Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-29
THE BRAN TRIAL.
Examination of the DEPENDENT
Finished, Monday.
He Has Made Good Impression
Throughout His Testimony.
Defence Brings Out More Evidence Which
Defence Brings Out More Evidence Which
Looks Bad for Brown.

this morning. The district attorney had
prepared enough questions to keep him
talking 10 minutes after which Mr. Cot
ter took the witness for Redirect exam
nation. There was the same curious
crowd IN the court room The women
were out in large numbers
| one of the first questions which Mr..
lloar asked the defendant was whether
Charley Brown ever said that he saw
Bran kill the captain. The defendant re-
piled, Yes, and said il was when no.
body else was around. The rest of the
men We're scattered about the deck AT
that time n man had been sent for "A
stool. Charley Brown in saying that
spoke In an ordinary tone of voice. That
was just after Bran had been put in
| irons. Witness and sailor dashed
Brown TO the mast.
when Charley Brown was put in
irons At the mizzenmast did you 90 to
him and say that there WAS the second
mate window right side of him and
that he would see his dead body in the
night"
II did not"
Did YOU say in the presence of Mr..
Monks, that Brown would see the second
| mate : spirit or ghost in the night?"
II did not"
'On the day before the murder didn't
you say 10 Mr.. Monks that you had paid
out every cent except p cents before you
came on board the vessel9'
II did not.
Mir Cotter taking the witness. began
his redirect questioning. The defendant
told of the advance money he had re-
ceiVrd when he shipped on board the
Herbert Fuller how he had expended it.
ami said that when he sailed he had IA
balance in his pocket OF s2s.25. This was
taken from him at Halifax.
He explained more fully the position Of
the clock in the cabin. which he claim
TO nave seen from the forward companion
way the preparation of the duplicate
copies of the log book for the use of the
owners of the vessel in cast. she should
be sent 10 sea With the log book aboard.
40 a hDi0 u
Monks and ut his request among the
crew. the morning after the murder.
Mr.. Cottcr offered in evidence recon-
mendatons the defendant had received to
prove that he made no Measurements re-
garding his having come from HalifaA.
They We're read by the district attorney.
WHO in showing them to the court said.
Il object to their admission There is no
mention of Halifax in them"
Justice Webh-"Mr. Hoar your objec-
ton is sufficient without stating YOUR rea-
sons TO the jury.
The papers were excluded and exeep-,
tons taken.
This closed the testimony Of the de-
PENDANT. Captain John Watson one OF
the port wardens of the city of Boston
testified that he had had a wears expert
encc in navigating sailing vessels. and
had commanded nine or 10 banks and
barkCntincs.
Mr.. French describing the conditions
that prevailed on the Herbert Fuller ON
ness what would be the result If the
wheel should be dashed. and The reply
was:
In my opinion and from my expert
ence. it would have been possible to leave
that wheel from five to H. minutes with
out any appreciate deviation from her
course
Assuming that the man at the wheel
had been there an hour or more under
the Same conditions of wind ana tide
would that affect it in Your opinion in
any way?
1T would give him 4 greater assurance
that he could do it. He would get the |
run of the vessels and pull OF the sails
On cross-eXamination he said it is very |
Unusual for seaman to lash the wheel. |
Would she go back on her course
while the wheel was dashed and she |
should deviate from it?''
The swell of the sea might take her
back"
Captain John Humphrey. secretary. Of
the Boston Marine Society. who had |
sailed all kinds OF ships during long
of Marshficld. who had been sailor ans;
master for Ii years. Charles H. Nelson.
who had 10 years experience as sailor
and master on all kinds of sailing vessels
John Winnatt of South Boston, an ex-
perienced seaman. and William S. Adam
son. an old and experienced sea captain,
testified that under the conditions men
toned. the wheel of the Herbert Fuller
might have been dashed and left from ~
minutes to half an hour on the night of
the murders.
|
an experience of % years as seaman and
master Of many sailing vessels said he
had a man leave the wheel 20 minutes
or half an hour during a mutiny. and she
did not deviate from her course to any
extent.
Q.-Under what circumstances was
that?
A.--WeL. the man deserted the wheel
and it WAS neglected long enough for me
to shoot four men and put another in
irons. That was in 1865. The man who
lnf hA MI D.l tt-.lc M mt Vn |
under the deck. The wheel then was
deserted probably for half an hour and
the vessel never left her course. The
witness did not think much of a helms
man who is continually grinding water
for the captains ducks which le ex
planned was where the man at the wheel
IS continually see-sawing it back and
forth
James e. Byrne. lawyer and gradu
tie of the United States Naval academy.
said as a part of his six years course he {
made cruises on the north Atlantic sta
ion. He made the steering of vessels d
study, and continued in the navy five
years after his graduation. Under the
conditions mentioned the wheel might be
eft from five to ~ minutes without her
leviatfng from her course.
Rufus G. f. Candage. surveyor of ships
n Boston for % years. and for D years
/, seaman on all kinds of vessels and in
al capacities said under the conditions
mentioned it would be possible to leave 4
he wheel dashed for 20 minutes more
Without any appreciabie deviation.
nan who had been at the wheel for an
lour previous to flashing it. if an expert
need seaman. would be better qualified
o do this than an inexperienced man {
Who had not been at the wheel. ;
Edward A. Parker. ship chandler. iden-
flied note for $50 which he received {
rom Mate Bran in payment for goods @
ust before the sailing of the Herbert !
EULER.
DR.. VIM. r. Whitney of the Harvard {
Iedical school, testified to examining the 9
lothng of Mate Bran. but found no
lood upon it.
VIM. f. OF1aherty. officer at the
'harles Street Jail. said that on the night +
+ the day Charles Brown testified in the :,
ase. he was put in separate cell for &
he first time, by direction of the officer v
f the court. 1t was stated that it was h
he district attorneys wish that Brown I
e kept separate for that night
DIR. Theodore w. Fisher. an expert on "
was asked a hypothetical ques-
ion. reciting the story of Charles Brown ),
4 regard to his having tried to kill
ian. and his subsequent peculiar actions c
n the Herbert Fuller. The inquiry was I
ronld that indicate insanity onsthe part !
{ the person so acting? Objected to by d
he government. /,
q \ 1 !,