never saw the rope
used when she was sailing with fair
wind. 1t was cloudy, dark night.
When Bran came upon the deck witness
smelled liquor, on him. He walked from
one side OF the vessel to the other.
Witness was relieved by Frank, to
whom he gave the course he was steering
and Yeported to Bran. Witness then
went to the for oTecastle head and renamed
about five minutes with the men on che
lookout. He then went down and put
on heavier clothing. At 8 O'Clock he re-
lieved the lookout
He saw Bran and Monks aft talking.
Witness was called by Spencer. the
tsward and asked what time he last saw
the second mate, and the reply was
10 o'clocs. The steward ordered him to
call all the crew and they were told that
three people were killed insthe cabin.
Heard Bran crying and saying, 81
Free Mason, and have an old mother.o
Monks told him not to cry.
Witness went to the second mates
room, and saw him dead; then went to
Mis- Nash's room and saw her dead body;
then went to the captains room and saw
him lying on the floor dead. Witness was
accompanied by the steward and four of
his shipmates.
Bran and Monks were on the after
deck. They gave ordsrs to bring the
todies On deok and boat was prepared
to receive them. The steward gave wit
mesa bundle of canvas and ordered him
to dress the boat.
Witness described the scene Mt some
length. While Monks, Bran and Spen-
Ger were together, one OF them said :
"Think it happened in this way: The
second mate intended to go in and in
suit Mrs. Nash. The captain came out Of
the room and killed bis wife aud then
he intended to kill the second mate. but
the mate being stronger man than
Capt. Nash, he overpowered him and
killed him. After that the second mate
struck himself with the axe and then
walked upon The deck and put the axe
where it was found, and then went to
his bed and laid down and died.
Witness could not tell who said this,
because he did not pay much attention
as he knew how 1t happened. Witness
then described what occurred after that,
saying that Bran asked him il he had
neart to move the bodies, and the reply
Was: ~ must have the heart to do it.
The boat was launched and taken in
tow. Witness corroborated the testimo-
ny of Monks regarding the statement of
the course that was taken. He also ex
planned about the Blood on his oyeralls
and the throwing of them overheard.
The blood coming from the bodies he
had handled and the disposal of the over
alls was in the presence of the crew. Wit
ness was put in irons Oh Thursday morn
ing the 10Th of July. at about O'Clock.
He was asleep, and the first he knew
was that the steward, Spencer, was ours
ing, swearing, and saying: "You have
Killed the captain and stolen his revol-
ver."
witness said the first day he was in
lions he was tied to the mast. and Bran
said to him: "Yuu thought you would
be smart and put me in for it: but am
too clever for you"
After witness had been confined below
Bran said: II am afraid that man will
XIII himself and boat his brains out. I"
Witness said he never released his hold