The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-25
ADJOURNED UNTIL SATURDAY.
Accused Continued His Testimony In
Fuller Murder Case.

Mate Bran Undergoes Searching Cross
Examination and Comes Off Best-Ad-
mits Thar All He Did After the Murder
Was Not For Best.
Boston, December 24.-At the opening
of toiay's session of the Bran trial, JUS
tice Cult said: "rhe court will sit to-
day until half past O'Clock. Upon the
adjournment today, tomorrow being
Christmas day, the court will not come
in again until Saturday morning. 1t
will adjourn therefore for over tomorrow.
The court adjourned over tomorrow with
a good deal of reluctance but there being
some questions as to the legality of sit
ting on Christmas day, we deem it advis-
able to adjourn over, although we are
aware Of the Inconvenience to the jury
are being put to by so long delay;
but we see no help for it,"
Bran sat in the do ok, looking expec-
tant, while the justice WAS speaking, his
hands on his knees and his body lean
ing forward. When he took the stand he
was shown the log book kept by him.
He did not use it much, he said, after
the murders. as he went mostly by the
chart He went over the entries in the
log from june 1st until he was put in
irons.
Bram's counsel asked him: "Mr.
Bran, did yeu have anything to do with
the taking of the lives Of any of the three
persons on the Herbert Fuller?" and his
reply was: Nothing whatever, sir
"Did you have an understanding,
directly or indirectly, with anyone re-
garding those murdersT'
'tNot at all. 1 knew nothing about
it,
The sworn statement of the defendant
while under arrest before the consul gen.
eral, when he WAS subjected to a cross
examination by counsel for the passsn-
geF, Monks, was read, and In 1T all it's
essentials was the same as the testimo-
ny given by the defendant court.
This afternoon the cross examination
of the defendant Was bsgun. Regard
ing the events ON the Herbert Fuller.
the night of the murder the defendant
did not vary in the slightest from his
direct testimony. The cross-sxamination
was very searching. Answers to the
questions were given promptly and with
remarkable dirsctness. The defendant
never wayered3nor grew excited under the
rapid fire OF questions put in all imagi-
nabie forms. he maintained a good ma
tured and pleasant demeanor through0ut
the examination. In explaining the
acts committed in the cabin at tho time
of the discovery of the murder, that
apparently displayed bad judgment and
eowardics on his part, he said there was
no DOUBT that all that was done was not
fer the best, but the horrible discovery
made of the captains dead body SO
unsettled him that he was not in q state
of mind that fitted him to act as be
perhaps would have done under ordinary
:
He and Monks, the only persons then
conducting examination, were terrified
at the thought Of being in the close
neighborhood Of a desperate assassin whom
they were momentarily expecting to rush
on them from one of the dark rooms
leading out Of the dimly lighted cabin
and they acted impulsively together,
not dating to separats and go i'll differ
ont directions. He did not dare go alone
to pursue Investigations. He did BOT
want TO leave Monks while the latter
was in his cabin putting CA his clothes.
He recognized the fact that he was In
the moment that the captain
was discovered dead, but was in no state
of mind to act with the resolution and
that belonged to the Pc
Sition.
IL WAS lou Suuuous AAO MeVS NJ az
tempt to assist the captain for he be-
lieyed him dead Immediately after the
discovery of the body. He did not go
Into Mrs. Nash's room because Monks
told him che was dead. He did not
search for the second mate because
Monks told him the mate was not in his
cabin and the defen liant thought be
musE be- forward with tho man. Asked if
it was possible for the second mate to
have come ON deck and Join the men
without being seen by the defendant, the
latter replied that he might have done
SD. He denied that he was affected by
the whiskey he drank and that be stag
gered on deck and had to be supported
by Monks to prevent falling. He was
perfectly firm ON his feet. he said, but
terribly nervous and excited.
Adjourned until Saturday morning.