The Portland daily press., 1900-12-20

Stain once told him that his father.
David l.. Stain, and Oliver Cromwell,
had robbed the Winthrop Savings bank.
oliver b. CIason OF Gardiner, testified
that he was q member OF Governor
Oleaves council and as chairman Of the
committee on pardons had talk with
Cromwell as the prison. Cromwell pro-
tssted his innocence twice TO him. As
counoillor, he told Cromwell II he would
tell the whole story Of the Dexter affair
he would at once be liberated. This
Cromwell refused 10 do, maintaining
that he could not tell a lie even for his
freedom. Afidavits were read from
christopher q. Toole OF Bangor, Lewis
q. Fortier Of Oidtown, A. J. welch,
formerly of bradford, members Of the
jury In which they said that only the So
called b. q. Sanborn receipt convicted
the men. the jury believing that Stain
forged IT, jeremiah Fenno OF Bangor de-
posed that he had several conversations
with Silas y. Ha toh, who was foreman
Of the jury. Hatch said that the Sanborn
receipt convicted them. A letter was
lead from Rev. y. A. Plummer, the
chaplain OF the state prison at Thomaston
In which he said the behavior OF the men
has been exemplary since their conflne-
msnt. An atildavit OF J. Herbert Baker
OF Medilald. Mass, twas read. Baker says
that he is positive that he saw Cromwell
on the twenty second day Of February,
1878, after a heavy snow and rain storm
at Medneld. Why he remembered the
affair SO well, was because he met Crom-
well near a brook which was running
high and Cromwell remarked that the
rain would drive the rats out.
Willard Harwood of Medford, Mass. a
son In law Of Charles Hammant, whose
horse was stolen on the night Of the muir
der for which crime the Stain gang was
accused, testified that nearly every person
in Medheld, believed that the stain gang
committed the burglary of the Hammant
house, and II Stain and Cromwell did
that act they would not have been con-
nected with the Dexter affair. The depo-
sition of Charles II. stain, who swore
that his father and Cromwell killed
Cashier Barron, was followsi
"My name is Charles franklin Stain
My are is forty-kix years. l reside in
Caanan, New Hampshire, and have re.
sided there abnut two years. am work
ing at the business OF a harness maker
and 20 under the name of 9sorge Clark
By which am generally known where
live. am son OF the prisoner, David
l.. stain and brother in law OF the pris-
oner Oliver Cromwell. who married my
sister. At the trial of said prisoners at
Bangor in February and March, 1888, for
the alleged murder OF John Wilson Bar
ron on February 22, 1878. 1 testified for
the prosecution. All my testimony on
that occasion, in-so. .tnr as 1t implicated
said prisoners In the murder of said Bar
ron, was false and was known TO be false
pose or intention Of. giving said testi-
IN any was TO cause said prisoners to be
convicted OF muir der which l then be-
lieved they did not commit ami had no
reason to believe they did commit. L gave
said testimony partly because OF malics
toward my father and to have revenge
upon him, partly through fear Of ex-
EOsuFe lOE q hAN SDlutilttcA hhI
rartly because of hope OF reward. l give
this affidavit voluntarily of my own free
will, without reward ana without hope
or promise OF reward. repent of having
testified as did at said trial, and desire
40 far as possible to rectify the wrong
that was done by reason OF my said testi-
mony."
Atlidavits were also read from several
other Msdfield people who say tn atfthey
saw she men at Medheld on the 22d day
OF February, 1878.
The defense at this jnnoture rested / is
case and Bertram L.. Smith, prosecuting
attorney FOR Penobsoot county, where the
men were tried, began. He read affidavit
of Thomas E Grover OF Canton, Mass,
who says that he saw William H.Thomas
leading a horse about the time that the
Hammant animal was stolen.
Thomas name was mentioned in con-
notion with the burglary. 1t was oom-
mon talk in Medtleld that Stain was on
visit to his mother down In Maine, ab3ut
the time of the Dexter affair. Depositions
were read from Seth II. Maker and his
daughter, Mrs. Ardelia Crosby, in
which they stated that thA burglary OF
the Hammant horse could not be laid to
David Stain, as he W. in Maine on a
visit.
Mrs. Laura l., LittletieId, who was pro
prietor OF the Cushnoc Houss at Augusta
in 1888, depossd that the day following
the Barron murder, two strangers drove
into the stable connected with the house.
One of the men who she is positive was
Cromwell, came Into her kitchen and In
suited her.
Frank Lessor who conducted the livery
stable deposed that he we'll remembers
the men on that 28rd of February. 1873,
as they drove rangey horse and aD-
peared to be in hurry. One Of the men,
whom he believes was Stain, attempted
to conceal his identity by pulling his cap
down over his eyes.
At the evening session, Attorney Smith
rea1 an affidavit of Charles F. stain, the