The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-05-07
uhey. L thought by poison he meant


-, oeihJainln N. Fish testified as to taking
ehe cneckerberry at Vinal's house Monday
loI wlho collc. Saw his wife mix if. nroh
any spoonful of checkerberry to half
s';pt. sGptui vi water. 1t tasted very bitter and
sllghtly sweet. There was a little whitisb
seolment IN the bottle from which she took
IL. After taking it, felt numb and nervous
could not swallow. 'o"''
Drs; u. q. Kilgore and j. NJ Fletcher
alter nearing the testimony as to the svmn,
eoiils, sad they should be led to suspect
poisoning from strychnia Shouid not az
pect such symptoms in rheumatism. Strvch-
ma IS extremely bitter. Contraction of tho
muscles from rheumatism would be of long
er duration. ING
Horace E. Vinal, son of the accused. took
oie scahu ana created sensation by retract-
ing his former statements and telling al, en-
Gireiy different story. He was at work for
his uncle Robert at the time of his death
W as there when he died, about o'clock
Monday morning Aunt Emma went to bed
between ~ ana ii O'clock and witness laid
oow II on the SOFA IN the Kitchen. At about
2o'clock uncle called him to administer his
medicine, left by Or. Fellows. About 3
o'clock his uncle called him again and he
called his aunt. She sent witness for a
nelghbor, and when they got back Robert
was dead. Witness described the symptoms
SUBSTANTIALLY as the others had done. In re-
gard to the bottle Of checkerberrv at the
mouse he SAID he did not receive it from his
iather. wv hat said about that before was
false was obliged to say that
q by County Attorney. by whom were
you forced to tell ?''
A. "By Jed Holiness
A. "How did Mr.. Holmes force YOU eell
A. He said he would help me if | would.
He wanted me to tell on my father. and
offered me S25 to do 50. l refused. He
said, III make you. If you don't | Il take
you unaWares D-n you, I'll fix you if YOU
don't He had me in his power Holmes
told me what to tell about buying the strych-
nine, putting it on the girt and missing if
after father went to the barn L gave right
in and said would do it,
witness then described his visits to Per-
KIN, Downs and Littletield and said that all
he said or did there was under threats from
Holmes, and was false
y. HAS Holmes ever paid you the $25 ?'
A. mo. supposed that was all up and
did not ask him for it,
Holmes first arranged with me to 90 TO
Littlefield's.
G. ''Was not Mr.. Downs the first to a,t
wise you to go to Littlefeld's''
A. Yes
9. Then they both told you tirst?"
A. Zone was before the other
y. What statement did you make at Lit
tletield's?''
A. don't remember. l said what l was
told to by Holiness
Q. Did Mr.. Littlefeld put you under
oath?"
A. mo. l am sure of it,
q. "Did Littletield tell you YOU might
imprison your father ?'
A. Don't think he did,
The County Attorney then asked witness
about statements made before him in Bel
fast last Thursday and witness replied that
they We're false and We're made because of
his fear of Holmes. These statements We're
ah thL Il,
OF the strychnine, and duplicating his father
He said II thought was in Holmes power"
The trial continued through the dav and
an evening session was held. Horace was
Kept under the care of an officer when out of
court. AT this point the court adjourned to
Wednesday morning.
AT the opening of court Wednesday morn
ing, Judge Rogers suggested that if the wit
ness had any further statement to make be-
fore continuing his testimony in open court,
they would receive it then. The Judge, at
torneys Bowden for the State and Ward
well for the defense, the Stenographers Miss
L. b. Carter and Wayland knowlton, aud
the witness then retired to the Common
Council room and held consultation in
private.
Horace was on the stand nearly all the
forenoon but his testimony elected nothing
important.
Emma Ninal was examined briefly, and
corroborated the testimony of the others in
relation to Roberts last sickness.
During Horace's examination Judge Rog-
ers frequently cautioned him that he need
not give evidence tending to crimnate him
self, and stated Wednesday morning that
he had strong suspicious that Horace was
one of the guilty parties.
At u O'Clock the Court adjourned to
Thursday, May 14th, in order to allow Prof
Robinson time to complete his analysis. A
warrant was then issued charging Horace
with the murder of his uncle, and he was
taken to Jail to await hearing.