Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-31
THE BRAN TRIAL.
Seamen foIke and Anderson and Others Give
Their Testimony. Wednesday.

Boston March 30-Folke one of the
Herbert Fuiler's crew resumed the wit
ness stand in the Bran murder trial. this
morning. and the cross-eXamination by
AIr. Cotter was continued Witness was
asked II H. remembered that while IN
| Halifax he said To chief IF Police O Suli-
! van that Brown committed the murders.
/ Mir. Jaucs objected to the question and II
was excluded by the court. An exception
/ wa4 saved. hut Mr.. Jones withdrew his
4 objection, when Mr.. Cotter said that the
/ reason for the question was to show thai
/ the witness knew that Brown was at the
/ wheel at the time of the murders and ne
/ has SINCE testified that it would be abso-
/ lutcly impossible for Brown 10 leave il
for amy time, Witness relied that he did
make the statement.
oscar Anderson. another Of the crew CT
tnr Fuller was the next witness called.
H. told of seeing the shirt worn by Bran
On this night Of the murder, soaking in
"A bucket of water on the deck two days
afterwards. At the time Bran was put
iii irons h, heard Brown say 10 Steward
SPENCER that he had seen Bran through
the dfterhouse window, STRIKE, and Xii!
the captain. Bran said He can talk all
| he wants to. am an innocent man.
4 short recess Was taken and when the
court came in. crOsS-eNaminatl0n by MI
Cotttr was begun. Witness said that on
The night Of the murder, when he went
!
he forgot that Brown was asleep under
the boat and did not call Brown. Brown
testified that Anderson came 20 him.
shook him and told him TO get up Wit
ness said that about two days previous
to arriving at Halifax, one of the men
threw the lead and he left the wheel to
give him lift. The wind was then for-
ward of the beam
Mr. Cotter then read from the StenoS-
raphel's report of the previous trial evil
4 OH a11 ny SDpDcpr lie erect that
at the time the wind was on the quarter
and the vessel was sailing about SIX CT
seven knots. Witness did not remember
having said that.
The oss-cXamination ceased az To-
Nothing was brought out in the Redirect
~ 4mination. Al l2.G0 a lengthy confer
cnce was held between the court ana
course, for both sides.
Al The opening Of the afternoon scs-
sion. District Attorney Jones asked that
Wm. 4. Mcdonald the Halifax civil en-
giutrr. b. called TO the stand Ia explain
some measurements he had made ON the
Fu.or since she has been in Boston
These measurements are mostly confined
u showing the exact location Of the win
dow i'll the after part of tine after mouse .
ANA the exact position in which 't4.sHleli
stood while AZ the wheel of the ruler on
the night Of the tragedy. so that the jury.
who have not and probably will not be
allowed Ia view the vessel may better
understand the range Of vision 10 be mad
through this window 10y man standing
at the wheel.
After the witness had explained the
measurements to the jury, with the ald
OF Il chart he replied III answer to ques-
tons by District Attorney Jones, that ne
visited the Fuller. last Thursday evening.
and standing at the wheel with each HAND
on Il looming spokeS of the wheel. stand
Ing erect with his. feet upon the grating
and with the lantern in the cabin tuFnso
down 10 half blaze
Here Mr. Cottrr objected and asked the
witness ii he could see the lantern AT lhc
time and if he was the only person ON
board the vessel Witness replied that
there were others standing beside MIN
sell on board and that standing at tne
wheel he could not see the lantern. MT.
Cotter then objected ON the ground that
witness could not know nj 1ust "hat
height the light was turned. The defence
added that this witness was not par
of the main case and his testimony was
offered merely to preserve the credit oi
the story told by Charles Brown. when
had not yet been attacked by the DE-
fence. After long arSument ny oohl
sci the court ruled that the testimony o.
this witness was not admissible at TINS
time.
sal that only portion OF the entrance
of the forward companionway was cut OH
from view by the Skylight
Charles ". HoSknS ship JOINER, WAS
called and testified to the accuracy OF It
plan made by him of the deck OF the
Herbert Fuller. 1t was introduced as evil
| hciltt-
Clerk Of Courts Trowbridge did-not re-
member whether defence Or prosecution
| called Bran to the stand at, the last trlai'
| but Deputy Marshal Waters sald Bra"
was called by the defence.
| Frank II. Burt. Edward y. Harnuth'
! Charles +. Barnes and Edward l.. DAVIS
stcnographCrS at the previous tflal. Wtte
/ then called i'll turn and testified that theS
| had examined the transcripts of the sttH,
! oGraphic notes taken during the trial anu
/ had made necessary corrections.
| As Mr.. Burt was about tn read from
| the testimony of Bran. MIR. totter op-
/ iectcd. on the same ground as Two aaHs
| ago. that ii was contrary to the hith
! ans ndment OF the constitution ot the
| United States, which says a man sha.i
not he obliged 10 testify against hlmseii.
Judge Colt said the jury might oe tx,
! cuScd until tomorrow. AZ counsel wiSheo
TO argue the point. The jury lcii me
room in charge Of officers ana lengthy
argument cnsti,d. whi,N vas iutcfruptfo
by adjournment without; amy decision pe-
ing given.