Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-02
JURY HAS CASE.
Bram's Fate in the Hands Of
Twelve Good Men.
-, !. ----
The Jury Retired at | Is P. N, Fri
day, and Is Still Out.
Thought TIA. Their Questions Show a Leaning
towards Bhm's AccuittaI.

into court, this 4lnOrning. There. is no
mistaking the fact that he is under
going a severe mental strain. and that
its effects are commepciRR. to beERen.
Bran looks thinner. u tlay .sthan Vi has
at any rtfcant ngs per4sdA In the race
Tor places insthe coufk rborh the women
seem to have come ouA ahead. fully
four-fifths OF the SPECTATORS. being of
the fair sex. s.ss $50 = -,
!. District Attorhey SIssar resslned his
argument imme Nat AFTER the judges
had taken their 49, He assailed
Bram in the begfhnf hg, first calling at
tention to the pluc1xy conduct of the
showed mi OF that mans courage.
tSpefck2tH61s not the man to clasp
stlfe kleH people, he did not ask
'wnet ~ here were any Free Masons
on boar did he make any signals
of DISTRESS He went 20 work and did
Just what Hram ought to have done.
He went to seef what was the matter.
on board, what had happened TORTOISE,
people. and how they had been killed.
He did not know how many tof the
crew were aft ~
He kiieW that only. Lester Monks and
Charlex, Brown coui6 be aft of him, be \
side the dead bodies. He went straight
daMn there went to.s Frank Loheac.
'saw the captain on the floor, went
around and got a revolver, and went
straight into that cabin.
HaNnk eAssured the Jury that, if they,
left PFaIStNnconvicted, murder on the
high seas would forever go unpublished.
Mr. Hoar asked vi Bran had put
up that story about the second mate
being Forward. That one statement.
was' enough to convict him, because
he knew that MAN was down stairs. 81
And why did Bran not bring thaF
lantern forward? Why did he leave e
in Lester Monks room? 1t was for tho
mighty good reason because if he
brought it back Lester Monks eyes
might have lighted on the body of the
dead second mate...and that would
have started an inquiry
Mr.. Hoar went on to describe the
movements of the captain and Ids
wife on the eve of the murder He
dwelt at length on the charge th&t
Monks had committed perjury, CO
trasting the passenger with Bram.s e
defended Brown and Monks from =
brought against theHs&y
Mr.. Cotter. and commended that fM<fr
evidence was truthful and sufficient to
warrant the conviction of the prisoner
Bram's story, he said, was not borne
out many essential particular. He took
up the alleged claim for salvage, and
said the sailors had not claimed any,
and had no reason whatever to tes-
tify against Bran. other than what
they knew. %
The flashing of the wheel was gone
into about 20 minutes after the court
opened, and Mr.. Hoar said that the
men on board did not lash the wheel
while they were. signing the PAPER.
Mr.. Hoar referred to what he called
the antiquated sea captains of the de
fence, who had left the sea before he
was born, as having testified that the
wheel could be dashed. He claimed
that the captain was the only man
take the risk of flashing the
wheel, and Brown would never have
lone it with Bran sitting on the rail.
The attorney. in speaking of Brown |
you see visions of these people |
murdered?
MT. f1OdT spoke TOT upward OF n:li1 an |
lour and closed with an eloquent appeal |
o the jurors to do their duty under their |
)athS and return Il verdict of guilty |
iga1nst Bran. AT his conclusion a recess |
II five minutes was taken and then Judge |
Webb delivered the charge to the jury.
In his charge Judge Webb said the jury |
must determine their verdict upon the |
violence submitted and must not be in
luenced by any argument of counsel only |
IS such argument Is supported by the ev-
dence. Let not the much-t aiked-8f sus-
'icions govern. for they are not suiii-
lent" he said.
Continuing Judge Webb explained
What constituted murder. Malice, he
aid. is an essential part. and the act
must be done wilfully and with intent. |
he only question the jury mas to decide
le said. is as to the death of Captain
Nash. They are simply 10 determine
whether or not Bran killed him.
ider anything in the nature of an adj
mission of Thomas Bran against him
elf unless they got 1t from his own lips.
Judge Webb went through the evidence
lie picked to pieces Browns testimony
nd said: IF you accept it without guess
ion. 1t has great weight; but in the mans.
er in which Which, it has been g assaiied. you
He thought credence should be given
he testimony of the sea captains. not-t
that they left the sea sew
notive.'' Judge Webb continued The
overnment has not proven a motive. but
here is no doubt that some one on board
he ship committed the crime.
He declared that the story of the sec
nd mate doing the killing was too alb
urd to be considered. AS to Brown. the
Judge said no one can tell or interpret
is action before and after the tragedy.
Judge Webs read a definition of reason
BILE doubt and admonished the. jury to
AXE time and render just verdict.
Some little time was consumed in put
ing in the exhibits, and it was rs when
be jury retired. The court adjourned
ntil o'clock.
After the afternoon recess; the court
anne together at 5.13. The Jury was not
allied Judge Colt annonnc4d that4the
Durt would convene at 10. ~ nnight. and
the Jury should wish any hetrqcttons
efore then. the marshal ehouids notify
ne court and counsel. just as the curt
as about to leave the building, the jury
mt a sealed communication to the
ourt. -, aaea,s.,
rol,ght into the court and he appeared
5.27. The jury was sent Tor ana We're
.on in their seats. Brain had the same
xpression on his face which mas char-
ctterized him throughout the trial.
The communication vas: At what
me did Brown see Bran strike Saptaih
ash with the axe. according to his tes-
mOfly - RS |