Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-09
BEST'S HEARING.
Trying to Connect Him With
BaiIey's Murder.
The Usual Testimony As to Finding
and Condition Of Body.
Nothing Yet Developed That Shows Best
Committed the Deed.

LINN ponce court, lHlS morning, before
Judge Berry. The government was
represented by District Attorney w.
Scott Peters ana Attorneys James III.
Sisk Of Lynn. and W. l.. Baker Of Bos-
ton Best was brought into court at
$50 and unconcernedly stood the ordea!
Of waiting for the proceedings to com
mence The district attorney did not
arrive until $50, so the opening of the
hearing was delayed till 10 O'Clock.
Twenty-three witnesses for the gov
eminent were sworn.
DR.. J. G.. Pinkham. the medical, eX-
amner was the first witness and tes-
tilted to the condition of the body
when found. The head had been cut
off at the third or fourth vertebrae
The arms had been cut off just below
the shoulder and the legs about five or
six inches above the knee. The cutting
mus, have been done by repeated
strokes OF some heavy cutting instru-
rnent. as the flesh was ragged. The
bones of the arm We're cut half through
with clean cut and the rest was
broken. The other bones were broken
and splintered. He also found two bull
let wounds at the chest. the bullets
having nearly CUT Oh TIE est artery
OF the body The bullets in his opin-
ion were fired before death. owing TO
the large amount Of blood found in It's
sues and stomach He identified the
bullets found in the body Death was
produced by bullet wounds in the
chest. Either one must have been ia
tai. Stomach was opened and found t.
contain 10 or Il ounces of partially di-
gested food IN his opinion. death came
about an hour and not over three hours
after the meal Death took place, in
his opinion. between eight and Il days
before the body was found. The body
had been in the water about this
length Of time. There was no evidence
of drowning. on discrimination by
Nh Sisk. he said he formed his opinion
upon the condition Of the body as a
whole
James w. English. one If the men
who found the body. testified to the
finding Of the trunk in Floating Bridge
pond, about 10 o'clock on the morning
o. Wednesday. oct. II. Was with Fred
Torrance ana saw bag floating: cut il
open and saw that it contained hui
man body Notified officer Flynn. Who
went with him and Torrance back e.
the spot where the body was found.
Body was then removed in the ambu
lance
Officer Daniel Flynn testified to TAX
ing the bag out of the waite, and to
opening it UP and finding it was the
body of a man. When he lifted the end
of the bag blood flowed freely from it
The bag was covered with mud.
Officer John Lyons testified 10 hay
ing arrested Bailey in August previous.
and was therefore acquainted with
him He was one Of the officers who
found the head On the opposite side
from that on which the body was
found.
Officer Thomas T.. Mckinney testified
to finding one Of the legs and both
arms. officer Edward T. Smith testi-
fed TO finding the other leg.
Undertaken NJ. p Haven testified TO
opening the bag containing the trunk
and stripping it of its clothing. Also
TO preparing the body for burial and
sending it to Maine.
City Marshal Thomas NJ. Burckes
testified to Identifying the remains as
those of George L: Bailey. Also receiV-
ing the rifle and bullets in the case.
and turning them over to State Officer
Proctor
Mrs. Hanna Hawkes.. Who liked
next to the farm where Bailey and
Best lived. testified to hearing team
which sounded like Bailey's. coming
down past her house on the night he IS
supposed 10 have been murdered. There
Baileys
On cross ton she stated she
was 81 years Of age. but her hearing.
eye sight and memory were good. The
passing out of what was evidently the
same team twice in a short time was
of sufficient Importance TO impress il
self upon her mind.
BENZ. y. Johnson. the employer OF
Bailey and part owner Of the Edmlnds
farm. where Bailey and Best lived.
testified that he last saw Bailey on
Sunday. Oct. !. He knew John 9. Best,
had seen him in the barn or On IN
farm many times. He saw Best on the
Saturday following Bailey's disappear
ance and Best said that he thought
Bailey had left the farm for good. He
also testified in regard to a converse
ton with Best. and also with Best aad
man named Mitchell. And To a third
conversation with Best in which re-
moAstrance was made by Mr.. Clough
another owner. in regard 10 Best
drinking habits. In the latter CONVEX
sation Pest asked the witness If he
had paid BAILEY the previous week $l2t
Advised him to gather the crops. Knew
Bailey had q rife. which Mr.. Clough
had purchased.
On cross-eXamination Mir. Johnson
said Bailey WAS care taker Of the
Freakheart Hill property and part
OF his duties was tn keep tresDassers
on, Bailey never showed temper in his
presence. He was Il man Of loud talk.
hut not bad tempered. in his opinion.
Charles Deary testified To the fact
that Bailey left milk at his house on
the last night he was seen alive. He
mad on a dark overcoat. green with age.
and this he identified Best brought the
milk the next night and said Bailey
mad gone on a vacation. Bailey had
arranged tn go TO Boston with witness
the next day after he was at the house
but did not appear.
AZ the afternoon session Of the hear
ing the croSS-eXamination Of Charles
peary took place. Never had any dis