The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-27
OUT EIGHT MINUTES
And Then the Jury Brought in
Verdict Of Guilty.
CHARLES H. BICKFORD CONvIC.
TED ON SERIOUS CHARGE.

Testimony in the Myrtle Adams Case
Showed Prisoner To be Utterly De.
Ez zpraved-CIosing Scenes in the Trial of
the sagadahoc County Case.
Bath, August 26.-The trial of Charles
II. Bickford for abduction, was continued
here today.
Myrtle E. Adams, was the first witness,
and thesslast one for the government was
DR.. Charles W. Price of Richmond. He
testified that he made an examination of
Myrtle E. Adams on October 90 Of last
year. She was then in bed much de-
pressed from a nervous shock. She was
then in much pain and unable to get out
of bed. Her pulse was quick and tempera-
ture elevated and she. was suffering in
many ways from the injuries she had re-
ceived.
Witnesses attended her regularly since
that time, making the last visit fort
night ago, when she had not wholly re-
covered from the rough treatment that
she had evidently been subjected to-.
She is still lame and suffered much pain.
At the close of the doctors testimony
the government rested.
Attorney Newell occupied about 15
minutes in outlining his side of the case,
claiming that it would be shown that the
Adams girl wasn't abducted, nor was
any assault made upon her during the
journey from Bowdoin to South Norridge-
wock; that the girls leaving home was
voluntarily and that she urged Bickford,
who at first refused, to go on with her to
find her father, Norridge Bickford.
Charles II. Bickford, the respondent,
testified in substance as follows: 1'I had
known Myrtle Adams ever since she was
born. have seen her frequently at
Oscar Adamss where worked some.
One day she told me she would like to
have me find her father and that she
would go with me. She sent several
notes to me and we used the base of q
large maple tree In the pasture near
her home as post-office. had arrangd
by note to meet her and go away in search
of her father on the 10Th of October, but
on account of being unable to get away
from home did not meet her that night.
~ started the next evening, to go to our
there, having left my horse about half a
mile away to cut across lots. She then
urged me to go in search of her father.
told her had no money. She pleaded
SO 1 finally consented and we walked to
the team. She helped harness the horse
to the wagon and she climbed to the
seat.'
| The witness then told of the journey
and that he made every effort to make il
as comfortable for her as possible.
when we were on the road heTasl
me to have her hair cut so she would lool
like boy on the road. I told her coule
not do that. I had a!false moustache IL
my pocket and put it on her."
1 The witness emphatically denied tina
at any time on the journey from BowdoiI
to South Norridgewock did he assaul
the girl, or made anysthfeats of killing
her if she made any outcry. He said h
left the girl at Otis's to earn some none.
to pay her board there and if possible fin.
her father, who was Last heard of a
Grand Falls. N. B.
Bickford was subjected to rigid cross
examination by County Attorney Rogers
Witness said he was 81 years old, We
born in Maine, married II years ago, wa
the father of three children worked a
Oakland and boarded at Nathan Haines' S
Have known Oscar Adams about 30 years
He has good home, set a fair table ant
was q kind man about his house. Myrtl
thought a gerat deal of him. Mrs
Adams was not quite SO pleasant as Mr
Adams. Never saw nor heard of Myrtl
being i'll treated.
cit was year ago last spring whel
Myrtle asked me to find her father.
knew that she wanted to get away ant
were received from Myrtle were burned
Can't say why had the false mus
tache.''
| (Witness had a heavy mustache Of nat
ural growth which he had worn for sew
eral years.) ff9re 9f5 ,ks. q
"Did tell Horne the girls name wal
Nellie Bickford. F" Witness said he hat
80 cents when he left Bowdoinham with
the girl and he left no money with hi
wife when he left her on the same night
Attorney Rogers brought out on cross
examination that Mrs. Horne and Bick
ford were related.
Myrtle Adams was recalled She EN-
phatically denied the conversation tim
Horne said he made with her. s'Ther
| was no such talk while was there - saif