Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-12-22
THE BRAN TRIAL.
Steward Spencer Testifes
that All Feared Brown.
Also that Brown Could Not Have Seen
Murders from the Wheel.
Testimony Of Other Members Of Crew Of the
Herbert Fuller.

Fuller, was on the stand again, TINS
morning, in the Bran trial. He toid
OF the finding of the bodies ana OF
Bram's demeanor at the time. IN
cross examination he said: sailors
were afraid of Brown Witness saw
him take off his coat, hat ana shoes
and walk from one side of the snip TO
the other and other movements OF MS
We're suspicious.
.Once the captains wife called to me
from the chart room while 1 was AZ
The wheel and / leaned forward as far
as | could without leaving the wheel
and / could not see her. / tried TO do
this in New York harbor and at Mystic
wharf Boston. while the vessel was in
tow and | was at the wheel. This was
in the DAYTIME All / could see was
the moulding on the window but not
inside the room" Drown, the only
witness who claims to have seen the
crime committed, swears positively
that he saw the defendant on dark
night with no light in that room, strik-
ing the fatal blows without releasing
his hold of his two hands on the wheel
which was between him and the win
dow
Continuing, the witness said; AT I
o'clock on the night of the murder the
rod on which the curtain hung on the
inside of the cabin was in its place all
right but, witnessed observed when
the body of the captain was found il
had been wrenched from one of its
fastenings.
What did you say?'
Il said: Who did this?' Brown said
he showed the curtain aside"
Was there any way in which he
could get within reach of that rod
from the wheel?"
NO, sir, it could only be reached
from the inside. He could not reach it
from the outside of the cabin"
What did you say to Brown
Il asked who removed that curtain
and Brown said he pushed it aside
Mr.. Hoar asked Spencer in regard to
having Bram's vomit brought ashore
and analyzed. Bran Immediately
slipped into it and wiped it up on his
pants.
Spencer said Bran told him that he
saw Brown away from the wheel that
night but he did not inquire why he
was absent from the wheel.
Al lHC dltcillOOIi oCooiOii, OihS w eA'
son testified. He was a seaman on the
Herbert Fuller. The witness did not
remember whether Bran or Brown
suggested that the bodies should be
thrown overheard and he did not re-
member of testifying to this at Hall
fax. He said that Purdeck and he did
not reply to the statement by Bran
that IF he don't get Brown guilty, we
will get two years each" Mr.. Casey
asked the witness a few questions as
to whom he was associated when in
Jail.
Nicholas Power detective of Halifax.
was called Mr.. Power had a talk with
Brown and Bran in City hall and in
consequence of these conversations
boarded the Herbert Fuller. Mr.. Cot
ter asked to examine the witnesses:
and it was granted Mr.. Power testi-
fled to examining Bran and that no one
was present: he was acting in an offi-
cial way. The examination was before
the consular examination.
Mr.. Cotter seriously objected to the
prosecution questioning Mr.. Powers,
on the grounds that the accused was
takeninto a private office and searched
and made a statement not voluntary
or free. Mr. Hoar apparently antici
pating such move. cited several cases
to prove that the testimony Of the
witness was admissible. The judges
held a short conference and decided
that the testimony should be accepted.
Mr. Power described the conversa-
ton between he and Bran in which
Bran said he thought Brown was
guilty. The witness said he never
stated to the newspapers that there
were blood spots on Bram's suspend
ers and he did not know that those
spots had been analyzed
Henry J. Slice. sailor on the Fuller.
testified to a heated argument be-
tween the first and second mates. On
the night of the tragedy he was at the
wheel until TO- Before the captain went
to bed, there was light but was put
out after he went to bed. He saw the
captain lie down, while he was at the
wheel; there was dim light coming
from the light before the clock. He
left the wheel at 10 and noticed nothing
unusual He saw Brown go aft at 1890
and last saw the second mate about
midnight He testified to being called
and ordered att by the steward. When
the crew visited the cabin, witness said
that Bran asked them to stand by him
and he also asked them to shake hands
on it, which they did.
Slice said that Bran suggested throw
ing the bodies overheard, but he OBJ
jected to this as well as the rest of
the crew. The witness gave the theory
of the killing which he said Bran ad-
vanced. Bran locked the cabin and
took the keys.
Mr. Cotter cross examined the wit
ness. Slice admitted signing two
papers. He said that Brown did not
appear the same after the tragedy; he
was excited and flush. AS to the course
and arrangement of the window and
ladder. Slice corroborated the other
witnesses story. He said the crew had
talked but little of the affair since
they were in Jail. Witness said that
he had been informed by two members
of the crew that he was suspected OF
the crime.
John Snow, undertaken at Halifax
testified to taking the bodies in charge
and described the wounds. Mr. Hoa,
was particular in regard to one wound
and that was on top Of the head 4,
CaOtafn Nash Mr Cot... -,