Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-02-11

not have listened to nor advanced any
fool-theories of the dead people killing
themselves and each other. lie would
have known at once who did or could
have done it. He would not have sat
down and whined like miserable cur. 1t
does not take a brave man to kill sleeping
men or wakeful woman; but such
deed, done by another would fire half
brave man into restless and indignant
action. "No motive?" have theory
OF why he did it, but what matters it
whether there was any reason or not; we
know the people were killed?
This creature, who can make such a
Favorable impression, proved by his
own evidence that he was neither a sailor,
navigator, nor halfreliable man. From
many small things that have been told, it
is clear that after leaving Boston his be-
havior and gross lack of ability caused
Capt. Nash to show dissatisfaction, while
the second mate, doing his duty much
better than Bran, satisfied the captain.
From that the mates quarreled, and Bran
was nursing his wrath against both the
captain and the second mate. He also
fancied lack Of notice, or signs Of dislike
on her part, toward himself. For more
than quarter OF century, continually
in command Of sea-going vessels, with all
kinds and all nationalities of men to
deal with, l know how all these things
sometimes work.
| On that fateful night, in the lone hours
| - l., a. l.
ing rage into active and desperate frenzy,
| until in a condition suited to his cow
ardIy and despicable deeds. The differ
ent influence that liquor has upon men is
remarkable. One in ten, perhaps, it
makes good natured, talkative and harm
lessIy silly, while the other nine become
demons of varied degrees. man who is,
W hen sober, the best and kindest of hus-
bands, kills his wife when under the in
fuence of liquor.
Among cases that | have seen was that
of II French cook whom we once had.
When sober, he was a fine fellow and an
excellent man i'll every way; when drink
| ing he had burning desire to kill some
body, and it didn't seem to matter who
the victim should be.
Bran never made Favorable impress
sion" upon me, and | was surprised to
! learn that he was the mate when | first
saw him aboard the "Fuller'', last June.
At hat time Capt. and Mrs. Nash were
often on board of my vessel, and my wife
and went to theirs. We had long been
intimate friends.
Bran came to our vessel many times.
He rushed around just as they were about
leaving he dock, evidently to get our
mate to go up street for parting drink.
| We sailed from Boston on the same day,
and were "in company the second day
out. Taking all things together, | was
rather familiar wit h that vessel, with the
condition OF things at that time, and
with Capt. Nash's general ways and man
agement. He and his wife were most
kindly disposed, and always spoke in
praise Of their ships people.
1t seems that there are many fine points
| in the laws to protect the murderer.
"Experts' (?) were allowed to testify,
falsely, that under such conditions of sail
ing, the "Fuller's" wheel could be dashed
| from fifteen to thirty minutes, trying to
show that that cowardly smpleton,
Brown, had comfortable chance and
time to do the butchering. No one was
allowed to testify that the wheel could
not be left.
The evidence OF those stexperts' was he
the most remarkable thing that occurred
at the trial; it was testimony that will be
more strongly condemned, by all men who
understand such things, than anything of
that kind that was ever offered to a court.
1t was too absurd, too far beyond truth
or reason, to be hardly worth answering.
No doubt that evidence had much to do
with causing the jury to hesitate.
AS matter of truth, and common nau
teal sense, under the conditions the
"Fuller" was sailing, there is no kind,
class or rig OF vessel that will not plainly
show something to be very wrong when
the wheel is unattended for two or three
minutes at the very longest. For three
| Years | commanded fast sailing barken-
tine, which was notorious for her easy
steering. Under such conditions of sail
| ing her wheel could not be left longer
than | have just mentioned but what she
would either come aback, or else go off
and jibe over The fore and aft sails, and
the same would be true of any vessel that
| have ever known.
If Bran WAS not the real murderer,
| which do not admit, let him suffer for
allowing it to be done and not learning
| who did it. RICHARDSON.
Bucksport Schooner Missing.