The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-19
MAINE SATURDAY MoRN1NG

ment drawn up, the witness said it wa
read to him at the time it was prepared
and he signed ii. Hs made no objsctaoi
to signing 1t.
lyon knew the statements were no
trues'' asked Mr.. Cetter.
"T knew they were all lics," was th'
-. why . s,s.,y a,a you sign 1t when you kn'"
"Fhe ship was bound to port and
knew we would come tc the United
States and tell the truth"
The witness knew the vessel was head-
cd for Brazil at the time he signed 1t. but
he knew they would sometime come to
the United States. He admitted that be-
fore he was put in irons, hs said to every
one that he knew nothing about the
crime, whether the mate was present OF
not. The day he was put in irons he
said to Anderson: "When We arrive in
port everything will be all right, The
next day be said the same thing to the
steward. The frat time he ever told
that the mate had anything to do with
the murder was half an hour after Bran
was put In irons, when he told spencer
about it.
Ibid you eve- say that you liked to
be in irons until the guilty was foundY"
No, sir, never did "
He denied ever having said that he had
been in an insane hospital. He admitted
having said that he shot man in Hol-
land, but could not remember that be
got clear of 1t on plea Of insanity. His
statements that he bad shot man he tes-
| might and might not, have said to a
Halifax reporter that he was confined in
an insane asylum fer shooting man.
| Witness made contradictory replies to
questions By Mr.. Cotter regarding his
talk before and after he was arrested.
He admitted that he told nothing of
| what he knew of the murders at the
hearing before the grand jury in Boston
last July.
This afteraoon the r0ss-examination
of Wheelman Charles Brown was con-
tinued. Witness told what he did on the
day before tho murder. He cleaned the
| deck all day except when he went on
duty. Bran helped him. The first time
he ever gave his Swedish name was to
reporter after landing at Halifax.
Brown contradioted the reports OF the
newspapers, which Mr.. Cotter ashe ed
him it they were true, as to his having
trou ble with the captain.
Witness said he was the only one who
slept on deck that night. This was the
| first night there.
Mr., Cot ter questioned Brown at great
length as to his sleeping and general
movements thas night. Witness stated
he never opened the window or curtain
in the chart room. He did not remem-
ber any iron bars over the window, but
said there were shutters to all the win
dova, He ssid he did not do anything
but hold the wheel with both hands. He
could see into the chart room standing at
the wheel. He could not sea the clock
or lamp in the room. Did not know the
captain slept there. Brown said he saw
the trouble in the chart room about l. 80
not notify any one about the affair he
saw. He thought the room was occupied
by Monks. He failed TO make any
alarm because he was afraid of his life.
He first SAW man on deck house dressed
in dark clothing with light straw hat.
He said the doors Of the after compan-
ion was opened and wss six or seven feet
from the wheel. He descri bed the straw
hat as q light one without crown. He
saw light hat on the person in the chart
room.
Brown said Mate Bran said the wind
was favorable for Bermuda and he
turned the boat about at noon. The
wind did not prove favorable for Bermu-
da and they steared for Halifax. Witness
said he was never told he would go free
if he testified before the grand jury
against Mr.. Bran. Before he testified
before the grand jury he understood that
he was held on the charge Of murder. He
said he saw four blows struck in the
CAPTAINS room. Iu half minute he
heard the scream of Mrs. Nash, but new
er left the wheel. He saw Bran imme-
diately afterwards on the starb0ard side
of the deck.
Witness was asked to tell of the COM
mass, wind, etc., at that time. He heard
the mate say after he was put in irons
that he was an Innocent man. He said
Bran walked between him and the
house and he was afraid nf him and did
not speak. He testified that he did not
know their location at the time of the
tragedy. They mad to strike trade winds
to make good time and they were seven
days in getting to Halifax on account OF
osims. Witness said he washed all
around the boat as that was customary
at all times.
Mr.. Hoar questioned Brown. Witness
said he never saw the axe IN the wash
room. He first told the story of the inur-
der at Halifax. Bran was not present
the first time, but afterward. He saw
the mates body in the room from lit
tie below his waist 10 the top of his head.
Mr.. doar asked him as to certain hear
ings as to whether Bran was present.
Mr. Cotter presented the witness
translation of something which United
States Attorney Hoar objected to-. The
court examined it; not however, before
the witness tried to read, but he did
not know English we'll enough Brown
was excused and the grand jury was
asked to retire.
AS French stated to the court that he
was about to ask an extraordinary favor
in order ITO allow counsel to further in
vestigate, which would aid them IN prov
ing that Brown had committed perjury
this morning. Mr.. French said the de-
tense thought this a flair request and they
thought they could prove Brown had lied
about the affair.
Mr. Hoar salt the request was too sud-
den and neededsm than ten minutes
to consider it. Mr.. Cotter said he was
willing the prosecution should have all
reasonable time the court wished to
grant. -s
Judge Colt said that if Mr.. Cotter
would put into the hands of United
States Attorney Hoar ali papers relating
to or having any bearing on Browns
con Duct in Rotterdam, the court would
adjourn until 10 tomorrow. The paper
is officially written in Dutch and will
have to be translated. This is the most
important thing yet done in the trial.
Suit Against Manhattan Directors.