The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-01
Dram AND BROWN HELD.
For the Murders on The Ship
Fuller.
PASSENGER MONCK,S TESTIMONY
PUT IN YESTERDAY.

He Tells Substantially the Story He Had
in Interviews-A Sailor Also Gives His
yersion-Se veraI Witnesses Remanded
to Jail.
Boston, July 31.-The preliminary ex-
animation of Thomas Bran. first mate,
and Charles Brown, seaman of the BARK
entine Herbert Fuller charged with the
murder of Capt. G. J.. Nash. his wife and
W. A. Bnmberg. second mate, on board
the vessel July IA, began today before u.
S. Commissioner Fike. Ex- District At
torney Allen appeared as counsel for
Brown. Bran was represented by James
Il. Cotter and John B. Dore. It was or
dered that both prisoners be tried to-
gether.
The first witness was Frank N0ehec,
seaman on the Fuller. He testified that
at 2 o'clock on the morning Of July IA he
relieved Brown at the wheel. Saw Bran
going down the companionway in Shur-
~ towards the cabin. Some one called
out, Mr.. Bram." Bran stopped over
thescompanionway Heard Passenger
Monk say TO Bran: "Don't you throw
that board at me, I am all right" Bran
then went.to the witness and asked where
Brown was. He looked pale when the
murders were discovered. The mate
talked of steering the vessel to French
Guiana. Whsn talking with the crew the
mate said: "'DOn't blame the living Tor
the dead; the dead cannot answer for
tr1, 81 lat +ho
tain might have got an axe and killed
his wife and the second mate and then
killed him elf. To this Brown said
'Throw the bodies overheard" Bran
was drunk at O'Clock.
lie was crying and Apraying, but wit
ness did not see any tears coming out OF
his eyes. Mate Bran said the captain
was Free Mason.
| Witness said that soon aftershe was at
the wheel hs heard a sound like a gurgle.
He leaned over with one hand on the
wheel and saw the mate and passenger
going 20 the passengers room.
Continuing, he said !: "Charles Brown
went below and got the canvas. The
bodies We're covered by Brown, Anderson
'"How did Brown handle the bodies?''
asked Mr.. Cooley
"Rough.' Further the witness said
| Brown had on q cap aud a blue wooden
shirt. In the presence Of the mate. he
heard the steward (Spencer) ask what
cuts were on the captain. The mate re-
piled that he did not know. Brown, on
the Sunday before tho murder. washed
some undershirts, one blue wooden
shirt. Witness saw this blue woolen
shirt hung on the. rigging to dry on the
day or tho murder, he saw Bram's un-
dershirt and other clothes soaking in the
water which was in bucket. The mate
asked witness why he upset the bucket
and witness replied it was an accident.
| Brown was talkative before the murder,
bue after the murder he would not talk
with the men. Brown first talked with
the witness on the morning of the MUIR
der. saying: That will be all right, If
there is not any more DONE" When the
crew, the passenger and the first mate
were present, also Brown. the first mate,
the steward and the passenger asked ii
those present knew anything about the
murder and Brown answered, mo"
When the axe Was brought Brown
grinned when he saw it and the mate
tBram) yelled as he threw it over
board.
Brown did not have on the same
clothes after the murder as bafore. He
threw his pair Of overalls over board, say
ing: II could be held as the murderer
now, I have blood on my olothes.' -
Witness insisted on putting the mate in
irons. The mate said: ''I am an inno-
cent man."
Mr.. Cotter began the cross-examina-
| tion for Bran.
Witness reported after the murder for
the first time that On the Sunday before,
Brown told him that he had killed some
body before in Holland, and that he had
got off on plea of insanity. Witness
helped put Brown in irons. He suspected
the mate first. 1t was On the following
Sunday that the mate was put in irons,
and up to this time the mate directed the
ship.
Ibid you believe Brown when he told
you he had killed somebody in Holland?"
asked Mr.. Cotter
"No, sir''
"Why?"
"Because had no reason to.''
"When did you first believe him."
80 Day after the murder"
"Why?"
because of his behavior"
''Who held the axe fl .st?'
''1 he mate.
Did any one else have It,.
| Il did not sec any on else with 1t"
did you not then and there agree that
t he axe be thrown over board, SO that no
other person could get itS'
| Il could not stop them Bran, Monk
and Brown.) l wasnot near enough to
them."
"Do you know whether it was agreed
between them.'
"No''
Noehec stated that 1T was after 2.05
when he nook charge of the wheel. Up
to that hour he heard nothing unusual
to attract his attention, and everybody y
was at his post of duty so far as he could
observe.
| Witness said that Bran said the second
mate had gone to assault the captain g
wife; that the captain got the axe and
killed his wife, but that the second mate,
being the stronger man, probably got the
axe away from the captain and killed
him and then killed hin,so1f and threw
the axe on the deck and then went into
the forecastle. Witness insisJed that this
was what Bran said.
Witness said there was talk of salvage
fter the the crew got into port. Brown,
| said, changed his shirt between the
| time he left the wheel at . O'Clock and
4.10 O'Clock. Bran had not assisted IN
removing the bodies. Brown when put
in irons made no resistance. With Bran
and Brown in irons witness, who had
been appointed second mate by Bran,
became commander Of the vessel. In re-