Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-19
sAsf.1He DEED.
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steward. Witness had talked with open
to that man9 Did you tell that man that
everything will come out all right the
day the ship comes to port nothing
on a,S sra,n His face vas so ss0 bs
afraid; there ID plenty more tnat VIII
You knew the statements were not
true?" asked Mr.. Cotter.
II knew they were all lies" was the
wv why did you sign it when you knew it
"rhe ship was bound to port and !
knew We would come to the United
States and tell the truth
The witness knew the vessel was tne1
headed for Brazil at the time he signsa
come to the United States. He admhte9
that before he was put in irons, ne sillu
to everyone that he knew nothing anout
the crime, whether the mate was present
or not. The day he was put In Irons ne ne
port everything will be all right.
to the steward. The first time he ever
told that the mate had anything to DO
with the murder was half an hour aIter r
Bran was put In irons. when ne toio
Spencer about il.
Did you ever say that you liked 70 De
in irons until the guilty man was found:
mo. sir, | never did"
Witness made contradictory replies 70
questions by Mr.. Cotter regarding ms
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. He denied ever having said that
he had been in an insane hospital He
admitted having said that he shot man
in Holland, but could not remember say
ing that he got clear OF it on the plea OF
insanity.
His statement that he had shot a man
he testified was a lie, only story re
1i,yIt hay-a and he. might have SJlu
to Il Halifax reporter that he was CON
fined in an asylum for shooting man.
Recess was then taken.
In the afternoon. the cross examina-
ton of Wheelman Chas. Brown was
continued. Witness told what he did
on the day before the murder. he
cleaned the deck all day except when
he went on duty; Bran helped him.
The first time he ever disclosed his
Swedish name was to a reporter after
landing at Halifax. Brown contradicted
reports of the newspapers which Mr.
Cotter asked him if they were true as
to his having trouble with the captain
Witness said he was the only who
slept on deck that night, and this was
his first night there. Mr.. Cotter ques-
toned Brown at great length as to his
sleeping and general movements that
night. Witness stated that he never
opened the window or curtain of the
chart room. and he did not remember
any iron bars, over the window, but
said there We're shutters TO all the
windows. He said that he did not do
any thing but hold the wheel with both
hands.
He could see into the chart room
standing at the wheel. He could not
see 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 100. and stayed at the
wheel until ?. He did 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 a man on the deck house.
dressed in dark clothes. with a hgnt
straw hat. He said the door Of the af
ter companion way was opened and
vas or : feet from the wheel. He des
cribed the straw hat as light one
without a crown. He saw light hat
on person in the chart room. Brown
said Mate Bran said the wind was
IdNOrdblt Tor anu lie tuIntQ
he ship, about noon. The wind did not
prove favorable for bermuda and they
steered for Halifax.
Witness said he was never told that
he would go free if he testified before
the grand jury against Mr.. Bran. Be
fore he testified before the grand jury.
ne understood that he was held on the
charge of murder. He said he saw four
blows struck in the captains room. In
aalf a minute he heard the scream of
Mrs. Nash. but never left the wheel
He saw Bran Immediately afterward
on the starboard side of the deck.
Witness was asked to tell of the COM
pass. wind, etc. at that time. He
heard the mate say after he was put
in irons that he was an innocent man.
He said that Bran walked between him
and the house and he was afraid of him
and did not speak. He testified that he
did not know their location at the time
Of the tragedy; they had to strike trade
winds to make good time and they
We're seven days in getting to Halifax
on account of Gains. Witness said he
washed all around the ship. as that was
customary at all times.
Mr. H0ar questioned Brown. Witness
said he never saw an axe i'll the wash
room. He first told the story of the
murder at Halifax. Bran was not pre-
sent the first time. but afterward. He
saw the mates body in the room from
little below his waist to the top of his
head.
Mr.. Hoar asked him as to certain
hearings, whether Bran was present.
Mr. Cotter presented the witness a
translation of something which United
States Attorney Hoar objected to. The
court examined it, but not however be-
fore the witness tried to read it. but he
did not know English well enough.
Brown was excused and the grand jury
was asked to retire.
Asa French stated to the court that
he as about to ask an extraordinary
favor in order to allow the counsel to
further investigate. which would aid in
proving that Brown had committed
perjury, this morning. Mr.. French said
the defence thought this a fair request
and they thought they could prove that
Brown had lied about the affair. Mr..
Hoar said the. request was too sudden
and he needed more than three minutes
to consider it, Mr.. COtter said he was